October 11

so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, — Phil 1:10 BSB

Sincere means “without wax.” In ancient Rome, people often lived in marble palaces. When a stoneworker chipped the marble, some dishonest ones would fill the cracks with wax to cover the defect. This looked fine for a while, but eventually, the wax would discolor, revealing the flaw. So contracts would often require that the work be “sine cera,” meaning “without wax.” This is where we get the word sincere. It means being true through and through, with nothing to hide.

Insincerity ruins the beauty of life. We must avoid pretending in friendships or overstating our spiritual experiences. Jesus harshly condemned hypocrisy—it was the one sin He never spoke of with compassion. Throughout Scripture, we are urged to be sincere. We are to have sincere faith, sincere love for others, and to love without hypocrisy. Few things damage the cause of Christ more than insincerity in those who claim to follow Him. Sincerity adds power and influence to our lives.