WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Luke 12:1-12
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“For God shall bring
every work into judgment,
with every secret thing…”

THE LEAVEN OF HYPOCRISY

A hypocrite is one who feigns to be what he is not, one who has the form of godliness but without the power, one who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue when he is destitute of true religion. He is a moral or religious counterfeit. Jesus strongly reproved hypocrisy. The Bible assures that there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and nothing spoken in darkness that shall not be proclaimed. There is no room for hypocrisy in Christianity. God knows every heart and thought of every man. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl 12:14).

Hypocrites fear man rather than God. The Lord told His disciples to fear Him who has power to cast into Hell. Jesus exhorts us not to fear them who threaten to kill us. Physical bodies may be destroyed but not the spirit which is more important because it is eternal. Our calling is to live as followers of Christ and we must not change our lifestyle to suit those around us but be consistent in witnessing for Him. The promises are sure, He will never leave us nor forsake us, He knows the very number of hairs on our heads. David Livingstone was quoted as saying, “I am immortal till my work is accomplished.”

Hypocrites are not true confessors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer must confess the name of Christ before men. We are to witness for Christ to whosoever we meet. If we are ashamed of Him, He will deny us also. We may face persecution but Jesus assures us of the help of the Holy Spirit even in times when we are taken to court. As long as we confess Jesus without shame or inhibition, God will strengthen us even in the midst of severe pressure and persecution from the enemies of the gospel. In times past, Christians were willing to lose their heads or be burned at the stake rather than deny their Saviour. Let us not be hypocrites, but be hyper for Christ!

THOUGHT: Am I a hypocrite?
PRAYER: Our Omniscient Father, Thou knowest the innermost recesses of my heart and mind, help me to be true to Thee at all times.