DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FILTHY DIRTY

FILTHY DIRTY

Matthew 15:10-11, 20

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand; not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man …. These are the things that defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.’ ”

The word “defile” means to make filthy and unclean. Jesus explained this teaching: What comes out of the heart is more important than body cleanliness. It matters not how clean a person is on the outside.  It is not what I eat that makes me dirty or even the grime on my body; it is what I think and do. If a heart is filthy, the entire body is unclean. James wrote that an evil tongue defiles the whole body (James 3:6). I have seen beautiful women who destroy their beauty by swearing. It was what came out of the mouth that defiled them. No matter how good a person looks on the outside, if the heart is wicked, it will eventually come out. The Pharisees were concerned with the externals. God is concerned with the internals – the matters of the heart, because it is from the heart that evil proceeds. The cry of my heart is that of David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10).

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: A filthy heart is more important to God than a dirty body.

[end]

Have a “clean-heart” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HYPOCRITES!

HYPOCRITES!

Matthew 15:7-9

“ ‘Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” ’ ”

Hypocrite! I’ve been called that a time or two, and it stings. Hypocrites say one thing and do another. They are good at telling other people how to live, but their lives don’t match their mouths. They can come to church and look good when they worship, but it is an outward show, and not from the heart. But I need to be careful when I call someone a hypocrite, because I don’t know the heart like Jesus does. We are all sinners and fall short of living like we should. So I need to leave the judging to God who sees the heart.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is the judge of hypocrites because only He can know the heart.

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Have an “unhypocritical” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RATIONALIZATION

RATIONALIZATION

Matthew 15:4-6

“ ‘For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’ – then he need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.’ ”

God’s commandment was clear: honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12). But some people did not want to keep this commandment, so they created a rationalization for not obeying, even couching it in spiritual terms of giving to God. They substituted their own tradition for God’s instruction. If I don’t want to obey God’s Word, I can always find an excuse to justify my disobedience. But sin is sin, no matter how I try to rationalize it or justify it. For examples, lying is sin, no matter how I try to excuse it. Stealing is sin, regardless of how I try to justify it. When I try to sidestep God’s commandments, I make His Word ineffective in my life. But none of my rationalizing will change God’s Word.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Rationalization and excuses can never justify sin.

[end]

Have an obedient day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRADITION

TRADITION

Matthew 15:1-3

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus saying, ‘Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?’ ”

The Jewish leaders criticized Jesus’ disciples because they did to follow tradition. The washing of hands was not just a hygienic issue. It was a ceremonial rite of cleansing in the Jewish religion. As a tradition, it was not mandatory. It is so easy to fall into the trap of making tradition equal to what God has revealed in His word. Even though the tradition may have value and merit (as washing one’s hands before eating), it is not obligatory simply because the older generation observes it. For example, we traditionally close our eyes during prayer. It is good because it helps us close out the world and focus on God, but it is not a Scriptural mandate. Too often I am like the scribes and Pharisees, or like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof singing “Tradition,” criticizing other people who do not keep my traditions which have no Scriptural foundation. God, help me not to be critical of people who do not do things like I do.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Observance of tradition is not mandatory unless it is commanded in God’s Word.

[end]

Have a free day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- JESUS IS HERE!

JESUS IS HERE!

Matthew 14:34-36

“When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all the surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.”

I can almost hear the news as it spread from person to person throughout the surrounding vicinity – “Jesus is here! Jesus is here!” And on the word of that testimony, people came to be in His presence and touch the hem of His garment. Oh, that every church fellowship would recognize Jesus’ presence and the word would go out, that Jesus is there! Moreover, I desire that people might recognize Jesus’ presence in my life so that they could say, “Jesus is here!”

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: The recognition of Jesus’ presence draws people.

[end]

Have a “Jesus presence” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORSHIP

WORSHIP

Matthew 14:32-33

“And when they [Jesus and Peter] got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly, this is the Son of God.’ ”

The disciples had seen wonderful things – Jesus walking on the water, Peter walking on the water, and the calming of the storm. The result of what they had witnessed caused them to worship Jesus. I know that Jesus is to be worshiped for Who He is – the Son of God. But it is the manifestation of His power and His care that prompts worship. As I look back on my life and think of all the times He has intervened in my personal challenges, I can’t help but worship Him.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is worthy of worship, both for Who He is and for what He does.

[end]

Have a worshiping day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CAUGHT

CAUGHT

Matthew 14:30-31

“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ”

When Peter took his first steps of faith, his attention was on Jesus only. But then he was distracted by the storm around him, and he was overwhelmed and began to sink. Then he cried out to Jesus. It is so easy to be distracted by the circumstances around me and let my focus shift from Jesus to the storm. Jesus may let me start to sink so that I will know my utter need for Him. But when I cry out to Him in my distress, He stretches out His strong arm and catches me. “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2). What a wonderful Savior that hears my cry in my distress.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus reaches out and catches the person who cries out to Him.

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Have a “caught” day. Love you.