Hello family 🙂 I have a question for you today. How many of us grew up hearing the infamous saying “do the right thing”?…. Okay, one more question. How many of us were actually shown HOW to do the right thing? Oh man, I think I saw some hands go down. Personally, I was given a lot more instructions as a kid than I was given examples. Translation: Hypocrisy. “Do as I say, not as I do”. Whether it’s a parent, a teacher, a friend or your little league baseball coach, we all know what it’s like to have someone set a standard for you that they would never be able to meet themselves.
It’s human nature to desire greatness. Achieving it, however, takes discipline and perseverance, constantly reminding yourself it’s worth the pain. How many of us have broken daylight studying for tomorrow’s big test? Broken a sweat trying to get into better shape? Broken off a toxic relationship so you didn’t go down like a sinking ship and ruin your future? My point is growth requires discomfort. It requires sacrifice. Achieving your goals can be difficult, so difficult that most people give up before they get there.
I believe this is how the hypocrite is born. A hypocrite knows and understands what is good and right, but lacks the ability to live it out. So the standard remains in the mind but disappears from their everyday practice. They can tell you the right thing to do but give up their own pursuit of it. They have a principle, but no power to follow it.
Its no secret that the church has a reputation for hypocrisy. These people are educated on God’s standards but gave up their pursuit of a holy life. They think in defeated ways, saying things like, “I want to stop being angry, but sin has such a hold on me…. I’ll always be a sinner…. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak….Nobody’s perfect brother” but Jesus is perfect and he lives inside the heart of every believer! He gave us the Holy Spirit, whose job is to teach us to obey God! We’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life based on God’s standard.
God doesn’t withhold any good thing from his children and he will certainly not allow you to stay trapped in the bondage of sin with no way out! As a matter of fact, God wanted you free so badly that he sent his own son down here to die so you could live free from habitual sin, guilt, shame and regret! If you would pursue holiness and give it proper value; elevated above your gym body, above your favorite TV show, above your career, above your spouse and (dun dun dun….) children too. If you will pursue holiness like a treasure God will give you the map that leads to heaven. The way has already been paved. You just have to walk in it.
We all have to make the decision. Will we live like Jesus or will we live as a hypocrite, knowing what’s right but never striving for it? Choosing instead to keep ourselves comfortable and ignoring God’s standard that he so clearly spelled out to us. Romans chapter 8 (AMP version) perfectly explains our two options:
Option 1: Walk in the Holy Spirit:
Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], 4 so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power]. 5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].
Option 2: Walk in the Flesh:
6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.
Rules only modify behavior. They cannot change your heart. Only the Holy Spirit can change your heart and empower you to live God’s way. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, the one who leads us to understand spiritual things. When we read the Bible, He should be our interpreter. As you walk through your day, He will remind you of the words you’ve read and prompt you to obey them. That is how a person grows in godliness and avoids hypocrisy, by humbly yielding to the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.
If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to make prayer and Bible reading a daily habit. Set aside time to spend with God every day. You don’t have to set lofty goals for yourself. Just start with a couple of verses to think about and pray about throughout the day. Keep a conversation with God going. He will meet you where you’re at, give you understanding, and bring you closer to Himself through this process.
It’s a small thing, but the small things in life can make the biggest differences. Just imagine living in a world where people didn’t brush their teeth! Gross, huh? It’s a small thing that drastically improves our quality of life, and this small Bible habit will drastically improve your spiritual walk!
Keep away your spiritual “morning breath”. Share below what books in the Bible you want to read, and what truths you’re hoping to find and apply! Need help deciding on a reading plan? Check out YouVersion Bible reading plans. They’re a great way to start the day!