Avoiding the Mire of Hypocrisy

A ‘lil while back Kathy, our next-door neighbor brought us up to speed on Anthony. The cute albino squirrel had become a permanent resident of her front yard cabbage palm. But as the tree had come to the end of its days, and she’d made the call to have it cut down.

She had to leave for work by the time the arborist crew showed, and Kathy had no idea what became of cute ‘lil Anthony. However, the sound of joy in her voice about four or five weeks later even caused us a surprising sense of ‘happy for Anthony’.

Today as we’re clearing clutter from our iPhone, there again was the picture Kathy shared of cute ‘lil Anthony.

Tiny and amazingly cute, it’s hard to not to feel glad for his safety. And know what? From a parallel perspective, you and I share a similar but much, much larger spot of not just care, but secure, Divine protection from the Awesomely Loving Heart of God.

So, most days it makes us want to share. Share the good news of Lord Jesus to any and everyone yet to be born again. But truth is, sharing's an exception to usual day. Most days as we head to Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes or Murphy’s gas – we avoid eye contact – and ‘mind our own business’.

Although disciples of Lord Jesus Christ, truth is we fail at loving. Loving others. We’ve real good at talking love, singing love, convincing ourselves about our love. But our hearts as evident by our actions – shows we’re mostly in love with ourselves. Yup. Just ourselves.

Though now old and gray, we easily recall another happy childhood chorus:

“I am so glad that Jesus loves me Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me I am so glad that Jesus loves me Jesus loves even me” …

And cite 1 John 4:19 “We love God because He first loved us”. But He disagrees, and says "How can you love me Whom you haven’t seen, but hate your brother whom you see? 1 John 4:20 Yup. Flings us back to the reality of our humanity and mire of hypocrisy.

Like our hypocrisy for Anthony. It’s a minor, but sharing concern for a 'lil squirrel is one thing. Ensuring his safety is another. Yup, it’s a small issue. But there are huge challenges for other people we tend to be complacent, or even lackadaisical about…

For hardly a day goes by without seeing someone arrested. Tied up by an unfinished butt. So, we smile encouragingly: “You do know we need you, right? We need you to no longer be doing that. But we know it’s hard, so we’ll be praying for you”. Then we silently pray for their salvation and freedom as we go our way.

“Hey thanks, yeah I know I should but it’s so hard to quit. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried” But the lightning bond of mutual care always amazes us. And our even our day turns better. By sharing Jesus' love with another apparent prisoner of the Enemy of our souls.

Yet sadly, we admit many times we avoid eye contact and just 'go about our business’. Yup. We step away from a store or a restaurant; see a prisoner of nicotine and fail to share the love of Jesus as simply and easily as we’ve done many times before. Why?

Our fail prompts “red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world”. Well, as the vibrant Body of our Lord Jesus, and given the expert assist of His Holy Spirit – can we improve our share of God’s love and care?

Sure, from time to time we'll come undone. Which is when we simply persist, again.

Maranatha, Dr B, aka Carlton. 04012025