September 2
Faith or
Convenience?
"How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders!
You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside.
But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and clean.
It is the same with you. On the outside you appear to be good people.
But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil."
Matthew 23:27-28 (NIrV)
The Bible study room was small but packed. A dozen people sat around the table, their Bibles open, coffee cups steaming. Tonight’s topic was tough—hypocrisy in faith.
"Why do people who don’t believe in Jesus still go to church for weddings and funerals?" Marcus, a young man with a shaved head, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I mean, they don’t follow God, but suddenly, when someone dies, they want a pastor to say some words over them?"
"Yeah," chimed in Lisa, a single mom who had recently given her life to Christ. "I know people who mock Christianity all the time, but the moment something goes wrong in their life, they start praying. Like, ‘God, if you’re real, help me!’ But they never pray when things are good."
The room murmured in agreement.
"But haven’t we all done that at some point?" chimed in David, an older man who had been walking with Christ for decades. "Even as Christians, don’t we sometimes treat God like an emergency service instead of a daily relationship?"
A silence settled over the group.
Zara, a college student who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "I think people want the comfort of God without the commitment. It’s easier to show up to a church service when there’s a wedding than it is to follow Jesus every day."
"That’s the thing," Lisa said. "It’s like those Pharisees Jesus was talking about. Looking good on the outside, but empty inside. Faith isn’t just a place we visit when it’s convenient."
Marcus exhaled, running a hand over his head. "Yeah, I get it. But it’s frustrating, you know? People only want God when it benefits them."
David nodded. "It is frustrating. But instead of judging them, maybe we should pray for them. After all, God’s grace found us when we weren’t looking for Him."
The conversation shifted. Instead of focusing on hypocrisy, they started praying for those who treated God like a last resort. Maybe, just maybe, one of those desperate prayers would lead someone into a real relationship with Christ.
Prayer:
Lord,
Help us to seek You in all seasons, not just in times of trouble.
Keep us from being like whitewashed tombs—looking faithful on the outside but empty inside.
Give us patience and compassion for those who only call on You in crisis, and may our lives reflect a faith that is real, not just convenient.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
