All you people that say you believe in God, also live out your faith. Do more than just lip service to Jesus, our Savior, but live a life for Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to move inside of you to do His will and not your own earthly pleasures. You can do this by praying and reading the Bible daily, while doing as it teaches. When God’s Word is in your hearts you will be less apt to follow in your old traditional way of thinking but live a life for Christ. Jesus said that there are many people that do not obey His laws because of their own way of living. He said, 1“full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Jesus says that these type of people are hypocrites. In His plain terms, he said, 1“this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” I pray that this is not your heart. We have all come from different family environments and belief systems but please do not keep doing things contrary to God even though these things have been in your family traditions for years. Truly, you are 1“making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” This is a stern warning from God. Heed his counsel. It is more important to be saved then to find favor with our family and friends.
I was raised in a specific church family with specific values. For many years, I thought I was on the right path. Things appeared truthful until I truly started comparing their teachings with God’s Word. The Bible then told me an entirely different story on what I have learned. 2To put it plainly, I did not know any better because I had not searched the scriptures. Now I know that in many different churches, including the one I was raised in, have many traditions and teachings that are not biblical in nature. Many things are taught that either go against the Holy Bible or are added to its teachings. This can easily happen and people may not find fault in it for years. For this reason, everyone that loves God must also be studying the Bible daily. This way we can find any errors in our way of thinking and act on it quickly. The Holy Spirit will help us learn God’s truths and unlearn what is false. He will also lead us away from church’s that are not built on correct principles. The Lord’s doctrines will become clear to our minds and anything different will be cast aside. Know that God’s ways are higher than our own. It is better to be found living in His ways then to be found living apart from Him. This is so important for our salvation. In all things, be nourished by God and not man.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that Your ways will become greater in our hearts and minds than our own way of living. Will You help us know what traditions are bad? Help us know what traditions we have kept over the years, in our family, that do not give You glory. I do not wish to sin against You, oh Lord. I do not wish to walk in my own ways. Your ways are higher than my own and I wish to know them better each day. Help me to do so and live in Your light. I love Your teachings from the Bible. I love Your counsel in prayer. Help me to know the errors in my own thinking that I may better follow You. Your doctrines are precious above all things. I wish to cherish them and not add or take away from them. If things are taught in church that are against Your Holy Word, the Bible, give me courage to leave this church. I do not wish to be deceived. Lead me in Your ways. I love You more. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Mark 7:1-23 (KJV)
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
1John 5:39-44 (KJV)
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?