Saturday, 7^th October 2023

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN AND HYPOCRISY

THEME SCRIPTURE: “For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid, that shall not be known.” – Luke 12:2

 

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. Why do we hide the truth about ourselves?

 

One important thing Jesus always emphasized was the line between darkness and light.

When Jesus referred to men of darkness, He was not pointing to people who work night shifts but mainly to people whose true colors are hidden because of their dark motives. As people of God, we have been called to walk in the light. This light is the word of God, and this means everyone of God’s children must live without hypocrisy.

Jesus first warned his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1), or the sin of being externally religious but internally corrupt. A hypocrite is always an actor—merely playing the part of a nice, religious, or perfect person, but in reality he is not.

It is interesting to realize that hypocrisy is a shortsighted practice because, as Jesus said, “What is hidden will be known, and what is covered will be revealed eventually” (Luke 12:2).

Today, you can find two young people on a first date. You can expect something like this: the guy coming to pick up the lady in a sleek and sparkling Cadillac, well dressed in a three-piece suit. She, on the other hand, arrives in an elegant, Cinderella-like dress and a hair-do that is magical. This guy takes his lady to the most expensive restaurant in the neighborhood. The evening is perfect, but the lady is not aware that the car and the suit were borrowed. She does not know that the guy is spending all his week’s wages on that dinner. The guy is also not aware that her lady’s hair-do cost a fortune, which she had to borrow from her brother to pay back later. She looks great, but it’s all make-up, and her true appearance is far from what he’s seeing. Should there be a relationship established this first night, both of them are going to deal with the challenge of unmasking and being real with each other.

Precious one, Jesus warns us against hypocrisy (living a double life). There are some of God’s people who are wearing the mask of the opposite—their public lives are the opposite of their private lives. They are only living to please people publicly, but who are you deceiving?

Any person who pretends or lives a hypocritical life has not come to understand the depths of God’s love for him. Such a person has not yielded to the Lordship of Christ.

Beloved, the world is passing away together with the lust thereof, but the one who does the will of God sincerely shall abide forever (1 John 2:17). Practice sincerity because you have not been called to please men but God. Be truthful and transparent with your life because you are not to fear what men can do. Never forget: “There is coming a day when God is going to judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the gospel” (Rom 2:16). So then, if you walk in the light, as He [God] is in the light, you will never stumble because you will always see the light of the world. Remain blessed.

 

FURTHER READING – Romans 2:16

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. How true, and how real is the life you are living as a child of God?

 

PRAYER

Eternal Father, wherever I have fallen short of being sincere, I receive your pardon. Any area of my life that I am living a double life, help me to see and turn from it. From today, I am yielded to your Lordship and you alone I am serving. Hallelujah!

 

1-Year Reading Plan

1 Chronicles 23; Ezekiel 33; Ephesians 5; Ephesians 6a