We are often told that actions speak louder than words. Sadly, many people write Christians off as hypocrites, because so many who claim to be Christians behave no differently than anyone else in the world. If you look at the Greek word for hypocrite it can be defined simply as one who acts, with his real motives hidden.

Jesus lambasted the Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matt 23:1-39). Paul was able to say follow me as I follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1) and he exhorted Timothy to be an example in word and conduct (1 Tim 4:12). Moses was known as a man of humility and David as a man after God’s own heart, a man of obedience. However, we should be encouraged as we know that none of these men claimed to be, or where, perfect. Jesus is obviously our supreme example of a holy and godly life but even he said there is no one good except God himself (Luke 18:19).

We could list many attributes that the real Christian should manifest in public but space does not allow that here. Perhaps 1 John 3:18-19 (KJV) captures the essence: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him”. The Apostle James tells us that if we claim to have faith but do not have corresponding works our faith is dead (James 2:14-17). How did the men above walk the talk? They were all men that had a genuine and close relationship with God; they were all obedient to the Spirit of God. We can be the same if we press into God and his word and allow his Spirit to change us.

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