OUR DAILY BREAD : THE PRETENDER

[cimi]

November 23
Friday


THE PRETENDER

READ:
Genesis 27:19-33
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Confess your trespasses
to one another, and
pray for one another,
that you may be
healed. __ James 5:16
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When a waitress in Ohio asked to see a customer's driver's license, she was shocked when she saw the photo on the ID. It was her own picture! The waitress had lost her driver's license a month earlier, and this young woman was using it so she'd have "proof" she was old enough to drink alcohol. The police were called, and the customer was arrested for idnetity theft. Trying to gain what she wanted, she pretended to be someone she wasn't.

Jacob, in the Old Testament, did some pretending too. With his mother Rebekah's help, he fooled his dying father into believing he was his brother Esau so he could gain the blessing meant for the oldest son (Gen. 27). Jacob did get caught after his deceitful act, but it was too late for Esau to receive the blessing.

Pretending goes on in our churches today. Some people put on a false front. They use the right "Christian" words, attend church almost every Sunday, and even pray before meals. They pretend they "have it all together" in order to gain the approval of others. But inside they're struggling with brokeness, guilt, doubt, or an addiction or other persistent sin.

God placed us in a body of believers to support one another. admit that you aren't perfect. Then seek the counsel of a godly brother or sister in Christ. Anne Cetas
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~Don't hide your sin and cover up,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pretending there is nothing wrong;~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Instead, confess it and repent,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~Then God will fill your heart with song. __ Sper~~~~~~~~~
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Be what God intends you to be__
don't pretend to be what you're not.