Hypocrites Defined

macpcOne of the things that I love about being at Ninth and O is the fact that we are not expected to be perfect. That is a good thing, because none of us would feel comfortable there if it wasn’t so. The difference about the family at Ninth and O is that we acknowledge that we are sinful. From our pastor to a person in a pew, we realize that until we see Christ we will struggle with our sinful flesh. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that we are being changed. It is a process. We do have a goal but it is not set by man, it is has already been set by Christ, the perfect God/Man.

I don’t know about you, but I seem to always point out someone else’s problems way before I look at mine. The word “hypocrite” gets thrown around a lot as something that only someone does. But for me, I know that I am a hypocrite. I know I fit the description pretty well. Hypocrisy is defined by living contradictory to what you state you believe. Well, I echo Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament. “Why do I seem to do the things I know I should not, yet don’t do the thing I know I ought”. The problem here is that our society has taught us that if you do something you should believe in what you do. The end results in the fact that we say we are hopeless if we sin once. That could be true if we are not a believer, but for a believer, we have hope in Christ.

Recommended Video (especially for pastors and seminary students)

Your Story or God’s Story

sharing-your-storyThe Single’s Vision in 2009 is for everyone in our group to share their story of how God has changed their lives. There were many of you who had the opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone in your family this holiday season. For those who have lost ones in your family, my prayer goes out to you for strength this year. For those who are blessed to have a Christian family, may we all be in prayer for our friend’s lost family members. Whether it is prayer or sharing your faith, I urge each of you to “not grow weary in doing good” and may we see the fruit of our labor in 2009.

Questions for Comment

1. Is it harder to share with someone you know or someone you have never met?

2. What keeps us from sharing our faith?

3. Is it your story or God’s?

REALITY INVITE