The Great Pretender
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, September 26, 2013
"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).
Someone has once said that children can see right through you. If you doubt, watch as you attempt to teach your children or a class of young people. If you are nervous, scared, or unprepared, they will quickly take advantage of your weakness.
Your credibility as a homeschool teacher will also be compromised when you pretend you know the answers to all the questions your children ask. Admitting you don't know and saying, "Let's find the answer together," will hold more stock than pretending.
God knows when you are pretending with Him as well. You may try to hide behind righteous actions, but He can see the condition of your heart. Christ had much to say about the Pharisee hypocrites of His day when He was on Earth. He rebuked them by saying, "Woe to you!" and called them "white sepulchres" who were clean on the outside but not on the inside. He condemned them for their pretending.
What about you? Are you pretending today? Do you change your speech or actions depending on whom you are with? God can see right through you. He knows your heart and what you really think. What He desires is your broken heart instead of your false worship. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalm 51:17).
Heavenly Father, forgive me for thinking I am righteous because of my actions. I know You paid the price on the cross for my sins, and without Your forgiveness, all my deeds are as filthy rags. Help me to be real today and truly worship You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(4 comments)
CATHY E 09/26/2008 04:12:02
These are so helpful thank-you for my daily prayers!Cathy
LYNDA B 09/26/2008 04:30:13
I am so blessed by Daily Focus every morning,Thanks so much.
GAIL B 09/26/2009 15:36:04
Thank you for this reminder of how unpure our motives can be. We need always to examine our hearts before we speak or act.
Gail B.
KATHY S 09/26/2012 06:52:35
This is so true, my son knows immediatley when I am stressed or worried about something.
Our Pastor said something a few services ago similar to this, he asked us did we act the same at church as we do in our everyday lives with people.
And a truthful answer to that on my part is a \"no\" on occasion.
Sometimes I get fussy at the person who just blew a \"Stop\" sign and almost hit us. Or the person who cut in front of me at the grocery store.
I have been tryinbg to apply that teaching to my life for the last few weeks, and this confirms that I need to try a little harder.
Even though these people were in the wrong, I stoill as a Christian must set an example of Love, just Like Jesus did. Almost everyone around him did wrong to him and he forgave all of them.
Thank you for another wonderful devotional. I would be lost without these each morning!