“Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [[a]reserved for and awaiting you] with andfrom your Father Who is in heaven.
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be [b]recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward [c]in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5 Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward [d]in full already. Matthew 6:1-5 Amplified Bible
I always hated to hear someone say, “I don’t go to church because there are hypocrites there!” Well, they didn’t mind shopping at the mall and hypocrites are there. They don’t mind going to sporting events and hypocrites are there. They don’t mind travelling all over the country and hypocrites are on planes, cruise ships, and trains yet that doesn’t prevent anyone from getting on them! So why is church ostracized because hypocrites may be there?
First, let us make sure we know what we are talking about. What is, in fact, a hypocrite? According to Webster’s Dictionary a hypocrite is defined as 1. a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. 2. a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. A hypocrite doesn’t necessarily go to church. You can find a hypocrite ANYWHERE! So since this is the case and we can’t stand hypocrites it only makes sense to become total recluses. No place is safe from hypocrites! They are literally everywhere! Pretty silly, huh? But people actually think this way. What if someone became gravely ill and decided to not go to the hospital because the other patients are or could be hypocrites? They will just stay home and die because they can’t stand those hypocrites! In essence that is what we are doing by not going to church because we MIGHT run into one there!
Nobody is perfect. Christians are a work in progress! Believe me, from personal experience, I know! But, I can’t let the immaturity of a believer, or the arrogancy of one who claims to be one (it isn’t our call to say if they are or are not) stop me from reaching my full potential in Christ or in the body of Christ, which is the church. I am not going to let people stop me from obeying God who said NOT to forsake the assembling of ourselves because they choose to be disobedient or haven’t arrived just as I haven’t arrived! It takes all of my time and effort keeping Juliana in line!! I have to trust the Holy Spirit with everyone else. He is the only one qualified and able to change a heart anyway.
Notice it says in the scripture for today, that hypocrites are on street corners, too. That means they aren’t just supposedly in churches. Why don’t we ever hear about those? Are you not going to go to work, because you have buffoons that work alongside you? Are you going to pass up job promotions and advancement because there are hypocrites where you work? People who claim they feel one way, but in actuality feel another? Of course not! Not if you have good sense! You wouldn’t think of it! It would be biting off your own nose to spite your face, so to speak! Well, this is exactly what people do when they refuse to go to church and advance themselves in the things of God! The things of God are permanent, my friend! Your job is temporary and one day will no longer even matter!
I am so glad God is a God of practicality and common sense, just as He is God of the supernatural! I am so glad He loved me, when I was unloveable! Let us leave the job of getting people where they need to be to God and concentrate more on OUR relationship with Him! Don’t let anyone else stop you from reaching your full potential. When I stand before God one day, I will be required to answer for one person and one person only and that is myself! God will not let me point my finger at someone else and place any blame or responsibility at their doorstep. The buck stops right here!
Stop letting other people hinder you. We don’t live in a perfect world and never will until we get to Heaven! Now is the time to turn some things around, and our opinions may just be what needs to be examined first! I want to be all God has called me to be, because it isn’t just about me! May I decrease so that Christ may increase! I pray that is your prayer as well.
Have a blessed day, dear reader! Hope to see you soon!
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