No Hypocrisy Wanted

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Romans 12:3-4: Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

To the outside world, Martin is the model citizen. He is good to his wife and family. His is a good neighbor. Martin even volunteers at the local food bank. At the same time, Fred has a secret.

Martin exudes confidence. He says the right things. He gives the appearance of a right and moral man. Martin is not judgmental. He is not mean in what he says. At the same time Martin, while telling the people around him the wrongs and the evils of the world, is himself is living in the wrongs and evils that he denounces. And this Bible passage haunts him.

Martin knows that his life is hypocrisy. Martin knows that he is living two "separate" lives. He spends a lot of energy in his life trying to live the right life while fighting the evil and wrong that Martin is also against. He is tormented with guilt, wracked with shame, and tortured by his conscience. He is tired of living the lie, as he sees it. What can Martin do?

Martin needs to see, because of what Jesus did, God's kindness, forbearance, and patience with him. Martin needs to see that God loves him as a man of hypocrisy, guilt, torment, and torture. God sees Martin as a man who Jesus saved by means of Jesus' perfect walk of life, by Jesus' walk to the cross to be the sacrifice for Martin's sin, and Jesus' resurrection that promised Martin a new life that was freed from all sin, death, and the influence of Satan. When Martin finally "sees" what God is doing in his life, Martin will be freed from all the sin and hypocrisy. Martin will confess and profess to God that he is a sinner who is in dire need of forgiveness. And Martin will take hold of the new life that is right in front of him. Dear God, lead us, the Martin's of the world, to know of Your grace and take hold of Your life, In Jesus' name, Amen.