Many years ago in a small town in Indiana, a new doctor opened his office. He had lots of certificates and diplomas on his walls and his patients all thrived, many being healed from diseases they had suffered with a long time. At the local hospital, he was considered the best surgeon the staff had ever worked with.
One day, after he'd been practicing about 12 years, patients arrived at the office to find it closed and totally emptied out. The local radio and TV stations began running stories about a man who had been practicing medicine without a license for almost 20 years and had been caught in their town. He had successfully fled from authorities in two other settings.
But his loyal patients thought this was a mistake and went to bat for him testifying what all he had done for them. He had earned the praise of the people, but not the praise of the medical authorities.
We've heard of false teachers and prophets, but false doctors? Yet, there are even people who are false Christians, even preachers. Like the false doctor they practice their falsehood and leave an impression before they are caught, often causing spiritual harm to "real" Christians and turning non-believers away. Although Paul is speaking of Jews in this scripture, it seems to fit these false Christians as well:
"A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God." Romans 2:28-29
Lets all strive to be inward Christians, not just outward ones. Lets be believers and doers from the heart, by the Spirit, and not just actors and actresses performing around the altar. Although we can fool people by our language and actions, God knows if we are sincere or not. It is his praise that we want to earn, not the praise of people.
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