Pleasing God is a
real concern for me, and if you’re reading this, probably for you, too. The ‘how
to’ is the issue. We understand the ‘big’ things – live honestly, be kind, stay
faithful to your spouse. But, what about the rest of life? Are we content to
wear some superficial religious traditions to cover a heart filled with pride,
selfishness, or greed? Do we think that God finds us pleasing
because we show up in church every other Sunday, or keep a Bible on the coffee
table, or refuse to say the awful ‘curse’ words?
Matthew tells us
that some of Jesus’ critics got worked up because the disciples ignored a tradition
that had been elevated to holy law. "Some
Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to interview
Jesus. “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old traditions?” they demanded.
“They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”"
(Matthew 15:1-2, NLT) Don’t laugh. To us
hand-washing is not a moral issue, but most likely we have our own ‘traditions’
that we use to measure our holiness, things equally minor in the scheme of life.
Jesus challenged
the Pharisees to stop and realize that they had missed the point of a quality relationship with God. "Listen
and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but
what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’" Then the
disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were
offended when they heard this?" . . . Peter said,
"Explain the parable to us." "Are you still so dull?" Jesus
asked them. "Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the
stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth
come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come
evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony,
slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands
does not make him ‘unclean.’" (Matthew 15:10-20,
NIV)
He had no issue
with washing hands before dinner! But He reminded them that being
sanitary was not the same as being holy. A well-scrubbed body, a
carefully screened vocabulary, or well-rehearsed socially acceptable manners
can conceal a filthy heart and it is the corruption of the heart that God
cares about. Let’s take the time to examine our lives for the deception of our
traditions. It is possible that we are not really so much different from those
Pharisees. We can, and often do, replace an authentic pursuit of knowing and
loving God with some comforting traditions. Those traditions can keep us from
hearing the Holy Spirit’s call to a beautiful holy life.
Giving the Holy
Spirit access to our inner thoughts; inviting
God to put us through His school of faith that makes us like Christ, is a hard, often costly,
and self-denying choice. It is much easier just to
'wash our hands' and consider the work of holiness accomplished. Are you a
quality Christian, one who really loves God, who has surrendered every
part of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ? Never settle for a
Christianity that is just about ‘clean hands.’ Seek a pure heart.
Here's a word
from the Word. Let God change you from the inside out and HE will delight
in you. What could be better than that?
"Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth,
love one another as if your lives depended on it.
Your new life is not like your old life.
Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word.
"Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth,
love one another as if your lives depended on it.
Your new life is not like your old life.
Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word.
Just think: a life conceived by God
himself!
That’s why the prophet said, The old
life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;
Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s
Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the
new life in you.
So clean house!
Make a clean sweep of malice and
pretense, envy and hurtful talk." (1 Peter 1:22-2:1, The Message)
_______________
(Pray with Chris Tomlin
as he sings of our heart’s need)
Lord I come I
confess
Bowing
here I find my rest
And
without You I fall apart
You're
the one that guides my heart
Lord
I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry
hour I need You
My
one defense my righteousness
Oh
God how I need You
Where
sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where
grace is found is where You are
And
where You are Lord I am free
Holiness
is Christ in me
Where
You are Lord I am free
Holiness
is Christ in me
So
teach my song to rise to You
When
temptation comes my way
And
when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus
You're my hope and stay
And
when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus
You're my hope and stay
Lord
I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry
hour I need You
My
one defense my righteousness
Oh
God how I need You
My
one defense my righteousness
Oh
God how I need You
Christy Nockels |
Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher
© 2011 sixsteps
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