Essential JesusSample

Let Them See God In You

Jesus was brutal about hypocrisy, even calling hypocrites "snakes" (Matthew 23:33 NIV) because hypocrisy is an instant killer of "light." It turns people away from the glory of God faster than any other human behavior. Why would you want to worship the god of a hypocrite–a person who preaches but does not practice morality, one who lays accusations at everyone else’s feet but their own?

An old proverb says, it’s "better to be known as a sinner than a hypocrite" because knowing you need redemption shines your light on your redeemer, while a hypocrite pretends to shine a light in one direction with the intention of that glory returning in their direction. This is why a good deed from an honest heart matters.

We live in a world of skepticism and artificial facades for profit and personal gain so, in contrast, when you perform good deeds–when there is nothing to gain but for our Father in heaven to receive the praise–your light will shine very bright. I’ve just finished reading Everyone a Child Should Know by Clare Heath-Whyte to my son, and the reason these "everyones" were chosen is because their good deeds stood out when others wanted to stamp out their light. Gladys Aylward looked after more than 100 children who had no one else to love them. Corrie ten Boom’s family fed, hid, and helped many Jewish families during WWII. There are so many more, historically and today, choosing to let their light shine so others experience God’s love rather than take some sham glory. Jesus says, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14a NIV), but will the world look back on our lives and know that?

Written by BETH LACHMAN