March 13, 2012 Get Rreal

Get Real

Mark 7:5-8 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?” 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

DO YOU wash before you eat? That wasn’t a habit in Jesus’ day, unless you were a Pharisee.
They had what looks to us like a good “tradition of the elders”. They washed before they ate! But when they criticized the disciples, they were concerned only about the disicples’ rule following.
Their question disturbed Jesus. He knew that, although the Pharisees washed on the outside, they had plenty of dirt on their hearts. Their actions were to make themselves look good before others and had nothing to do with worshiping God.
Jesus gets really angry with these “unreal” Pharisees. They had the knowledge of God’s law, a law that focused on loving God and loving others. Yet, they created and lived in laws that were about loving themselves.
Do you get “lawful” about your relationship with God? Some Christians dress a certain way. Some reject certain foods. Some refuse to forgive a broken child. Some judge others before cleaning up their own lives. Such unreal actions can cause you to say, “Look at me.”
Be careful what you do. Be sure it points to God, not you.


Pause and consider God’s ways are the way to Him.