The Lord Jesus always spoke the truth. He cared for His disciples and wanted them to enjoy God’s best for them.

In the Jewish religion of the day, many of the religious leaders had grown cold toward God and what He wanted. They lacked love for God and for people – and sadly, did not know God. Jesus described their problem like this in Matthew 15:8: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

Their love for God had been replaced by a desire to please men and to have men think highly of them for their pretended piety. This same problem is found in professing Christianity today. What makes it worse is that being a hypocrite is contagious – since others are watching you and some may follow your example.

While none of us is perfect, if you act different in church on Sunday than you do the rest of the week – there is a problem. When you want to please God and know that He sees all you do 24/7 – you will seek to be the same seven days a week.

Acting different on Sunday than other days is what Jesus warned the Apostles about in our text verse – hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is just as much a sin as any other – and God hates all sin.

May God help us to be real Christians. God’s help and grace to enable you to live right is as available on Monday as it is on Sunday. He is faithful to uphold you and give you genuine victory if you will follow Him.

If you know that you are less than what God desires, ask for His forgiveness and put off any shade of it that you may be a genuine Christian. When He sees a heart that desires to please Him alone – He will bless: “thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).

Welcome to the New Year – 2023 is here. Now that the parties and celebrations are over, it is time to get serious about the new year.

While most people are wondering what this new year will bring – in comparison to last year – it will largely depend on what you make of it.

If you have not been walking close to God as a Christian, this is the year to change that. People need to see what real Christians are and why they should want what we say we have in Christ.

The above verses tell us that if we draw close to our Father, He will meet you halfway. We must first put off the levity and need to get serious about the things that He is serious about. We must hate our sin, confess it, and start walking in righteousness. He will help you do these things if you ask Him.

When you do, you can have the joy of a clean heart, be aware of His presence and blessing, and have victory over sin. If listening to Him, you can also have His guidance in your life.

If this devotional has spoken to your heart, and you wish to live closer to God this year, why not tell me about it. I’d love to hear it and could pray for you.