Monthly Archives: February 2017

You know, my dad wasn’t particularly expressive when I was growing…

You know, my dad wasn't particularly expressive when I was growing up but there were was things he…

Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

You know, my dad wasn't particularly expressive when I was growing up but there were was things he did that spoke volumes. One example is how he would always be looking for change on the ground. It didn't matter where we were or the condition of the coin -it could be in the bottom of a puddle, covered in mud or even bent and mangled, my dad would stop in his tracks to pick it up. I also observed the same attitude when he would help people. I can't tell you how many times we were late getting somewhere because he would stop to help someone on the side of the road. Somehow as a child I put the two things together and what I learned from watching my dad was that all people have value, no matter where you find them or how they come to you. So, now I stop to pick up loose coins wherever I am, no matter the condition I find it in because it's a reminder of a lesson I learned from him. Happy Birthday Rev. Paul Luckett. I love you.

What Is Hypocrisy?

good-1123013_1920

It strikes me how sternly and often Jesus spoke about hypocrisy (Matt 16:6, 23:28, Luke 12:1, etc). If the Teacher sees fit to warn about something and call attention to it repeatedly, it’s important and something I need to press into.

So, I’ve been praying for some time, “Lord, what is hypocrisy? What is the corruption in us that you are speaking to when you say ‘hypocrisy’? How do I identify it in me?” I believe this answer came to me during my study time today,

“Hypocrisy is to elevate oneself and condemn fault in others that we overlook in ourselves.”

This is informed by passages such as Romans 2:1, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” In short, we are all corrupt and corruption causes harm. Period. So, we’re all guilty and in need of mercy. If we have received such great mercy as that made available in Jesus Christ, we know it was not because we were worthy but because He is merciful, else mercy is not mercy. This should produce in us humility and compassion, definitely not superiority.