#65279;Today’s passage is Mark 7:1--13. The Pharisees complain to Jesus that his disciples do not ceremonial wash before eating. Jesus calls them hypocrites and quotes Isaiah against them, accusing them of ignoring God’s commands, such as honoring their parents, by choosing to following man-made traditions that allow them to ignore their parents in favor of obeying traditional religious rules.
Do you make up your own rules?
How far is your heart from God?
I have always made up my own rules in order to go what I want and justify what I’m doing.
When I was caught as a child doing something bad, I would say I was just doings what other kids did.
If someone interfered with what I wanted to do, I would howl that, “It’s not fair!” I made my rule of conduct in order to serve my own desires.
When I was a teenager, I railed against the law that said I couldn’t drink until I was 21.
I drank beer and wine from the time I was 16.
When I wanted to have sex, I told those who opposed me to look at Swedish practices because everyone had sex there, inside and outside of marriage.
Teenagers were allowed to have sex in their home.
When I didn’t want to work hard, I found some justification for that too.
It was the same with wearing clothes, not wearing what was appropriate for the occasion, often just to break rules because it felt good to break them.
When I had a motorcycle, I broke the law about drinking and driving, got drunk, crashed my motorcycle, broke my body and caused damage to other people’s property.
I also distressed my parents and friends through rule-breaking.
I broke my first wife’s first marriage by committing adultery with her.
I broke the basic rule of marriage when I committed adultery against my wife late in our marriage.
I broke God’s rule against honoring my parents for most of life, publicly criticizing them.
I didn’t love and care for my sister.
I broke school rules when I was a teacher.
I break the rules when I drive my car.
I’m a breaker of other people’s rules.
I break God’s rules. My constant desire to make my rules and make myself comfortable show me that I keep putting myself on the pedestal that is reserved for God.
I’m 100% sinner.
I came to Wooridle Church with a broken and bent spirit. Through God’s amazing grace and undeserved mercy, I have been able to see myself against God’s standards and moved towards them with daily reflection on the word, weekly worship and mokjang attendance.
I have no more excuses for rule-breaking, only guilt and repentance.
By accepting God’s frame of reference, I am learning to love.
Application: Arrive on time to my appointments today, not when I choose.
Lord, write your laws on my heart that I may live the life you have set for me with a spirit that seeks to know more of you and love more of others.
