Saturday 3 Aug 2013

Saturday Reading: Matthew 23:1-12

Key Verse: Matthew 23:3
3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Devotion:
I like to think that I do the right thing when called, but I know that I still do many things wrong and when I do those things wrong I feel bad. That is the conscience that God has given each one of us calling out to try to convince us that we do need to follow God and not the world. When we bury ourselves in the world and all the trimmings of this world, then we tend to give in to those trimmings instead of listening to our God-given consciences.

God continues to try to guide us in our lives as we live in this world. He continues to try to show us that there is a right way of doing things and that that way is by following Him. Now we have a choice as to how we do these things and it is that choice that will make a huge difference to those who watch us. Yes, we are being watched every day by the people around us and we have a duty to God to do what He has taught us otherwise we are breaking down all that He is trying to build up in us.

The Scribes and the Pharisees were great at speaking about God, great at telling people how they should live and great at speaking against the world; but they were not that good at following their own advice. It is great to talk about God and spread the Word, but unless we are going to live that Word then we are living a hollow life, one that is certainly not giving glory to our God!

God does not want us to judge others but rather to look inside of our own lives to see if we are really listening to what He has put inside of us. God searches deep inside of our hearts and knows us from the inside out. He is the one that knows whether we are doing stuff just because we have to or whether we are doing stuff because we love Him. He does not want soldiers that listen and do what has to be done but rather an army of willing people, willing to follow Him, willing to uphold His name and willing to do His will.

Points to Ponder:
Are you willing?

Do you act on God’s Word?