It’s a brand new month and a brand new week of study, friend! I hope you have found a sweet rhythm of meeting daily with the Lord and whispering “Teach me, Lord.” I hope He has taught you much as you have read His Word, His living love letter, to you.
Although Jesus was full of kindness and compassion, He was also firm. And there were some attitudes that really angered Him. He would not put up with fakeness, pretend holiness, and made up rules. He always looked past the exterior to the heart. Our God has always done that. Remember when Samuel was told to anoint a new king? He went to visit Jesse, because God had told him that the new king would be a son of Jesse. Samuel assumed that the king would be one of the older boys, if not the oldest boy … but no. God chose the youngest, who wasn’t even home at the time but out tending the sheep. When Samuel questioned God on why not the older ones, God’s reply was clear in I Samuel 16:7. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God still looks at the heart, today. He sees right through us and knows when we are trying to “look good” only. He wants us to long to be good all the way through. He wants us to own up to our failures and sins quickly so He can forgive and help us once again. That’s what God wants. The true, pure us, with all our troubles and foibles. No fakes. What did you think of His response to the religious leaders? Why do you think He was so blunt with them? Could it be that they would not have heard anything else? Or could it be that His anger was a righteous anger at men who should have known better and led Israel toward God and not toward their man-made rules? Let’s always be real with God, okay? I mean. He knows our hearts anyway. He loves us despite our sins. And when we are real with Him, then He can work with us and change us because we are willing.
My recorded verse: “For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
My response: Lord, open my eyes to see when and if this is true of me! Help me to know Your law well, but not to add outward appearance “extras.” Help me to guard my heart and keep it pure for You!
