Be Yourself

Woe unto the Scribes and Pharisees of this day and age. The ones who preach strict doctrine but choose not to follow it in their personal lives. They desire to be respected and viewed as higher than others. They love being recognized and honored for their positions and achievements. They seek after titles so man will look at them with respect.

Titles belong to God, who is our Father and our Master. Do not try to put yourself on the level of God, but be a servant to your brother and sister and they will respect you and honor you. If you try to exalt yourself God will bring you down, but if you are humble God will raise you up.

Through your actions you are shutting up the blessings and power of heaven, not only for yourself, but also for those around you who you are offending and discouraging. You lie and do awful things then pray a long prayer to justify your actions. You spend time and energy to steal a saint or minister from another church while you pass hurting broken souls on the street corner crying out for help. They are blind, but still trying to lead and counsel others.

Preaching to give your tithes, missions offering, and to the building fund, but not the mercy, faith, or judgment of God. They make sure the outside looks holy with the right clothes, vain repetitious prayers, and public offerings, but if you could see their heart it is black and ugly. Appearing righteous, but spiritually dead inside.

They preach about Peter and Paul, but commit spiritual abortions on anyone who may be able to outdo them. Teaching on the fivefold ministry but not accepting the ministry of Apostles or Prophets.

Matthew 23:4-30 - Derek James Version

I paraphrased a portion Matthew chapter 23 above. This passage of scriptures is speaking of the actions of the Scribe and Pharisees.

When you read that did it make you think of anyone that you know?

I hope not, but if so you need to read Matthew 23:2-3.

It says that regardless of all the wrong the Scribes and Pharisees do, they are in a place of authority. Verse 3 says to do whatsoever they tell you to, but not to follow after their works.

If they are preaching the Bible then follow after their teachings, but not their example. Do not allow the vanity of the Scribes and Pharisees to attach itself to you. It may look like they have things all together, but in reality the Bible says they are like a whited sepulcher that may appear beautiful but inside is still just dead men's bones.

This passage of scripture reminds me of Matthew 6:7 where the Bible speaks to vain repetitions in prayer. The key word being vain.

There is nothing wrong with praying for the same person or same situation day after day repetitiously.

The problem is in the vanity of it. It becomes an issue when you are praying the same repetitious prayer so others will see you praying and think you are holy.

The same can be said about vain worship or anything that is done to appear holy in man's eyes.

It is great to pray or worship loud and with passion, but whose attention are you trying to get. If you are trying to get God's attention then don’t worry about what others think and be you. If that is loud then be loud. If that is quiet then be quiet.

If you weep when you are happy then weep before God, but if you dance and shout then do it unto God and forget what anyone else thinks.

You can pray on the street corners and in the middle of a grocery store if it is truly to God, but if you are trying to make someone think you are more spiritual than them or better than them, that is wrong.

Let me encourage you today, be you. If the rest of the world thinks you don’t have a prayer life because it is private between you and God, who cares what they think. You don’t have to impress the religious system or have a position in it. Make sure you are pleasing God and it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

I’m reminded of the old song, “I’ll stand for Jesus, and let the world go by”.