3-15-2016

 Good Morning All!!                

      Psalm 26:4; “I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites”

     I was listening to a news story on the radio the other day.  They were interviewing a used book dealer and asking him about selling books in this technological age.  Outside of bibliophiles, he has a very limited market with most books being solid to pulp mills for a few cents a pound.  This one dealer had found a rather unique niche market.  He sold his books by the foot.  If someone had a bookshelf to fill, and was only concerned about looks, he would fill the shelves with old books.  He would charge them by the foot so if your bookshelf was 8 feet; you paid for 8 feet of books.  They asked him who bought books like this.  The first candidates were movie, TV shows and plays.  They only wanted to fake appearance.  The next two candidates were somewhat perplexing.  He sold many feet of books to lawyers and doctors.  He speculated that doctors and lawyers receive all their new information and updates online so they rarely use books but most people still want to see the tomes upon tomes of research material in the places of these professions.  We want our doctors and lawyers well read.  Yet it is somewhat ironic that the two professes we want to be honest with us uses deceptive practices to make us trust them.

    Unfortunately, many Christians display a faith that may have been purchased by the foot.  It is for show only.  Jesus called these people “hypocrites.”  It was a phrase used to describe actors.  In the Greek plays that occurred at the time of Jesus; it was common for actors to have more than one role in a play.  The actor would hold up a mask to be one character and then hold up a different mask to play a different character.  This is what Jesus accused the Pharisees of doing.  They were pretending to be religious and pious but they were actually greedy and selfish.  The Pharisees wanted people to think they were holy that was how they maintained control.

    Perhaps you know someone who shows their faith by the foot.  It is display only.  Perhaps there are times when that describe the way we behave.  Yet this type of existence is very hollow.  It is void of truth, purpose, contentment or peace.  This type of life leaves you hungering for something more.  You hunger for God’s true Word; you hunger for his hope and peace.  This is the Holy Spirit calling you back to the loving truth.  Heed the call of the Spirit.  Repent and return to the Lord.  Hear his call to live in his peace.

Gracious Father, there are times when I act the part but it is not in my heart.  Lead me by your Spirit to live according to your will.  Lead me to see that your truth alone gives me hope and salvation.  Give me the heart to serve you in all that I do.  Guide me to be your faithful hands here in this life.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret