Heart!

For Thursday, June 22, 2023:

Mark 7:6b-7 NLT, Jesus speaking about the Pharisees: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”

Growing up in a church, I was an acolyte; an altar boy. One of our jobs was to light the candles. We were to begin on the right side with the candle closest to the cross. Jesus, after all, sits at the right hand of the Father, and true light comes from the cross, representing Jesus. When all the candles on the right were lit, go to the left side in a similar manner. Extinguish the candles in reverse order.

One day a new student was assigned ‘candle duty.’ He did it all wrong! Started on the wrong side, lit the candles in the wrong order, and I was pretty sure we were all going to hell for worshiping incorrectly! Or perhaps a lightning bolt would strike the church – God’s revenge for us not paying attention to detail!

As an adult, having studied more of my Bible, I find that God doesn’t give a hoot about our traditions. He wants to know our heart. Man-made traditions are not commands from the Father. True worship involves humbleness, not so much putting ourselves down, but rather lifting up our Savior.

Jesus said to love the Lord and love your neighbor. He’s not concerned with how the candles got lit!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship