Short Thought continued.....

Pretence

 

‘Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?’

(Galatians 1:10 NIV)

 

I was about to embark on something new which would bring together 

people who knew me from different circumstances.

I was worried that I would modify my behaviour and adapt to please both sets of people.

I feared I would be judged by one group if I showed the transformational work God had been doing in me.

I also feared I would be judged by the other if I did not show the transformational work God had been doing.

 

I took my worries to God asking Him to calm my fears and speak to me through His Word.

He led me to read the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.

Ananias and Sapphira sold a field, and gave some of the money to the apostles.

They kept some of the money to themselves but denied this. 

They both suddenly died.

 

Selling property and giving the money was one practice in the newly formed church to support those in need. 

The donation of money to the church was not obligatory; it was a gift.

The early church was new, growing and needing to establish its roots.

Dishonesty and deception would have weakened the potential of the new church.

God wanted genuine, honest, wholehearted believers.

 

I wondered what relevance this had to help me in the situation I was worrying about.

It became clear to me that the issue was not the incomplete donation,

but the pretence that all the money was given. 

 

Pretence: A way of behaving that is intending to deceive people.

This word challenged me.

Was I going to be genuine, honest and wholehearted for God, or would I put on an act

and in effect deceive people by hiding behind the appearances I felt they expected?

If I hid behind pretence, it could reduce the potential of what God was wanting to do through me.

 

God is transforming each of us, and we should not be ashamed of this.

Are we looking for ’the approval of men, or of God?’

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the transformational work You are doing in me, help me not to hide it. Amen.

 

Thought: How are you being a genuine, honest, wholehearted believer of God?

Whose approval are you trying to win?

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