WEEK 16 – DAY 3

EXPOSED

He said to them, “Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.” Luke 12:1b-3 (MSG)

Jesus was speaking primarily to His own disciples, but that category includes all believers. In the previous chapter of Luke Jesus had just railed on the Pharisees and Scribes about their hypocrisy. They were supposed to be the religious leaders of the Jews, the examples to follow; but Jesus warned His disciples not to follow their example. Imagine if Jesus came today to say not to follow the example of our preachers and teachers. Come to think of it, He might say just that about some of them. He might tell others not to follow our example. A person might be good at fooling people with a bright smile and pleasant words, but no one can fool God. One can observe laws and traditions, but inwardly be nasty. People think they can get away with saying one thing to your face and another behind your back. However, Jesus reminds us that God knows and sees all and eventually will reveal all to others.

Remember when you were little and your mother always seemed to know when you had done something wrong even when no sibling had tattled? She seemed to have eyes in the back of her head and ears that could hear three rooms away. We can be sure that God’s eyes and ears are keener than Mom’s. He knows not only our actions but our inner motivations. It’s better to do a heart check on yourself now than to have all exposed by God later. Look up Hebrews 4:13 and examine yourself in light of its truth.

Father, You not only see our actions and hear our words, but You peer into our hearts as well. Please reveal anything in us that is not in keeping with Your word and Your will and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.