Father, I would plead that You would keep us together. There is so much that we are allowing to divide and then there are things beyond our control that are holding us apart. Provide the bridges we need to weather our storms. Amen.
Luke 20:45-47 (<<click here to read the passage)
I love apples, though I can’t really indulge myself in that they aren’t diabetic friendly. A disappointing thing about apples is the fact that on occasion I would bite into a bad one.
On the outside, it would look absolutely luscious, and then I would take a bite, chew a bit, and spit it out! The outside of the apple was but a façade in that the inside was brown and completely inedible. It got to the point where I would slice all my apples before attempting to eat them, just to avoid the problem.
From what I’ve read there are a few contributing factors to internal browning. They could have been picked too ripe, or maybe they were stored too long. It is a known potential problem when storing apples in long term cold storage. But regardless of why it happens, it’s gross when it does!
If you were a run-of-the-mill guy in Jesus’ day you would probably have looked at the teachers of the Law with admiration and respect. They seemed to do everything right. Oh, if only we could be like them. They were the ones who God liked the most…at least it looked that way.
Everything may have looked impressive on the outside but for most of them it was just a façade – closer inspection of the inside showed them to be rotten where it counted most!
It may have been hard for the common man to believe, but behind their appearance of holiness and respectability, they were arrogant, crafty, selfish, and uncaring. Jesus exposed their evil hearts showing that despite their pious words, they were neglecting God’s laws and doing as they pleased. *
All preachers and teachers of God’s word carry a heavy responsibility. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote,
…you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. James 3:1 AMP
And Jesus said of these teachers of the Law,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and love respectful greetings in the [crowded] market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. These [men] who confiscate and devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense [to appear devout] offer long prayers. These [men] will receive the greater [sentence of] condemnation.” v46-47 AMP (emphasis mine)
When it comes right down to it as followers of Christ, we must realize that religious deeds do not cancel sin. What really counts is being living examples of mercy and justice. *
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 16th, 2020, Mon, 6:54 pm
