This week's command, "Be Perfect," is read in the Bible in Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This principle, when correctly understood, causes Christians to be more like Jesus daily and keeps them focused on God's perfect vision of "Goodness." In other words, it moves people of the faith to be sincere rather than towards hypocrisy.
The tragedy with Christianity today is the same as it was in Jesus's day, hypocrisy, not being honest in the faith. The root problem being the believer's whole heart is not devoted to the LORD. They are more actors and pretenders than being sincere in the Delight of the LORD rooted in His Love. Many don't put much effort into establishing life's principles, setting up boundaries in life, and intentionally reaching God's potential. They reflect the enemy's character in place of being an expression of the Image of God. It's sad because it turns people away from the Lord and causes divisions in relationships and life.
The symptoms of hypocrisy in the faith are many. One tends to say one thing but does another. Another sign is treating those in power or authority differently than they act towards associates or peers. Giving advice but failing to follow their guidance is yet another symptom. What about judging others who don't conform to their way of thinking. One last symptom I'll mention is a hypocrite loves volunteering other people's time and resources but rarely raises their hand. I could go on, but most understand what it means to be a hypocrite. The question is, are you one?
The prescription of hypocrisy is Jesus' command, "Be Perfect." Be perfect or mature in God the Father's truth and Spirit where sincerity is the reality in "who you are" and "what you do." Sincerity is letting God shine through your blemishes rather than trying to cover them up. In other words, our walk talks and our talk talks, but our walk talks louder than our talk talks. Sincerity is where our beliefs, character, and actions work well together to better all, both in private and public. So sincerity begs the question, are you truly living a good and exemplary life constantly. The Apostle Paul shares these words about sincerity: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called – Ephesians 4:1 (ESV). All of us have been called to be genuine in the faith on the inside and out.
Today, stop being a hypocrite; dispute your insincerity in the faith, and decide to apply the vision of God's perfect picture of "Goodness." Do so to understand where you're at in your imperfection to grow and become more like Jesus daily where you are focused and determined to be an expression of God's Image, a perfect image where all benefit and life is good in the LORD continually with all sincerity.
With Love and sincereness,