Fitting that this devotion on masquerading should be on the day when masquerading and costuming is at its height.

Be aware that the kingdom of self is a costume kingdom. It does a perversely brilliant job of masquerading as the kingdom of God.

Words are often thrown around in our speech, sometimes flippantly. Insincere. Fake. Hypocrite. That last one is the favorite of people who have a “bone” to pick with Christianity or a specific Christ-follower. A fake. A costumed person. Someone who hides behind a mask so their true identity is not known.  The hypocrite is a spiritual fake. Someone who pretends. Little does the hypocrite know God sees him/her as he/she really is. The enemy has convinced that person they are doing well hiding behind the mask.

The Scripture in Jeremiah 10 is comparing God to the idols made with hands. The real vs. the imposter. The real vs the fake. God has no equal. The reality is I’m that imposter and the things I try to replace God with are not real. They are cheap knock-offs to the throne.

“Father, It’s gut-check time. Am I playing a game or am I real? Am I wearing a costume masquerading as a follower or am I really a follower of Jesus? Have I substituted fakes on the throne of my heart in place of the real king? Time to strip away the mask and see the real me.”