Going Through the Motions

I’m going through my usual chapter a day Bible time. Today’s chapter was Mark 7. The Pharisees and scribes were following Jesus and questioning Him on why they were eating with “impure hands”. I find myself wondering, these guys have way too much time in their hands.

The first part of Chapter 7 has 2 themes: 1) how Pharisees/scribes were upholding man’s traditions over God’s commandments and 2) what defiles a man. I’ll only expound on the first one, lest this turns into an exegesis of sorts (and I bore you guys to tears). I try thinking about the times when I valued man’s traditions more than following God. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of religion just because people can just go through the motions without really having their hearts in it. I sometimes do so unintentionally. Going to church on Sundays becomes a routine instead of a time to worship. Doing Live Prayer for Church Online (http://live.lifechurch.tv) becomes a task instead of an act of service. And the list goes on and on…

God cares more about our hearts and having a relationship with us than all these frou-frou things. Jesus used the example of declaring possessions as “corban” instead of helping parents. It’s all in the chapter if you want to know more. People fall into the trap of judging others because they differ in opinions or behaviors. We should be loving on them as Jesus commanded us to love one another. I guess the heart of the matter (every pun intended) is that when we do “churchy” things, does it become personal or just an item in a to-do list? Things should get real for us when we commune with the Lord and Savior.  Jesus doesn’t deserve anything less.