“Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.” Proverbs 26:23
Devotional Thought For The Day
There are a lot of proverbs that deal with deceit, hypocrisy, and flattery. These are among the most common and disgusting sins which people commit against others in daily “civil” discourse – at work, at school, sometimes at home, in our “friendships,” and even within the church. Perhaps it is especially at church that such “glazing” of evil hearts is most prevalent – since we all know that we are not supposed to have evil and malicious thoughts toward others. However, it is difficult to maintain such deceptions and the “glaze” cannot always be kept in place, so that sooner or later the real condition of one’s heart is revealed. When this happens the pain inflicted is intensified by the realization that you have been hated and deceived all along. When such hypocrisy becomes evident the perpetrator often suffers the disapproval and disgust of many others.
Since we all struggle with sinful thoughts within our hearts – including dislike or even disgust for some people, and at times envy, anger, malice, and even hatred – we have a decision to make as to whether it is better to openly reflect such evil toward others or to hide it and cover it up. This is a false dilemma and capitulation to evil, for there is a third alternative – humble and heartfelt repentance and confession, and prayer to God that in the experience of His great love for us in Christ Jesus we might grow in our love for His other children. It might be necessary for us to actually confess our malice toward another to that very person – humbly asking their forgiveness and their help in healing the relationship. Obviously this opens us up to vulnerability and possible abuse – but at least it frees our own hearts from pent up evil, anger, and hatred. In this way we are also hopefully freed from the even greater evil of “glazing over” an evil heart with flattery and hypocrisy. And there are occasions when such humble honesty opens the way for much greater understanding and empathy for one another, and much deeper friendships.
Life in this fallen world of sin is painful. The sin in others causes us great pain, our sin inflicts pain on others, and in children of God our own sin causes us great pain in repentance, confession, and the struggle to put our sinful nature to death. Hence the joy of God’s salvation, that all sin has been paid for once and for all by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, condemned and punished in Him, in His crucifixion, our guilt having been taken away. And also, the guilt of others has been taken away by Christ, opening the way for reconciliation in our relationships. Hence also the joy of the powerful influence of the love of God, of knowing and believing the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus, so that we are freed to live in integrity with one another – even when that means the pain of confession. But the process is healing, slowly but surely removing the evil and malice from our hearts and freeing us to love even as we are loved by God. So the “glaze” is removed and our “fervent” expressions of love accurately reflect what is actually in our hearts. In this the blessed unity and fellowship of the church is created by God – and is real not feigned.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, there is no hypocrisy in You or flattery from Your lips – only love for us. Heal us from the cheap and wicked options that the devil lures us into in, and provide us with real and genuine healing. Protect us also from the deceitful flattery of those who have malicious hearts. Thanks and praise be to You eternally for Your gracious love, mercy, and forgiveness, for the salvation that You have provided for us. Thank You also for the healing power of Your love in our hearts. Amen.