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

LAW and GOSPEL...

SCRIPTURE

Romans 2:12-16 (NRSV)

Gentiles obey the law instinctively

All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.

DEVOTION

I’ve often been impressed by the love, joy, and peace that I witness in the lives of my non-Christian friends. I have often wondered how it is—apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ--that they are able to live “good” lives in service to others!

But, today, Paul’s letter to Romans reminds us that even our non-Christian friends who have not heard the good news message are able to instinctively do what the law requires because God has written that law on their hearts and in their consciences.

Wow! This is why all human beings in their right minds are capable of love, desirous of peace, and seekers of joy. No matter where you find yourself, it generally unacceptable to kill, steal, or destroy. These are human virtues and values practiced across race, culture, religion, and ethnicity—with few exceptions.

Now, in every society are there degenerates? Of course! There are always people who flirt with and/or disregard the laws of society, but on the whole, as human beings there are some universal laws of right and wrong.

But, here’s what we need to know as Christians! As Christians, we must be hearers and doers of God’s Holy Word! We not only have the Law written in our hearts, but we have access to that same law in the person of Jesus Christ, with whom we profess to have a life-giving, affirming, and saving relationship!

We love because JESUS is LOVE. We serve because JESUS taught us to do so. We are peacemakers because CHRIST did the same. We are compassionate, because we have seen GOD’s compassion toward us.

Our motivation to do right is not born solely of a selfish desire to lead a “good life,” instead it is our soul’s desire to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves!

Our compulsion on a daily basis is to love and serve somebody to the cross of Jesus where they will meet the King of Love, receive forgiveness, be reconciled with God, and inherit the promise of eternal life!

My friends, let us take advantage of our non-Christian friends’ desire to live healthy, happy, holy, and whole lives. Let us share with them the good news that this kind of life always takes its genesis in the love, care, compassion, generosity, grace, and mercy of our Great God! Let us help them make ultimate meaning out of life by teaching them that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost!

After all, when we are in Christ, life makes more sense, takes on greater meaning, and testifies 24/7/365 to how great is our God!

Let’s face it, the law makes so much more sense, when we also understand the gospel—or the good news—that God loves gave, and saves!

Our non-Christian friends only possess “half” of the story; therefore, it is our honor and joy to introduce them to the Good News whose Name is JESUS!

Go in peace and share this good news with others!

Amen! So be it!

Will you share good news with a non-Christian friend today?

Holy God, thank you that you have written your law on the heart of all human beings. Please help me to now share Your good news with them as well. I am so grateful that you love us so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life! I am so thankful that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected just as he promised! Please help me to share this good news message with others. I love you and I want to share your love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

JUDGE NOT, LEST YE BE JUDGED!

SCRIPTURE

Romans 2:1-11 (NRSV)
Divine judgment applies to all

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one's deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

DEVOTION

Today’s scripture reading reminds us of the importance of resisting the temptation to judge others!

As Christians, we sometimes fall into the trap of trying to police the behavior of others. We stand in judgment against others, not in love, but in self-righteous piety.

To this, Paul says, “Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?”

My Lord, have mercy on us!

I am reminded that Matthew 7 entreats us, “Judge not, lest you be judged!”

So, what are we to do besides judge our non-Christian friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and enemies? Well, scripture is clear.

We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves! We are also commissioned to go out into the entire world bringing the good news message that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life!

Our job and calling is to simply love people to the cross. For it is at the cross of Jesus that our non-Christian friends will meet the Love of God which saves our souls and transforms our behaviors from the inside out!

Is there anyone in your life that you need to love well today? If so, please pray with me:

God, I want to love people well. Please help me to resist the temptation to be judge, jury, and executioner. God, I trust you to be the righteous judge. Today, I just want to love somebody to the cross. Please help me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.