We Need Jesus

Today’s Through the Bible Reading: Mark 7 – 8:10; Matt 15

“Ths people draweth nigh unto me with thier mouth…but their hear is far from me.” Matthew 15:8

Our Savior warned the hyper-legalistic Pharisees not to mistake their own rules and regulations for the heart behind God’s law.

We often implement “safety rails” in our life as a way to keep us from getting close to sin. Such boundaries can very wise. Knowing our own individual weaknesses and what we personally need to do to avoid sin shows wisdom. However, like the Pharisees in today’s reading, those safety rails may keep you from sin, but they don’t necessarily get you closer to God.

We need Jesus! Personal convictions and traditions can replace God’s commands and His intent behind His law. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). As we spend time in the Lord’s presence, worshiping Him, reflecting on what He did for us on the cross, as our love for Him deepens, our love for sin lessens. Focusing on the law has the opposite effect – if we’re always focusing on sin (or even the absence thereof) then we aren't focusing on Jesus.

But focusing on Jesus doesn't mean a walk through candy land. It does mean peace that passes understanding and joy unspeakable. But, it also means obeying His Word (Lk 6:46-49). We are told to be holy as He is holy (2 Pt 3:11); to let the mind of Christ dwell in us richly (Col 3:16); to crucify our flesh (Gal 5:24); to not be conformed to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2). As always, it’s the heart behind the sacrifice that God looks at.

So today, as you ask the Lord to transform your life, and we fix our eyes on Jesus, praying without ceasing (1 Thess 5:16-18), praising Him continually, taking every thought captive to obey Him (2 Cor 10:5); and letting His Word dwell in us richly – He will be at work in our hearts – cleaning up what needs to be swept away. Our focus will be Him and not us and the fruit will be bountiful.