Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, “I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.” This would lead to utter ruin! The Lord will never pardon such people. Instead, his anger and jealousy will burn against them. – Deuteronomy 29: 19-20

Lauryn Hill has a song called “Lost Ones” where she says, “Every man wants to act like he’s exempt..Hypocrites always want to play innocent.”

And she’s right.

We’ve all been guilty of hypocrisy, thinking we’re better than what we actually are.

It’s scary how we can shout “Amen!” and nod our heads in agreement when we listen to the preacher when the truth is:

Our lives are not actually in accordance with what we just agreed with!

I caught myself doing this not too long ago.

When I read Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector going to the temple to pray, I whole-heartedly agreed when He said the tax collector went home justified because he asked for God’s mercy, while the prideful Pharisee who praised his own good works did not.

But when the message of that parable really sank in, I realized that I was more like the Pharisee than the tax collector!

It’s not something I wanted to admit, but it was true.

I was prideful about my spiritual discipline.

I was walking around smelling myself, but I really stunk…

The truth is none of us can claim to be exempt from sin.

We always have to assume a posture of humility and self-examination.

A person could read the bible from cover to cover every year for the rest of their lives. It doesn’t change the fact that they’re just as sinful as the murderer in the jail cell.

Why?

Because we are only justified and made pure through our faith in Jesus Christ.

We must acknowledge this daily.

Today, ask God to fill you with a spirit of humility so that you will always look to Christ and not be blinded by pride and self-righteousness.

Be blessed,

Alexia