Hypocrites
There are a lot of hypocrites in this world of ours.
Some are in the Church, some are in the World. And the latter has become abundantly obvious with the 2016 elections coming up!
But several people I know have recently been struggling with the hypocrisy they see among Christians. They see someone who claims Christ, yet harbors great anger. They experience the sting of gossip and slander from those who claim to be their brothers and sisters in Christ. They ask the questions, "How can these people truly be Christians?" and "How can God be who He says He is if His followers act like this?"
The older you get, the more you will see this hypocrisy in the world around you. But is that it? Is nothing real or genuine because of the people who claim to follow the Truth and yet...don't?
The short answer is no, of course not. And the longer answer...
I CAN NOT JUDGE LEST I BE JUDGED FOR DOING THE EXACT SAME KINDS OF THINGS!
And if I judge the speck in my brother's eye without acknowledging the log in my own eye, then I am guilty of the exact same hypocrisy I claim to despise!
How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. ~ Matthew 7:4-5
And yes, we as believers are supposed to be His ambassadors, the moons reflecting His sunlight, BUT we are fallen creatures. Unfortunately, we cannot expect perfection this side of eternity! And yes, there are those who are stronger, whose light shines brighter than the man who commits hypocrisy daily. Think of Gladys Alward, David Livingston, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, Corrie Ten Boom! These people gave up EVERYTHING for Christ! They walked with Him daily and He sustained them through horrible trails! And even so, none of them were perfect. Even they had moments of hypocrisy - where they said one thing, and did another.
Though these relationships will never be perfect, they are necessary, and a lot of the times, the Lord uses them to make us stronger despite painful, tense, or awkward moments. We should not avoid deep human connections because we're afraid of being hurt.
We just need to carry with us an extra measure of grace into each conversation and hope that those we love will carry the same grace for us when we fail!
But when we put our confidence in the Lord, in who He is and His promises, even above the hurt feelings and shaken confidence from relying on those around us - He will strengthen us like a tree planted by water.
By and by, He may show us those true friends, heroes of faith in our own lives and communities, those who do not fall to pride and their flesh and destroy the faith of others. Or maybe, He's calling YOU to be that person.
~~~~
In Christ,
Ellie
~~~~
VERSES ON TRUSTING GOD:
Psalm 109:21-22
Prove 3:5-6
Jeremiah 17:5-9
Psalm 28:7
Job 8:13-15
Psalm 9:9-10
Psalm 20:7-8
Psalm 22:4-5
Psalm 32:10
Psalm 33:20-22
Psalm 37:3-6
Psalm 40:4
Psalm 41:9
Psalm 44:6-8
Psalm 49:13-14
Psalm 56:3-4
Psalm 62:5-8
And MORE!
Some are in the Church, some are in the World. And the latter has become abundantly obvious with the 2016 elections coming up!
But several people I know have recently been struggling with the hypocrisy they see among Christians. They see someone who claims Christ, yet harbors great anger. They experience the sting of gossip and slander from those who claim to be their brothers and sisters in Christ. They ask the questions, "How can these people truly be Christians?" and "How can God be who He says He is if His followers act like this?"
The older you get, the more you will see this hypocrisy in the world around you. But is that it? Is nothing real or genuine because of the people who claim to follow the Truth and yet...don't?
The short answer is no, of course not. And the longer answer...
1. We have to start by looking at our own lives
How many times have I disappointed others? How many times have I said something that seemed fitting in the moment, only to regret it later? How many times have I dishonored the Lord with my words and actions and thoughts?
And if I judge the speck in my brother's eye without acknowledging the log in my own eye, then I am guilty of the exact same hypocrisy I claim to despise!
How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. ~ Matthew 7:4-5
2. It is a good reminder that only God is completely trustworthy!
The Lord is the ONLY one who will never fail me, who is completely without fault, who is faithful even when I fall, and loves me without measure or obstacle!And yes, we as believers are supposed to be His ambassadors, the moons reflecting His sunlight, BUT we are fallen creatures. Unfortunately, we cannot expect perfection this side of eternity! And yes, there are those who are stronger, whose light shines brighter than the man who commits hypocrisy daily. Think of Gladys Alward, David Livingston, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, Corrie Ten Boom! These people gave up EVERYTHING for Christ! They walked with Him daily and He sustained them through horrible trails! And even so, none of them were perfect. Even they had moments of hypocrisy - where they said one thing, and did another.
3. God made human relationships for a reason
Sometimes it feels like it would be easier if we could hide away in a little cabin in the mountains somewhere, away from all the pain of dealing with other, fallen people. But the truth is, God made us to interact with each other, even in our fallen state! We must find others to love on, to trust, to have fellowship with, and to build each other up!
Though these relationships will never be perfect, they are necessary, and a lot of the times, the Lord uses them to make us stronger despite painful, tense, or awkward moments. We should not avoid deep human connections because we're afraid of being hurt.We just need to carry with us an extra measure of grace into each conversation and hope that those we love will carry the same grace for us when we fail!
4. Trust in God instead of Man
There are SO many verses on trusting the Lord and putting our hope in Him! But one verse that really stood out to me was a passage in Jeremiah:"This is what the LORD says: 'Curse is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD...but blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream'...The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" ~ Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8a, 9Depending on other humans for our strength is a "curse" because it will tear us apart. Man cannot fulfill our deepest longings or supply the strength we need to get through each day, much less the trials of life.
But when we put our confidence in the Lord, in who He is and His promises, even above the hurt feelings and shaken confidence from relying on those around us - He will strengthen us like a tree planted by water.
By and by, He may show us those true friends, heroes of faith in our own lives and communities, those who do not fall to pride and their flesh and destroy the faith of others. Or maybe, He's calling YOU to be that person.
~~~~
In Christ,
Ellie
~~~~
VERSES ON TRUSTING GOD:
Psalm 109:21-22
Prove 3:5-6
Jeremiah 17:5-9
Psalm 28:7
Job 8:13-15
Psalm 9:9-10
Psalm 20:7-8
Psalm 22:4-5
Psalm 32:10
Psalm 33:20-22
Psalm 37:3-6
Psalm 40:4
Psalm 41:9
Psalm 44:6-8
Psalm 49:13-14
Psalm 56:3-4
Psalm 62:5-8
And MORE!
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