Thought for March 30

I am having back surgery this morning. Tomorrow's post might be delayed, but things should be back to normal on Saturday.

History:

  • 240 BC: First recorded passage of Halley's Comet
  • 1842: Dr. Crawford Long uses ether as anesthetic for the first time
  • 1856: Treaty of Paris ends the Crimean War
  • 1867: Alaska purchased from Russia
  • 1870: 15th Amendment ratified--right to vote
  • 1955: "On the Waterfront" wins Best Picture
  • 1959: Dalai Lama flees China to India
  • 1961: Reagan shot by John Hinckley
  • 1964: Policeman offers waitress half of lottery ticket as a tip--next day they split $6 million--movie came later
  • 1992: "Silence of the Lambs" wins Best Picture
  • 1997: Lady Vols win 5th National championship
  • 2020: Virginia, Maryland, Florida and Arizona lock down due to Covid
  • Born: Malmonides [Jewish philospher], Robert Bunsen [Bunsen Burner], Anna Sewell ["Black Beauty"], Vincent Van Gogh, Frankie Lane, Ingvar Kamprad [founded Ikea], Warren Beatty, Jerry Lucas, Eric Clapton, Paul Reiser, MC Hammer, Celine Dion, Secretariat, 
  • Died: James Cagney, Queen Elizabeth [Queen Mother], Alistar Cooke, Dith Pran [subject of "The Killing Fields"]
Thought:
Reading Mark 7 today. In the first 13 verses, Jesus addresses our tendency to follow the traditions of men rather than the commandments of God [7:3, 5, 8, 9, 13]. 
  • The disciples had eaten without the ceremonial washing. The Pharisees ask why the disciples do not walk according to the traditions of the elders. Does this sound familiar? Why don't the men wear suits to church anymore? Why do ladies wear pants to church? Why do we have drums in worship? Why doesn't the pastor wear a tie? 
  • The disciples had "impure" hands. And they probably had unclean cups and pitchers and pots [7:4]. 
  • How did Jesus respond?
    • You neglect the commandments of God [7:8]
    • You invalidate the word of God [7:13]
    • You honor God with your lips. [7:6]
    • Your heart is far from God [7:6]
    • You worship in vain [7:7]
We might say, you talk the talk but do not walk the walk. We could say, you value ritual over repentance and ceremony over obedience. Then, I look at my life. Am I more concerned with checking the box for daily Bible reading or with encountering the author? Am I more concerned with appearing to be holy than with being holy? Am I more concerned with what you think or what God thinks? This passage reminds me that when my actions are simply tradition or show, God sees them as an affront to His word. And, they are not accepted as worship. 

Lord, help me today to give you my heart, not my lip service. 

Blessings
Larry

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