Theme: SERVING GOD IN SINCERITY AND IN TRUTH
Text: “For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.” – Job 15:34, 35.
Comment: Those who are not sincere and truthful in the service of God but claim to be so are hypocrites. Hypocrisy is the false claim or pretence of having godly principles and beliefs whereas one is not so. The text for today warns that desolation shall be the lot of all those who have made hypocrisy their stock-in-trade. Our Lord Jesus Christ condemned the religious leaders of his day for their hypocrisy. He told them: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:7-9. See also Luke 12:1,2) In another stinging rebuke, the Saviour said: “…Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?” – Luke 11:39-40.
Let us all strive to serve God in sincerity and in truth so as to be Christians in deed. Apostle stated: “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” – Ephesians 6:24.