PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 7:9-13
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.” (Mark 7:13)
Jesus comes announcing the kingdom of God, and here we see a clash of kingdoms.
The religious leaders had set up their own mini-kingdom, with their own rules.
They elevated God’s message for all to see, but they interpreted their way out from under it.
Despite God’s concern for care for elderly parents, they set up this religious loophole.
And according to Jesus this is a pattern: “And you do many things like that.” (7:13).
In the kingdom of God, we willingly submit to and honour God and others in love.
This is the fulfillment of the law, and the point of God’s message to Israel.
Are we today also setting aside God’s message for our own ‘traditions’?
Jesus says ‘turn the other cheek’ but we’ve worked out ways to avoid that.
Jesus says ‘sell your possessions and give to the poor’ but he can’t actually mean that!
Jesus says ‘love your enemies’, but we’ve redefined love to make it less like Jesus’s love.
I am sure we can think of ways that other people nullify God’s word.
But Jesus also said ‘take the log from your own eye’… do we nullify that too?
I believe we all nullify God’s message somehow; are we open to Jesus showing this to us?
PRAYER
Lord, you know my heart. You know where I’ve created loopholes or excuses for not actually doing what you said. May your kingdom come in my life.
Excuses – clever avoidance – procrastination – we can spend a lot of energy avoiding doing what we should or what’s important to do. I have to face it and do it – but it takes energy to overcome the ‘I don’t feel like doing it now’ – and an avoidance excuse is used. Yet once I start and get into it – I feel better. Lord help me to do what I should – what you lead me to do – what makes a difference for your kingdom. Help me not be like Jonah – to try and find a way to avoid the mission you called me to!
Who is in charge? God’s way or mine?
The heart knows.
May my heart be pure through the work of His Spirit so that in all things, God’s way is followed. No excuses. I need to walk in His way always.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.