June 2, 2018 MATTHEW CHAPTER 15
It is so easy to be content or preoccupied with keeping external rules. God is interested in the authenticity of our hearts. Religion will teach us to look good, but Jesus came to live out His own goodness through us. This the overflow of intimacy!
Is there any area in your life where you are only offering God "lip service" and not your real heart?
Sometimes we call ourselves Christians but we just go through the motions. Sometimes we make ourselves look so good on the outside, but what's on the inside is not so good. The Pharisees had the wrong idea. They prayed long prayers in front of people. They showed off everything they were memorizing. When they gave to the poor or did something good, everyone would know. But that's not what God asks for. It's easy sometimes to look down on the Pharisees because they didn't understand. But aren't we the same way sometimes? I know that there have been moments in my life when I wanted to look like a good Christian. But when you want to show people all the good things you're doing, you miss the point! We weren't made just for going through the motions like everyone else! We were made for a close relationship with Jesus! He wants our hearts, and He gave His life so that we could have that relationship with Him!
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