How Far is My Heart

In Matthew 15, we find Jesus in one of many standoffs with the Pharisees.  The Pharisees (Law keepers) witnessed Jesus’ disciples eating without washing their hands according to the ceremonial customs of the Jews.  After listening to their accusations,  Jesus neglecting to answer their indictment, offered one of his own.  He asked them why they break the command of God to ”Honor your father and mother.”  It was in verse 7 that he called them hypocrites, and said Isaiah was right when he prophesied about them,  reciting those famous words taken from Isaiah 29:13: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”  What an indicting statement.  It was after pondering this scene that I thought, could I also be guilty of doing the same thing?  Are there times when I honor God with my lips because it is the right thing to say or do, because of my religious traditions, when in reality my heart at the time is far from God.  Could I also be so caught in my religiosity that my worship is vain in the sight of God?  Lord examine my heart and search me, for I do not want to be guilty of the indictment of Jesus against the Pharisees.  Teach me to love you from the depths of my heart and not just from my lips, so that my worship will honor you as my Lord and my Savior.  Lord, please fix my heart that I may serve you. Blessings.

​~Lamar