Title
Sincere, But Wrong
Scripture
Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
(Proverbs 26:23)
Devotional
There are many sincere people in the world with various causes and motives. They are, however, sincerely wrong. The word picture the writer of this proverb gives clearly defines the fervency of those with a wicked heart. They truly mean what they say, but what they say comes from a heart void of the Spirit of God. Their words have no power or strength. The shine of those words is described as dross—powerless waste. The depth of them is fragile pottery. They have no value and no ability to perform what they so fervently proclaim. Therefore let us know the conditions of our hearts whenever we desire to proclaim some lofty goal or righteous sounding motive. No matter how good our words may sound, void of a godly heart they are baked mud covered with slag. However, words from a pure heart are, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver.”[1]