When our adult children went off to live on their own, they left behind boxes of childhood possessions. One box, stuffed with superhero costumes, Halloween masks, and princess dresses, caught my attention. The kids spent hours in their costumes, pretending to be their favorite imaginary character.
Children who play-act in their fantasy world are delightful. But to pretend in an attempt to grab power and esteem is not an honorable act. God does not want us trapped in our make-believe character at the expense of our true Christian identity.
In Luke’s version, our Lord cautions that the pharisees, whom he refers to as hypocrites, pretend to be someone they are not. The religious leaders cared about external appearances and what people thought of them but failed to pay attention to the state of their souls.
In contrast, God values the hidden things deep in our hearts — such as integrity, virtue, and humility. Jesus warns against the use of an imaginary self as a way to misrepresent who we are. He wants you and me to stop acting out of selfish ambition.
Let us begin to resist the enticement of power and fame that often draws us far away from the great love of the Father. We cannot fulfill his will when we operate as posers in pursuit of self-love and power. Honor him with a renewed commitment to stay unpretentious in our dealings with others — and our Father in heaven will honor us.
Lord, guard me against the temptation to manipulate others to get what I want fast. And provide me the grace to prevent selfishness from consuming my life such that I fail to reach out in love to you or to those in need of help. Amen.
Go Deeper — Honestly list what you consider your God-given talents. Today, make every effort to boldly show the world the fullness of these with integrity and confidence, giving him the honor and glory.
Photo Credit: Hakan Hu