Pretending

Alice* presented her plan for her organization to succeed if certain political events went differently than expected.  Sadly, her presentation failed because she neglected to vet it with her peers, and her message needed to be clearer. It caused subordinates to question how in touch their senior leaders were with them.
           
​One of the junior supervisors, Becky, wept as she shared her frustration with senior leadership’s inability to appreciate their needs. Her vulnerability encouraged many in the room to speak up with similar thoughts, and the atmosphere in the room became tense and somewhat awkward. Feeling overwhelmed, Becky left the meeting. 

Alice realized that everything was not going well after her message. She approached Becky’s leader and, in a voice loud enough for those in close proximity to hear, asked where Becky had gone and if someone (implying Becky’s boss) should go and check on her. Those who heard her felt she feigned concern but, in truth, was more interested in how she was perceived than actually caring about Becky.
 
Meditation
Luke 20:20,21--They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so they could catch Him in what He said, to hand Him over to the governor’s rule and authority. They questioned Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You don’t show partiality, but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
 
To pretend is to make believe or create an appearance that is actually false and deceptive.[1] The religious leaders tried to look honest and sincere, but their end goal was to trap Jesus into saying something that would allow them to destroy Him. His ministry threatened them and, therefore, in their minds, justified their duplicity.

Pretending is dishonest. Sometimes, it occurs because of overwhelming fear, as when David faked insanity to avoid being killed (1 Samuel 21:13). More often, it stems from pride that justifies falsehood as a pretext for accomplishing hidden agendas.  Some pretenders massage their listeners’ ears with soothing words while slipping them poison. Others elicit sympathy to gain favor. They may look and sound good, but they epitomize phoniness. 
We must beware of being something we are not and doing what should not be done to gain what we desire. People may be fooled, but God is never fooled. Pretenders are fools in fancy clothing. Proverbs 28:26 declares, “The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.”  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
“So long as the bosses pretend to pay us, we will pretend to work.”—Russian Joke
 
©2024 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 


[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pretend
*Fictional names