Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, – Rev 2:5
Would you be offended if you were called a “Pharisee”? Guess what, the
lexical meaning of “Pharisee” is “someone who follows the scriptures and
wants to live in a constant state of purity”!
The term “Pharisees” literally means “those who are separate”. However, it has come to mean people who are
“self-righteous, hypocritical, or sanctimonious” (Encarta Dictionary).
How is it possible that the Pharisees, a group of common Jews so
concerned about the degeneration of the worship of Yahweh that they stirred up
a national revival for piety; who were so passionate about the scriptures that
they created local centres for its exclusive reading and study, (‘Synagogues’);
who were so given to prayer that they punctiliously kept to designated prayer
times... could end up being one of the major adversaries of Christ?
The answer is simple. They allowed themselves to slip into self-righteous
religiosity.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll see that there’s a ‘Pharisee’ in
each of us.
Whenever you hear yourself always complaining about “that sister’s
dressing”, “that brother’s hairstyle”, “that chorister’s pride”, “that pastor’s
arrogance”... then it’s time to rush to
the nearest bathroom mirror and confront the Pharisee that’s beginning
to take shape.
Whenever we start thinking only our church members will go to
heaven, or start feeling ‘spiritual’ after reading our Bibles; when we stop feeling
uncomfortable telling someone we’re fasting, or don’t mind letting slip how
many hours we spend in prayers; then know for sure that the ‘Pharisee thing’ is
knocking at the door.
Beloved, the faith-walk is akin to walking on a tight rope. In avoiding
one error, we become susceptible to the converse sin. In confronting iniquity,
we could become self-righteous; in countering wastefulness we could become
stingy, etc.
This is why we need to be always conscious of grace. Whenever we see an iniquitous,
prayerless or carnal Christian, before we get sanctimonious, let’s consider
that, (as the reformer, John Bradford is attributed to have said), “there – but
for the grace of God – go I”
AMEN.
More Blessings await
you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN
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