Really?
by John Wade
And you say, "If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets." (Matthew 23.30, NIV )
Webster defines hypocrite as, “a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion.” We all know hypocrites, don't we? They say the right words, but they dress wrong, drink strong, and flirt along. Sometimes they dare to do those things while wearing a cross necklace or a WWJD bracelet. They even drive rudely with a fish sticker on the back of their bumper. "Well, I never!"
Really?
I’ve often thought, and even commented to others, about the deplorable state of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness after being delivered by God from the Egyptians and calamities galore. How could they not recognize God and what he did, does, and could do for them? Had I been there at that time, I would have been entering the Promised Land with Caleb and Joshua. There is no way I would have turned my back on my faith when the miracles were happening right before my very eyes daily.
I know that isn’t true, as much as I would like it to be. I have no trouble professing my Christianity, but I do have trouble living it. And I don’t even live under persecution. I’m no better than my hypocritical predecessors. But just like them, I can be forgiven - because of Christ. Thanks be to God that he loves and forgives the hypocrites, and all those other sinners. Oh, and me too.
John Wade
Lord, I don't want to be a hypocrite. Grant that I may have "a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Amen. (1 Timothy 1.5)
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? 17 If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 18 When I thought, “My foot slips, ”your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. 19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. 20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? 21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. 23 He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.