Hypocrites?

SCRIPTURE

Romans 2:17-29 (NRSV)

Real circumcision is a matter of the heart

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples? You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart - it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.


DEVOTION

We've all heard non-Christians comment, "Why should I follow Jesus, you people are no different than me."

These kinds of comments break my heart because it proves that, as Christians, we are often perceived as hypocrites because we say one thing and do another.

It is so important that we are honest with our non-Christian brothers and sisters. The Truth is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; there is none righteous, no not one!

We are only made righteous by the blood of the Lamb. It is nothing that we do. It is nothing that we say. It is not about how good or bad we are; it is ONLY about our faith in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection from the dead.

We are saved not because of who we are, but because of who JESUS is!

As Christians, we do our very best to love God and neighbor as ourselves. But when we mess up, we are invited by our loving GOD to RE-TURN to God with all of our hearts, confessing our sin, and receiving God's forgiveness.

As we put all of our hope in Jesus to make atonement for our sin and gift us with eternal life we are saved! And this free gift of salvation puts a smile on our face and a testimony in our heart that causes us to tell our non-Christian friends that it is JESUS who saves and changes hearts for the better!


Let us pray:

Holy God, please help me to be a faithful witness. Please make me bold in my declaration that I am a sinner, saved by God's love, grace, and Son, Jesus, who is the Christ! Please help me not to be a hypocrite, pretending to be perfect and failing every time. Instead, help me to point people to Jesus, who is the sinless and perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! I pray this in His Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta