Traditions

Week 17 Day 6

2 Samuel 3: 1 Chro. 12; Matthew 15

 

Matthew 15:3

“Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

 

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Jesus was always very straightforward to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law about what they were doing wrong.  He rebuked them openly instead of going along with what they were “used to”.

 

Traditions [things we are used to, things we do because that is what we’ve started with, etc]

.. could be good

.. could be violate God’s Word/commands

 

Do not allow the things that we are “used to” doing shape us now in.  Let “the commands of God” be the standard of rule for our lives and in the things we do.  When we do not know what steps to take or how to approach things in certain circumstances, do not resort to the traditions as these traditions may be going against the commands of God.  If, however, the traditions are pointing and leading to God, by all means, use it for the good.  But we need to be able to assess which traditions are ones that are kept just because we’ve already gotten used to it.  Break traditions for the sake of obedience while also, keep the traditions that lead to obedience to God.

 

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What bad traditions have I allowed to just shape me now?  I need to let God’s Word be a standard of rule in EVERYTHING in my life – from personal to ministry to work to relationships to at the most, my relationship with God.  No worldly tradition or standard (or what I am used to doing) will lead a better life if I know that this tradition is only being kept for the sake of it not because it is OF GOD or what GOD’S WORD says.

Anything I am “used to” that is violating and making me disobey the commands of GOD, I will cut off immediately.

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Lord, thank you for what such a great reminder.  I pray that You will help me to digest this continually today and through out.  Yes, there are things that I am used to doing that I sometimes definitely do not even think that I am already breaking Your commands.  Such things, I need Your power to enable me always – that I may grab hold to that power to enable me to be strengthened on how I can approach those things and deal with them according to what your Word says.  No more to doing what I am “used to”.  Time to leave again another level of the comfortable zone – esp those who are really ruining my direction towards becoming more like Your Son Jesus Christ. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.