It is hunting season for Christians. Some are being beheaded and imprisoned for their beliefs. Here in our own country we are a bit more civilized, but it is popular to ridicule, ostracize and label Christians as hypocrites for standing firm in their faith.
It has made me pause and ask myself the question, “Who do we think we are?” It did not take long to find the answer within the pages of scripture.
We are idolaters, liars, murderers, slanderers, gossips, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, hateful, connivers, boasters, arrogant, prideful, shameful, prostitutes, selfish, jealous…There is no end to what we are, before Christ.
The difference between a Christian and a hypocrite? Christians know better than anyone, other than the living God, who they are and what they have done. Before they ever reached out to Christ for help, they had to admit that they had serious problems. They were not only miserable in the sins of their life but they were as filthy rags to God. Lost in sin. A good bit of looking in the mirror takes place before bowing at the feet of Jesus.
It is then, when the admission of guilt is professed, that Christ reaches to the sinner and offers grace which is not deserved and cannot be earned by “good living.” It is a gift of grace, mercy and forgiveness of our sins. Unmerited grace. God in His love for us, reached out to us through Jesus. He gave Himself the sacrifice for my sins and your sins.
Scripture says that once the relationship with Christ and God has been established, our sins are removed as far as the east is to the west. They are remembered no more. Oddly, it is the one forgiven and other human beings who often cannot forget and forgive. Does all of the above make a Christian perfect? Absolutely not. What does it do then? How does it change you? Perfect? No. Hypocrite? No.
Standing firm in your faith with a sinful, forgiven past, does not a hypocrite make. It makes you a grateful, follower of Christ, who desires above all things, to please the One who died for all that was, is and will be…your life. To stand up for what His word says, whatever the cost. Some are losing their heads. Some are losing their jobs. Some are losing nothing. So, the question is, “Who do you, think you are?”
~Scripture For Today~
Galatians 5:19-21
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (NLT)
Psalms 103:11-14
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. (NLT)
Ephesisans 2:8-10
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Please forgive us when we forget we are to be kind, longsuffering, patient and forgiving. Forgive us when we let fear of retribution keep us from standing up and being counted as a follower of Jesus. Our world is in such a mess in good part because who we are in Christ, is not important enough to sacrifice everything for. We pray we seek You for a heart like David, the courage of Joshua, the wisdom of Daniel, the zeal of Peter, the love of John and boldness of Paul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.