Scripture

They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium . . . But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.
(John 18:28)

Devotional

Here we have the epitome of religious hypocrisy. They were liars and about to become murderers, yet they did not want to defile themselves by standing in the governor's house. To a lesser extent religious hypocrisy remains alive and well today. We see it weekly in many of our churches. Folks attend looking, smelling and talking good on Sunday, yet on Monday they just look, smell and talk. This is foolishly done to impress everybody but God.
Let us remove our facades and put on Christ. Let us be who we are wherever we are. We are to be the same people on Monday as we are on Sunday. Let us unashamedly walk into God's house and if need be, the governor's house. Let us be real every day and every place. Stand as tall in the workplace as you do in the place of worship. Speak the same language; be the same person. Let us lay, "aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking."(1)

Thought For The Night

“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Abraham Lincoln

Evening Text

John 18:28: They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium… But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.

Looking for Answers

Does God ever put on a façade?
Are we ever called to be who we are not?
How does being conformed to Christ apply to being who we really are?

Evening Study Guide

Defining: “Hypocrisy”: The respect sin pays to virtue. Noah Webster defined it, Simulation; a feigning to be what one is not; or dissimulation, a concealment of one's real character or motives. More generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion,” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Referencing: “What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he may gain much, if God takes away his life?” Job 27:8.

Applying: Without Christ no one is real. Life is never more than a façade of who we would like to be. Therefore be conformed to Christ, put on His character, demeanor, attitude and very person and you will be more real than you could have ever imagined.