Matthew 12
It has been said that one of the signs
of brokenness in our world is that we use people and love things instead of
using things and loving people. The Pharisees displayed that brokenness in
Matthew 12 by being more concerned about rituals than they were about people.
They cared more about their traditions than they did about the hurt and lost in
their community.
To be fair, the Pharisees would say that
they were keeping the Law. Keeping the Law is a good thing. Right? However, it
was not always the Law – as in God’s commands – that they were concerned about,
but a whole system of traditions and regulations that had been built around the
Law to help keep people from breaking the Law. These were actually human rules
– some of which were very sensible - and not God’s Law. They also overlooked
something they knew about God’s Law. It could be summed up in two short
phrases: Love God and love your neighbor. They had totally set the second part
of that summation aside.
This phenomenon of loving things – even
very good and religious things – is something we should be aware of in our own
lives. How often do Christians hold on to traditions – styles of music,
inwardly focused ministries, and congregational activities that have nothing to
do with God or His Word – at the expense of people? Do we ever get so focused
on our churches that we lose our mission? Building, budgets, and ministries are
all good, but if they end up insulating us from people who don’t know Jesus, or
keep us from dealing with the needs of our community, are they more than pious
stumbling blocks?
The heart of Jesus’ ministry was to seek
people who were lost and broken in their sin. We are among those whom Jesus has
found and forgiven. We have experienced mercy and grace. Even the times we have
focused on the wrong aspects of church life are forgiven in Him. As we pull
away from focusing on ourselves and we repent of making our faith about our ideas
and traditions instead of God’s grace, we will find ourselves bearing good
fruit; loving our neighbors, meeting them, showing them God’s love and forgiveness,
and displaying the love we have received through our service to others.
Lord, help me love You and hold tightly to
Your Word so I may love others and share the hope of Your Gospel with my
neighbor. Amen.
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