How sincere are you? My son loves to cook and bake. And he is good at it. For years, I have made breakfast (omelets, oatmeal, cereal) and dinner, pasta or grilling, yet he has a way of making it better. For dessert, he makes soufflé or banana flambe, not better than me because I have never made them. But in his attempts at trying new dishes or desserts, they sometimes don’t turn out as expected. I extenuate the positive. Am I insincere? Not necessarily, but I may not be fully expressing what I don’t like because I don’t want him to be discouraged, and I want to keep on eating what he is dishing out. Love and kindness trump, since in certain situations, my preferences don’t have to be vocalized.
Yet, when it comes to matters of faith, sincerity has tremendous value.
For example, you may attend church and be involved in a worshipping community, but do you truly worship the Lord? A recent study found that one of the key factors in teenagers continuing in faith after they leave home is whether their fathers sang or worshiped in church. They need to see a sign of authenticity and sincerity.
When Paul wrote to a young disciple, Timothy, he said: “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). This sincere faith of Timothy’s was passed down from his mother and grandmother. 2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
Sincere faith is genuine. It is trust in the Lord. When your beliefs match your behavior, you are not driven by selfishness or social pretense. Judas Iscariot had an insincere faith. His faith was rooted in self-interest. Your inner conviction and heartfelt devotion should be honest, obedient, and persevering, rather than merely a flawless belief system.
In the book “The Christian in Complete Armor,” by William Gurnall, he states that “a great wealth cannot compare with sincerity in value because truth in you will make a heart after God’s own likeness. Nothing can make you more like him in simplicity and purity of his nature than sincere faith.” The lyrics from the song we sang on Sunday to be sung from the depths of our soul “Come what may, that I rest all my days in the goodness of Jesus.”
If you have sincere faith and trust, then you can stand firm even after personal failures. It is not of the flesh but of God; it is a gift. Anyone commended for faith does not let it go to their head since they know it is from the Lord.
My prayer this day for sincere faith:
Lord, I love you. I desire a sincere faith. Reveal to me any hypocrisy I may have. Also show me your grace and mercy, which were attained for me on the cross. Speak, your servant is listening.
