The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 8 June 2026
Daily Fountain Devotional 8 June 2026 TOPIC: Beware of Hypocrisy
SCRIPTURE READING: Galatians 2:11-21
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
Hypocrisy is when someone pretends to believe something that is opposite to what he does. It involves presenting oneself in one way and acting in another. In other words, it is an act of deception. Peter was confronted with this act of hypocrisy by Paul because of the attitude of Peter eating with the Gentiles before the arrival of the Jews but changing his position as soon as He knew that some Jews were around. It is noteworthy that Peter was supposed to be a defender of the faith in Christ but he failed to act appropriately. Painfully, Peter’s behaviour also affected some brethren who were Jews like Barnabas (vv. 11-14).
Beloved, you don’t need to live in deceit or hypocrisy. This is not part of the teachings of Christ to His Church. Christians are supposed to be true at all times and not claim to be who we are not. Christians must not be like a chameleon but be true to their confessions, whether in the open or in secret. Whatever we do, whether good or bad, can influence those around us. We must be careful not to lure innocent souls into the pit by our unbalanced Christian lives. Our ‘Yes’ must always be ‘Yes” and our ‘No’ must be ‘No.’ If we are standing for Christ, we must stand with the whole of our hearts and be ready to defend our faith, whether it is convenient or not.
PRAYER: Father; give me grace to always stand without deceit before you in Jesus’ Name.