Don’t Just Appear Righteous, But Live For God Also

Too many people portray themselves to be men and women of God, but inwardly they are just like people of this world. During the week, they are not any different than an unbeliever. They waste their time watching TV and playing on their smartphone, where the Bible and prayer are neglected. Even how they live their life is very sinful. This because they have not allowed Jesus to cleanse them from within. So they only appear righteous on the outside. If they had, then they would have repented of their sins, instead of continuing to live unworthy of the presence of the Holy Spirit. My friends, you may be able to trick people that you are a Christian, but God can see through to your heart. He knows who is for Him and who is against Him, based on their works. Either His works are in them or they are not. People that only look the part for God, but are not, are no different than the scribes and Pharisees of old. To these people, Jesus said, ¹“woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:25-28) This is so true with people in our day. It is so easy to spot them as well when you start conversing with one of them. For either, they are living for God or they are not.

Have you ever seen people say such long prayers as if it is scripted? Unless it is heartfelt and Holy Spirit led, then it is not of God. Some people also like to sit on the front bench of the church in order for people to see them lifting their hands up to God, while in worship. Jesus spoke about this as well, when he said, ¹“but all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:5,6) ¹“and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” (Matthew 23:14) Even some people give a bigger tithe than others in order to show off their wealth, but inwardly they are not walking for God. Jesus spoke on this as well. He said, ¹“woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23) Therefore, their money without doing God’s will was for naught. So what does Jesus expect of us that call themselves Christians? He said, ¹“whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) We are not to lift up our own selves, but the Lord God instead. Doing this, we humble ourselves to God, that He may do a work in our lives, that we are incapable of doing on our own. Therefore, we don’t only look like Christians, but we walk in the light of Jesus also. His blood has cleansed us and we are now capable of doing greater things for Him in His kingdom.

Let us pray:
Lord, I am sorry if I have portrayed myself to be something for You, but have not lived up to it in the inside. I know that many times I have said things are wrong, according to Your Word, when I myself have had that same issue. And it breaks my heart when I go against Your will. So cleanse me this day of all my sins. Fill my life with Your love. Help me walk in Your light. I do not wish to only appear righteous but to be made this way through Your presence that is within me. I know that I cannot do anything good, if You are not the one leading me. So please lead me in Your light. Help me to not fall into temptation, but build me up in Your armor. My flesh is weak, but I am strong with You in my life. I can do all things when You have a hold of my hand. It is my desire to not only appear like I am Christian but really live this way from the inside out. This is my life long desire. I am sorry if I have not met the expectations You have had for me, up until now. Please forgive me, Lord. I no longer wish to make a scene, but humbly do as You have called me. It is better for people to see You in me than to want to follow what I do. What is there about me that can save them? Nothing. Only You can save us, dear Lord. Therefore, may the Holy Spirit be with me always. Help me understand the Bible better, that more people will be drawn to You. I wish to see more souls be saved and go to heaven one day. So convict people of their sins, as You have convicted me of my own. May they also desire to be washed in Your blood. Cleanse them, oh Lord. Bring them into Your presence and lead them on the path of righteousness. This is the path that You have placed me on and I am so grateful. I love You, Lord. Thank You for forgiving a wretch like me. I praise You for Your love and mercy. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

Matthew 23

¹Matthew 23 (KJV)
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.