The Real Deal
096
BY JENNIFER POAD TX
Jesus teaches in Matthew 23:25-28 “25 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” Jesus condemned the Pharisees for putting on a perfect front, when they really needed to practice humility. Worse yet, they were the leaders that appeared saintly on the outside while being corrupt on the inside. The world puts so much emphasis on outward appearances, while Jesus only cares about what’s in our heart. Pride keeps us wanting to look perfect on the outside, but Jesus wants us to come to Him with humility and
authenticity. When we are fake, we can’t grow. If we don’t admit that we have weaknesses, how can we fix them? Not only do we need to admit our weaknesses to God, but it’s also good to admit them to one another. Being able to show weakness and ask for prayers when we are broken inside gives those around us an opportunity to show that we are still loved despite our flaws. Be real. God created you with all your imperfections and will love you through anything. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, repented of your sins, and learned to walk with Christ, perfection will come when you get to heaven. ●
ot long ago, while watching a heifer show, the judge frequently talked about
heifers having
honest rib shape verses depth of body from being fat. In heifers especially, it’s important to distinguish the difference between fake and the real deal. We should strive for honesty and integrity in our everyday lives as well. What persona are you putting out there for people to see? Are you showing who you really are, or the fake version that you want people to see? There is a lot of pressure in the world to be perfect, but Jesus was the only perfect person, and people still hated Him. Trying to look perfect for the world can be a burden too big to handle.
Jennifer Poad is a Showtimes Hall of Fame Member! She continues to share the message in each issue of The Showtimes.
Powered by FlippingBook