If you have been at church anytime in the second half of this year, you have heard a common theme in the sermons. We have been learning more about the commands of Jesus. Why is that? One reason is because in Matthew 28, Jesus instructed the disciples to go, teach all nations, and baptize believers into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What were they (and we) supposed to teach? Jesus said to teach them to obey the commandments that they had heard from Him. So, we should know what Jesus commanded so that we can teach the same to others.

Another reason that we have been in the Gospels for all this time (!) is that we have to become more than Christ likers. We must be Christ-like. It is not enough to say that we love Jesus, but not devote our lives to the purpose to which He devoted His. Being like Him means living with a servant's heart, obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, and surrendering our will in exchange for the Father's will. So, how are you measuring up thus far? Remember that it is unwise to compare ourselves to one another. No human being can be the standard. We must fall in line with the example of Jesus.

In Day 1 and 2, we covered a root (unforgiveness) and a fruit (bitterness). There’s another root that is incompatible with gratitude.

Have you ever heard of a 'rictus'? It’s the face we make when we have a grimacing smile. It shows on the outside that everything is ok, but it’s not on the inside. Maybe you don’t have a grimacing smile when you go about your day, but when was the last time you put on a fake smile and pretended everything was well? Have you ever gone to church and when someone asked about your week, you said “I’m fine”, but on the inside... you were in turmoil? Maybe you’re dealing with sin but unwilling to address it. You might have even thought to yourself, “If they knew what I did, I would look weak.”

This is exactly what a joyful imposter looks like, and it usually comes in two forms: insecurity and pride. If we’re insecure, we might put on a face just to keep others off our back. If we’re prideful, we’ll have this internal need to be seen and heard to find fulfilment.

Why do we exhibit a fake faith like this? Quite frankly, it’s easier to pretend like we have it all together than to admit the truth. You might fool your friends for a time, but you’ll never fool God, and the only person you’re really fooling is yourself.

What is the 'fruit' of a joyful imposter?

A joyful imposter gets fulfilment from people rather than God. If you base your joy on what others think of you, you’re going to be let down. You’ll find yourself jumping through hoops just to please others and lose sight of any desire to please God. A joyful imposter also views joy like a 'mask' we wear at certain times. A joyful imposter, at the root, is living a lie and has an image of themselves as what they would like to be.

Joy isn’t like that at all; joy is an ongoing recognition of the goodness of God! In today’s reading, you’ll see the “Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder”. Remember: when you hear “parable”, think “parallel”.

Fools will get fulfilment on shifting sands (in the case of today's reading, lies), but the wise builder will stand firm on the rock. As believers, we must make sure that we’re getting our fulfilment, identity, and joy ONLY from God. Are you standing firm on the right foundation, or shifting sands?

Joy isn’t a mask we wear, but a fruit we bear. As you pray, consider if you are a joyful imposter, or are living out that authentic joy that can only come from the Lord. Let’s pray:

Father in Heaven, give us true joy. The world chases after fulfilment from all the wrong places, but we pray that we will chase after you and find fulfilment in you. Let us shed all the lies if they are present and give it all over to you and help us to find true joy knowing that we’re forgiven and set free from our own prideful hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.