As I read an article this morning about a research study (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091229105906.htm) dealing with the relationship between power and moral hypocrisy, I was reminded that what we do and how we behave deeply matters, and if we claim to be a Christian, then it matters just not for our own life but more importantly it matters because our behavior reflects on Jesus Christ and all of His people.
As I read the article, I was reminded of Jesus, words to the religious leaders of His day who had a lot of power and who claimed to be moral and just:
Matthew 23:25-28 (NIV)
25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
I was also reminded of what Mark Darling said at Faithwalkers. He said something like: 'He never wants to be famous because he couldn't handle it. Human beings were not made for fame. Jesus was and is the only person who can handle fame.' (not an exact quote)
Our efforts should seek to make Jesus Christ more famous. God wants us to be clean on the inside and for our behavior to be a reflection of Christ. I'm praying that God will prevent fame and power in my life and that through my life Christ will become more famous.
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