Inward Reality

Paul said in Romans 2:21-22, "You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? (22) You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?" Paul in this verse is calling them hypocrites. Why? - Because their walk did not match their talk.

It reminds me of the story of a rather pompous-looking deacon who was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. He asked, "Why do people call me a Christian?" After a moment's pause, one little boy said, "Maybe it's because they don't know you."

Guys, the lost world that we live in wants to see more of our faith lived out in our lives. I always say, "God wants your life and not just your lip." Any one can give lip service to God. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 15:7-8 when he said, "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: (8) 'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME."

In closing, I'm reminded of another example of a lip and not life story. "He made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confessions which would become the pillars of the new government. He assumed the earnestness of a man weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out pious stories to the press, especially to the church papers. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew the strength for his great work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Indeed, Adolf Hitler was a master of outward religiosity--with no inward reality!