Apr
28
Prideful Barriers
Filed Under Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” ~ Matthew 15:7-9
OBSERVATION:
Time and time again in the New Testament Jesus calls out the Pharisees for being hypocrites. These are the “religious” people who should know all of this stuff that Jesus is talking about, but they’re so wrapped up in rules and looking down on others, they miss what the heart of Jesus’ message is all about…love.
APPLICATION:
We as Christians need to be careful about this. I cannot count how many times I’ve heard friends of mine, or other people say they’ve heard their friends say that Christians preach this, they preach that then they go and do the complete opposite. With anything, if you’re going to be a hypocrite, why would anyone listen to you? The message we need to get across is that we are not perfect, and it’s because of that imperfection that we need Jesus. That’s what’s so awesome about His love and His grace…we don’t deserve it, yet He freely gives it to us anyway.
As my knowledge of the Lord and Scripture grows, I need to be careful when I talk with people who may not know as much as I do, especially with Scripture. I need to be humbled and get off my high horse because that will get in the way of what God wants to do through me. My pride will be a barrier to show someone the love Christ has for him or her.
PRAYER:
Father God, please continue to break down my stubborn pride so that Your will can be done through me and my ulterior motives won’t get in the way of Your glory.