I was talking with one of the men who handles sound on Sunday morning. He arrived early and we sat for a few minutes and talked while we waited for the worship team to arrive. Somehow the conversation, which began with discussing preparing our hearts before coming to church so that we might receive from God, got around to the idea that we live in the country that is probably the craziest on the planet.
Many countries are in worse shape, of course. Many are terrorized. Many are dictatorships. But for out and out crazy, I really think we get first prize. Hollywood that dictates social change, celebrities that think they possess the wisdom to tell the rest of the world how to think and live, politicians whose sole goal is to get re-elected, social media, Wall Street–all contribute to the craziness. We have so many issues circling us that to simply name them would take up more space than this devotion has.
As believers in Christ, perhaps the greatest issue can be summed up in Jesus’ words, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” [Mark 7:8 NIV]
Jesus had been confronted by the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law because they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were, by the traditions of the elders, unclean. Jesus reminded them that the religious leaders had set the ways and traditions of men above the commands of God. The religious leaders were focusing on the wrong things. They were following men who led them away from God instead of towards Him.
Oh church, we must search our hearts. Are we also setting the things of men above the things of God? Are we allowing ourselves to be led by others away from our Father, our Savior, our Life? If so, we must repent and seek out those who are leading with the anointing and power of God’s Spirit.
Father, we repent of allowing the ways of man to invade Your beloved bride. We seek Your forgiveness. We have, as a corporate body of believers in our nation, forgotten Your commands. Turn us Lord, send revival and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.
