Many years ago, while a pastor friend and I were having a discussion, he uttered something that struck me to the core. He said, “We live for the audience of One.” That statement caused me to search my own heart to see if I was living for the audience of ‘One’ or also trying to please others.
No, I was not deliberately trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes or hypocritically living in known sin, but I sensed there were times my concern was more in pleasing others than God.
The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
Throughout scripture we find the central truth of serving God from the heart most essential.
21) and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:21-22 [Emphasis Added]
We are admonished to serve God with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28). Those attributes proceed from a sanctified heart. So does having sincere love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart...." 1 Peter 1:22
The word sincere (or Latin sine sera) actually means without wax and probably was used to describe pottery that had no wax fillers to hide imperfections or leaks.
To say the vessel was ‘sine cere’ was a guarantee the product was not cracked but durable through and through. The buyer did not have to be concerned about leaks once it was exposed to heat.
This word conveys the state or quality of being fee from deceit, guile,
or pretense.
To better understand what sincere means let’s look at some antonyms or words with the opposite meaning.
dishonest, dishonorable. deceptive or fraudulent; disposed to cheat or defraud or deceive. disingenuous. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness.
Wow! That’s not what we tolerate in others, but how do we stand up to the litmus test within our own hearts and lives?
To be sincere, we must first be real with ourselves and God. If we deceive ourselves by being hearers of God’s word but not doers, we are headed for trouble down the road. God is not looking for actors but children who are going after His heart and ways. He’s the God of Truth.
22) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25
When we ignore God’s word and refuse to allow it to transform our hearts, we are incapable of serving Him with sincerity. We are just going through the motions. That’s hypocritical!
True Relationship with the Father
The Father wants a true relationship with us, built on love and transparency. He knows we are not perfect, but He longs for genuine and intentional love and devotion from His children who are committed to serving Him with all their heart and soul.
You may say, “That’s not easy!” I will admit it’s not easy, but there’s
a wonderful freedom in being genuine and sincere before the Lord
and others.
You don’t have to be rude to be genuine. Some people are harsh and unkind in their attitude towards others and say, “Well, that’s just the way I am!” They totally reject the Father’s instructions to walk in love, meekness, mercy, kindness, and humility.
Of course, walking in love is not always easy, and when we are struggling to live up to this virtue, we can openly go to our Father to ask for His help. He will help us to adhere to His ways if we are sincere in pursuing Him.
Let me, once again, qualify what I mean by sincerity. It does not mean you will always ‘feel’ like doing the right thing. It means you are committed to doing the right thing as much as it is in your power. Feelings may come and go, but your decision to serve God sincerely will be the motivation that keeps you going in tough times.
Olympic athletes don’t always feel like working out, especially while others are kicking back and partying. However, they are devoted to winning and have their eyes on the prize.
Paul said we must also have our eye on the prize in our service to God.
24) Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25) And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26) Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27) But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 1Corinthians 9:24-27
Most athletes competing in the Olympics are sincere about winning and will intentionally pass up many pleasures of life to discipline themselves for the competition ahead.
Can you and I say the same thing about our commitment to the Lord and His Kingdom. Our lives on this earth are short. Where’s our heart?
We only get to do this once. Now is the time to examine our hearts to be sure we are in ‘the faith.’
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Missionary evangelist C.T. Studd is credited with the following quote.
“Only one life, will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Soon we will all stand before the Father and Jesus Christ. On that day the only thing we will want to hear Him say is:
'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Mathew 25:21
Faithfulness originates from a sincere heart… one that’s committed to serving God when no one’s looking. Live a life for the audience of One. That’s integrity and should mark us as followers of Christ. Ask the Father for His grace to serve Him in this fashion.
As one man said, “I haven’t arrived, but I’ve left the station.”
Until next time, may God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.
James Brown
CST 05/06/2024
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