GENUINE IS FOR REAL--
VIRTUE
Scripture Reading--Philippians 1:9-21
Let's imagine that your are going gift shopping in an ancient market. Your mother's birthday is only days away, and you decide to purchase a lovely piece of pottery as a special gift for her. After visiting several merchants' displays, you hold in your hand what you believe is your piece of choice. It's a vase--dainty, delicate, and beautifully decorated. What makes the vase more appealing is the price. It's within the limits of your coin collection.
Suddenly, another shopper steps to your side, inquires about the vase, and asks if he can look at it. You agree. Stepping near the window where brilliant rays of sunlight shine through, he lifts the vase, seemingly allowing sunlight to shine through the pottery.
"Do you see that dark spot?" he asks. He repositions the piece to allow you a careful look. "It's wax the merchant used to fill a crack in the pottery, hiding a flaw so that it wouldn't be noticeable." You realize that you've given your approval to a vase that's actually damaged.
The vase was not excellent or sincere. To be sincere literally means to be tested by the sunlight, revealing that something is genuine and authentic. Philippians 1:10 says, "That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ."
Is your Christianity genuine? Does it prove to be authentic even when tested? God's desire is for excellence--giving our best so we might have God's best. Don't ever settle for cheapness because you will always get a bad deal. Unfortunately, much of modern Christianity has become just a cheap imitation of the real thing. In other words, it's generic. Virtue, an uncommon word in everyday language, implies a spirit of excellence in all that we do for God. Nothing less than excellence will do.
DISCUSSION: How would you describe a hypocrite? Would you want to be one?
--Tom Palmer--
No comments:
Post a Comment