Lord Jesus, I pray today you will be glorified in and through my life.
“and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:51)
In the previous chapter I reflected on the seven “Woes” Jesus speaks out in Matthew 23, that were directed towards hypocrisy in The Church. The word “Hypocrite” is found 18 times in the Bible. 14 of these times it is found in the Gospel of Matthew. 10 of those times it is found in chapters we are now reading, Matthew 21-25. I think the Holy Spirit desires us to reflect on and deal with our hypocrisy; that of The Church and that of ourselves personaly.
“And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ (Mark 7:6)”
Lord Jesus, I confess my hypocrisy before you this morning. My lips often speak words that my heart and actions do not follow up. There are times in vain I do worship you. I stand and raise my hands in church and sing “You are mighty to save” then I walk out of the church never seeking the lost or sharing your Gosple of salvation with those that need saved. With all my years spent reading your words in the Bible telling me to love my neighbor, hearing sermons on shepherds leaving the flock to look for one lost sheep, and my talking about having compassion and love for the lost, You know the last person I actually loved like You and took the time to lead to salvation in you that was baptized. My head knowledge of You. who You are and Your words far exceeds my obedience and call to action of those words. I am a hypocrite, and I am sorry.
“For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:29) You know Jesus how I strive to present a good appearance. I have a closet full of cloths to wear and try to style whatever hair I have left. I wash and detail my cars I am seen in. I pour money and time into my home and its decor knowing in my heart you could care less about those things. It is not my outer appearance you care about but my inner heart. It is time spent with you in Your Word and prayer you desire. It is my pouring out of my resources into others instead of into myself you desire.. I know this yet I still do it. I am a hypocrite, and I am sorry.
“I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:4-7) Lord, I know that in your eyes hypocrisy is a sin and is a characteristic of those who practice evil and wickedness, not your fruits of the Spirit. I am a hypocrite, and I am sorry.
Lord, do not let me this morning rationalize away the true nature of my heart and level of my obedience. Do not let this message and the knowledge I received and now know against being a hypocrite, make me become more hypocritical through my prayers to you this morning and my actions, or lack of actions towards othersI meet today. I do not want to be like the person in James’ letter who looks in the mirror before he leaves the house and says, “What a good Christian am I,” then walks out the door to begin his day and lives out that day like all the non-Christians around him, like a hypocrite whom you dispise.. (James 1:23-24) Convict me Holy Spirit by Your inspired Words into action! I desperately need you to equip me and in Christ raise my level of obedience so that not only do I “Talk the Talk,” but I “walk the walk.”
My family, I pray as you begin a new week, this morning you honestly reflect on your level of hypocrisy and the areas of you life it is most prevalent. I pray you repent and ask for a renewing and equipping by the Holy Spirit of your level of obedience. I pray today you do not just talk the talk that “Gos is mighty to save” but walk the walk and share the love of Jesus with those who need saved, in Jesus name. PLEASE pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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