Matthew 15:8-9
8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Jesus challenged religious leaders who seemed obedient, but were just going through empty practices. Like the religious leaders thousands of years ago, we too can be tempted to prioritize outward appearances over inward transformation. We may go through the motions of routines without a genuine heart connection to God, like a child reciting words without fully understanding them. Why is it important that our faith is more than just a performance? Why should we seek a genuine and deep relationship with God?
Jesus challenges us to move beyond routines and embrace a faith characterized by heart change. As we grow in our relationship with God, we begin to embody qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we live out those qualities, we honor and bring God praise—we experience a life filled with joy that reflects His love rather than one characterized by empty rules.
Prayer prompt: Lord, lead me into a deeper relationship with you that is not driven by outward appearances.
Written by Luke Robinson