February 4
Ex 19:16-21:21 | PS 28 | Prov 7:1-5 | Matt 23:13-39
Many prefer instruction manuals when it comes to faith, saying, “What do I have to do?” Though God gave us many laws and commands, following these is not how you enter the faith. He desires relationship. The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), begin with four vertical commandments involving our relationship with God, followed by six horizontal commandments involving our relationship with others. This is not by accident. We read the first commandment in 20:2-3, “ “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Realize many might not literally bow down before an altar to a pagan god, but anything that controls your life: pleasure, intellect, ambition, family, sports, etc., anything that is your driving force, your master passion is your god, whether one wants to admit it or not. This god, whatever it might be for any of us breaks that first commandment, which distorts our vertical relationship with God.
The religious leaders were all too happy to provide their instruction manual to stand right with God. But it was their man made rendition, not God’s. So we read some of Jesus’ accusations levied against them in Matthew 23:13,15, 25-28, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in… “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves… “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” They followed and led others to follow their manual and in so doing they missed the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was right before them.
Be careful of focusing more on “do that”, “don’t do this”. Yes, God’s commands are real and meant to be followed. But following the rules before establishing the relationship is putting the cart before the horse. Seek Him earnestly. Meditate upon Him in His Word. Talk to Him in prayer. Worship Him, as He alone is worthy. And yes, follow His rules, but not as a checklist, but because of your love for Him, and your desire to live in this vertical relationship with God.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: