In passing judgment on another you condemn yourself because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
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Romans 2:1
Hypocrisy can be very easy to spot in other people. You may have heard someone say that they won’t attend church because it’s full of hypocrites. It’s harder to recognize it in oneself. Perhaps that’s why Billy Graham said about hypocrisy, “Ask God to reveal hypocrisy in your life—an inconsistency between what you profess and what you practice. Then ask God to bring you so close to Christ that you won’t want to live an inconsistent, deceitful life.” Having hypocrisy in your life is like having roaches in the house. You want to know of their presence and you want them out!
If Jesus had a pet peeve it was apparently hypocrisy. He called the religious leaders hypocrites to their faces, pointing out their many transgressions. They demanded burdens from others that they would not carry themselves. They did good deeds to be seen by others. They craved honor and special treatment. They disciple others to be worse than they were themselves. They valued money over God’s temple and altar. They tithed the tiniest things but neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They did things to look good, but their hearts were evil. They persecuted prophets whom God sent (Matthew 23).
There are Christians who claim to believe in prayer, yet don’t pray. What do you think about prayer? Does your prayer life line up with your beliefs? As you pray today, ask God to reveal any areas in your life where your actions do not match up with what you say you believe. Then intercede for the Church in the United States to become so close to Christ that hypocrisy is dissolved by devotion.
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