“He began to say unto His disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1).

The Lord Jesus is in the middle of a great time of teaching, reminding, cautioning, and warning His disciples. Obviously the Lord Jesus was never unkind. He did, however, speak the truth. In power He warned His disciples not to playact like the Pharisees were doing. They looked and acted one way, but unfortunately they lived very differently. It reminds me of the time local school was performing “Fiddler on the Roof.” Lamar couldn’t believe that he was offered one of the lead parts. Through hours of rehearsals it struck him one day as he thought to himself, “I am spending all this time to present to people something that is pretend and someone that I am not. It’s good for the play, but not so good in real life. I want to live genuinely for you, Lord, and not as an actor in my Christian life.” What a great principle he learned and conviction he settled. It’s good for us as well.

For today: I need to be real. I cannot playact the role of a Christian. Either I am one or I am not!