TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011
“And He continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and mother,’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’” Mark 7:9-13
READ
In this passage, Jesus challenges those who put human traditions above the Law of God. In Christ’s day, it was expected that children would take care of their parents into old age in the same way that parents took care of their children at a young age. This was a cycle of care, the family always caring for each other at the time of greatest need. However, in their zeal to honour God the Jews came up with a law which stated that an individual could take their possessions and make it Corban (a gift devoted to God) which would essentially void them of any responsibility to care for their parents.
Sometimes the traditions we come up with sound good because we spiritualize them. Devoting our material wealth to God seems like a very commendable idea. But Jesus shows us that God doesn’t want our gift if it is an excuse to be irresponsible.
PREPARE
- Praise God for who He is
- Confess your sinfulness and need for cleansing
- Allow His Spirit to draw you near
- Listen as He speaks to you
PRAY
- Pray that God helps us to understand His ways
- Pray that God helps us to wipe away harmful traditions
TRUST
- Thank God for hearing you
- Trust that God is at work to accomplish His will
FOLLOW
What’s happening around us?
The mission of the Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region is to protect children, to support all children and strengthen families, and to develop a caring environment for children. The organization provides children with a nurturing environment in which to heal and grow, and provides parents with the help to create a better life for their family.
Volunteers provide a wide range of services: befriend, tutor, provide child care, drive, or work with families. Volunteers may also research lifebooks/ social histories or assist in public relations or provide administrative support.
http://www.facswaterloo.org