Daily Word – Thursday 1 February 2007

Proverbs 21:3

Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.

God hates religious performance. The Pharisees were great at showing off their religious practices but were devoid of love, compassion and grace. Jesus had no problem calling them what they were, ‘hypocrites’ who continually, legalistically judged others and never extended a loving, helping hand. Were they living cleanly before God? Maybe on the outside, but their hearts were soiled with the filth of unforgiveness, judgment and self-righteousness.

So, how often have we been guilty of the same attitude? When was the last time we heard about the fall of a brother, to either feel spiritually superior, or else to avoid them not wanting to get involved?  Or maybe we fear that if we come alongside such a person with love and encouragement we will be judged with them.

There have been times in our lives when Bernard and I have experiencing wave upon wave of negative circumstances, and I haven’t know if my faith would hold up under the pain, but what really devastated me the most, were the  people who commented that we must have failed God in some way for all this to be happening to us. Have you ever secretly, in your heart thought, ‘they must be doing something wrong for all this to be happening to them?’

God is not impressed if we go to church every week and attend all the religious meetings we can, but do not walk in love with those around us by being prepared to stand with one another in the bad times as well as the good.

So today ---- BE A FRIEND NOT A PHARISEE ---- LIVE IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST!!!!!!

Stay fervently focused,

Much love

Chrissy