DISSONANCE

JESUS’ WARNING ABOUT PRAYING IN PUBLIC TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS SERVES AS A TIMELESS REMINDER OF THE DANGER OF MISALIGNMENT. IT IS NOT THE WORDS WE SAY OR THE IMAGE WE PROJECT THAT DEFINES US BUT THE ACTIONS WE TAKE AND THE FRUITS WE PRODUCE. TOO OFTEN, WE BECOME CAUGHT UP IN APPEARANCES, MISTAKING PERCEPTION FOR PURPOSE AND SUBSTANCE.

 ULTIMATELY, THE AIM IS TO CREATE A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN WHAT I BELIEVE, WHAT I SAY, AND WHAT I DO. SEEDS CAN BE SOWN WITH GREAT INTENTION, BUT IT IS THE FRUITS THAT REVEAL THEIR TRUE NATURE. JUST AS PRAYERS MADE TO IMPRESS MASK A LACK OF GENUINE FAITH, THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN OUR INTENTIONS AND OUTCOMES WILL, IN THE END, SEPARATE THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF. WHAT MATTERS IS NOT WHAT WE CLAIM BUT WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND—THE EVIDENCE OF AUTHENTICITY IN OUR ACTIONS.