July 30
Mark 12:38-40
I think we all have experience with people who act better than everyone else. We can all think of an example of someone or several someones who remind us of the 'teachers of religious law' in today's verses. But let's not do that today. Instead, let's think about ourselves. It's easy to point fingers, but not so easy to look in the mirror. When I was in middle school, I invited someone to church. I knew he wasn't a Christian, so of course I felt like I was doing my Godly duty by bringing him with me. When we were there, I was introducing him to people and I pointed to a few kids in the corner and said, "We don't talk to them. They are the bus kids." A few weeks later, I invited him again. He said, "No way. I don't want to go to church with you. You call yourself a Christian, but you won't even talk to some people because they ride the bus! How stupid is that?" This story still makes me sick to think about it. But, if he hadn't said those words to me, I never would have realized what an impact my hypocritical actions had on other people. It makes me think, what am I doing now that makes me like the men who paraded around in flowing robes? I don't want to be like them, and I'm sure you don't either. So, when you read verses like this, instead of trying to come up with some great example of a person who is a hypocrite, try to find ways that you are being prideful or hypocritical so you can nip it in the bud. Just a warning though: it might be kinda painful!
Principle: Watch out! Power can corrupt and hypocrisy will be severely judged by God.
Application:
1. How can I live today in reality, honesty, and openness to God and others?
2. Will I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the pride and insincerity in my life?
3. Whose hypocrisy do I hate most - mine or others?
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Thanks for sharing your story so that we could gain from it.
ReplyDeleteWe are all watched by our non Christian family and friends. Sometimes they see Christ and sometimes they don't. I don’t believe that any Christian wants to be a hypocrite, but sometimes we act or speak before our Christian heart kicks in. I hate when that happens.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1.. How can I live today in reality, honesty, and openness to God and others? PRAY question #2...Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the pride and insincerity in my life… then it will be easier to live out Question #1
I do not want to be a hypocritical teacher. I pray that my words and actions will be pleasing to the Lord. And if someone happens to be watching me, I pray that what they see or hear would point them towards The Lord.
Question 3 is a great question. My first answer is both! I hate my hypocrisy, and I hate it in other people, too. I think it is easier to recognize it in others than in myself. When I do recognize it, as you did in your powerful story, it's like a 2X4 between the eyes. We all have some degree of hypocrisy (I do for sure) so I should cut other hypocrites some slack. Grace receivers must be grace givers.
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