The Test of FaithSample

PRETENDING TO BE HOLY

Righteous living is a difficult thing to find in this world. People live by their values and ignore what God wants them to do. When they live differently because they do the will of God, they become the object of ridicule and mockery because people think that they just pretend to be holy. Hence, holiness has a narrow meaning that is only limited to the walls of church and ministry, and not daily life. The truth is, the logical consequence of a decision to live for God is someone’s will to suppress his desires and flesh to please the Lord. 

If we look at it from a biblical perspective, true believers must live according to their beliefs. It would be strange for the believers to continue satisfying their desires. It would be strange for them to continue finding their pleasures. On the contrary, it is only natural for God's children to live as God lives. It is only natural that the King's children live as royal citizens. It is not strange to live to glorify God and give thanks to Him.

Indeed, as a result of sin, humans turn themselves more towards others. They do not want to submit to God. Man is more obedient to his flesh (cf. Rom. 1: 25-31). As a result, what should be abnormal, such as lesbianism, gay, and other deviant behaviors are considered as a natural phenomenon that must be understood as something human. On the other hand, what is true and divine is considered strange. It is even rejected and considered as foolishness.

That's the weirdness that happens in this world. However, let us not be shaken in the midst of all this. Do not be bored with telling the truth. Let’s live in the truth as the elected people. Christ has saved and redeemed us from sin and foolishness. Let us not underestimate and belittle His work by living according to our will. We live righteously not because we are self-righteous, but because we have been justified. We live in holiness not because we pretend to be holy, but because we have been sanctified.

Today’s devotional

1. Have we ever been considered to be pretentious or self-righteous people? In what ways are we thought that way? Does what other people think about us is correct?

2. How can we continue to live righteously in this wicked world?

Today’s action

Let’s have a boldness to live strangely by doing the truth and keep living a decent life.