Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. —James 5:16
When a waitress in Ohio asked to see a customer’s driver’s license, she was shocked when she saw the photo on the ID. It was her own picture! The waitress had lost her driver’s license a month earlier, and this young woman was using it so she’d have “proof” she was old enough to drink alcohol. The police were called, and the customer was arrested for identity theft. Trying to gain what she wanted, she pretended to be someone she wasn’t.
Jacob, in the Old Testament, did some pretending too. With his mother Rebekah’s help, he fooled his dying father into believing he was his brother Esau so he could gain the blessing meant for the elder son (Gen. 27). Jacob got caught after his deceitful act, but it was too late for Esau to receive the blessing.
Pretending goes on in our churches today. Some people put on a false front. They use the right “Christian” words, attend church almost every Sunday, and even pray before meals. They pretend they “have it all together” in order to gain the approval of others. But inside they’re struggling with brokenness, guilt, doubt, or an addiction or other persistent sin.
God placed us in a body of believers to support one another. Admit that you aren’t perfect. Then seek the counsel of a godly brother or sister in Christ.
Don’t hide your sin and cover up,
Pretending there is nothing wrong;
Instead, confess it and repent,
Then God will fill your heart with song. —Sper
Be what God intends you to be—don’t pretend to be what you’re not.
7 comments:
after reading this devo.. it really reminded me of how rbk is really good for our mens small group.
I'm pretty sure we know people who are "pretenders" in church, and I myself have been one sometimes. But I really try and strive to be someone committed and all for God.
-Jon rbk(1,0)
Where did you get the devo from?
This prompts me to something I was thinking about yesterday. That we should be striving towards authentic brotherhood. We are getting there, I think, don't get me wrong. But, there have been times we have ruined (myself especially) moments of closeness with jokes due to insecurity. So let's strive to stop being pretenders, and be authentic with one another.
Cheers,
Richard
rbk(0) --> i screwed up last night :/
makes me remember all the times i have pretended to be A-OK when I myself am borked... at times i feel like i need to put up a front that i am a-ok and nothing is bothering me, but u guys are too good at spotting things...
-jacky (3,1)
very true... I personally strive for openness amongst all. But even that, I hid things from some people... so I'm a hypocrite. With rbk and with MSG, I hope this pushes us to be completely open and close with one another to help and build each other up. I gotta learn that, when things aren't ok.. they're not ok and stop pretending that things will be fine. In order for us to become better/stronger, we must first admit our weakness and struggles. Good devo to remind us this.
Brian Yee -> rbk(2,0)
yah, i agree with you guys on that. I really hope MSG and rbk can get us to be at least transparent with each other.
Hopefully that can help us not be pretenders.
- Jono rbk (1,2)
read it, cant quite put my thoughts together
-drew rbk(0.2)
got this devo from Our Daily Bread
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