Introductory Thoughts
Peter admonished “newborn babes” in Christ to lay aside all hypocrisies. It is a natural battle that every babe in Christ must face. A new believer might have an inappropriate longing to please the one who led him to the Lord rather than giving the Lord preeminence. He might perform actions in hopes that his spiritual mentor will take notice. Eventually, this fault blossoms to the point where he begins to see problems in others while failing to realize the same problems exist in his own life. He might work hard to obey the strictest of commands while missing the overall desire of the Lord in his own life. Even as a babe in Christ, he must work to lay aside hypocrisy. Until he does, he will never grow into the mature believer the Lord wants him to be.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): God wants us to examine our hearts (1 Corinthians 11:28a; 2 Corinthians 13:5a; Psalm 139:23-24). When we have sin in our hearts and do not confess that sin, but rather see everyone elses faults, that is hypocrisy (Luke 6:41-42).
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(For everyone): If hypocrisy is a battle faced by newborn babes, does one constantly battling with hypocrisy suggest some need for spiritual growth? Should you be facing the battles of a newborn babe or should those battles become a thing of the past?
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Has the Lord used the scripture to show you that hypocrisy exists in your life? Does this offend you? Are you willing to lay aside your hypocrisy and grow in the Lord?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to help you repent of your hypocrisy.
- Ask the Lord to help you grow into a mature believer.
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