Living the Life We Talk

This devotional is from A.W. Tozer

Many Christians love foreign missions who cannot bring themselves to love foreigners. They pray tenderly for the colored man in Africa but they cannot stand him in America. They love the Chinese in Hong Kong and are willing to give generously to send someone to convert him, but they never try to convert him when he is in a laundry on Main Street. They wear a flower to honor mother on her day, but she is too much of an inconvenience to be welcome in the home, so she is shunted from place to place till she is so sick and weary that she can be sent at last to a nursing home to await the end.

I am well aware that this kind of thinking is branded as "negative" or "cynical" and that most Christians are not willing to face up to it. It was so also in the time of Christ's earthly ministry. Israel wallowed in unreality. The lives of the priests and people did not support their words. They talked a good life and lived a bad one. Our Lord could not abide the artificial and the unreal. Pretense was offensive to Him wherever He found it and He said so plainly. The consequence of His plain talk is known to the ages.

I believe that there are a few Christians even in these degenerate days who want reality more than they want consolation and who would rather hear disturbing truth than comforting error. They want to know exactly where they stand now while they can do something about it. They are willing to believe the worst about themselves and the best about the saving power of Christ. These do not need to take refuge in fancy. They will soon find reality.

Verse
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. Luke 12:2–3

Thought
Most of us have life practices inconsistent with our "Christian talk." They may be part of our social or family inheritance. The Holy Spirit is at work to unveil those dark corners. Painful as that exposure is, it is necessary so that we may grow in Christ.

Prayer
You know, Lord, those areas of my life inconsistent with Your Word and will. Expose them to me that by Your enablement I might confess and abandon them.