The Pharisees and some teachers of the law approached Jesus one day. You can read about it in Mark 7:1-23. They were upset because the disciples were eating without going through a ceremonial washing prescribed by tradition from the elders. Jesus quoted a Scripture from the Book of Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” [vs 6-7]
Then He adds His own rebuke, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! … Thus, you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” [vs 9, 13]
Ever wonder what Jesus would say to us if He walked into our corporate services. Would he see lip service or hearts that are yearning for Him? Would He see our focus on traditions or rules taught by men, or would He see us following Him as closely as possible to the truth of the Scriptures?
I will honestly say it frightens me to consider what Christ Jesus might think about our fellowships today. Or what He might say to us. Sometimes I think we, the church today, have allowed “life” to slip away from our services, leaving but a dry old shell of what once was. It is far too easy to get settled into some method or ritual that once contained life but has now faded into “this is what we’ve always done.”
I don’t think we must shake up things for the sake of shaking them up … but I do think it’s time to look at what we do and see if we are simply honoring Him with our lips while our hearts have strayed. I don’t want to worship in vain. I want life and that “more abundantly” in all things, both individually and corporately!
Oh, LORD, may we seek and embrace YOUR life always! Amen.
