WHOSE WALK ARE YOU WALKING?
- Key Verse
- "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" (Matthew 15:8-9)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
Our world is full of do's and don'ts. But when we faithfully obey God, there are only two rules to follow: Love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39). God does not make it complicated to walk His way.
Reflections
"Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk." Simple to understand, yet difficult to execute. In this chapter, Christ calls the Pharisees out. He calls them hypocrites for their pursuit of perfection through false rule-keeping. They were worshiping the Lord in vain; they were teaching rules that they created. They were walking their own walk, NOT God's. They were consumed by talking the talk and looking the part; they gave no heed to the state of their hearts.For too long, I sought perfection in the world's eyes by doing, saying, and pursuing what I thought were the "right" things. Through God's grace, I realized those things were all self-centered and were not right in His eyes (Romans 3:21-22). Unfortunately, the Pharisees relentlessly pursued the wrong kind of perfection; they were all about glorifying themselves, not God.
The Pharisees did not want to make faithful obedience simple. They wanted to maintain an air of superiority because they adhered to a complicated set of rules to seemingly fulfill God's law. This external pursuit of faithfulness is NOT what God desires. Christ's death freed us from the clutches of the Law, whether true or distorted by man.
God cherishes our faithful obedience, He doesn't complicate it. He loves worship from the heart, and He delights in our praise when it is pure. He sees right through it when it is just for show, and so does the world.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord (not yourself or the world) with all your heart (not just your mind), and do not lean on your own understanding (lean on God's). In all your ways (your thoughts, words, AND actions) acknowledge Him (not the world), and He (not yourself or anyone else) will make your paths straight."
Are you walking on God's path? Are you walking His way? Are you trusting Him? Are you doing things just for show? If you are unsure, pray that God will open your heart to His way (John 14:6) and dig into the Word in search of His truth.
Discussion Questions
1. Think about your life before Christ. Whose walk were you walking? What characterized your actions?2. Now think of your life with Christ. Are you walking God's walk? What characterizes your actions now?
3. If there is a marked difference in your answers to Questions 1 and 2, congratulations, you are done! If there isn't much of a difference, go on to Questions 4 and 5.
4. What about your thoughts, words, and actions do you need to confess to God that you want and need to change?
5. What can you do today to let the world see that Christ is living in you and that He has captured your heart and changed your life?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
MATTHEW 11-15 (JANUARY 16-20)
Read Matthew 13:1-23.
How many different places did the seeds fall? Review what happened to the seeds in each place (verses 4-8).
What do the places represent (verses 19-23)?
What kind of place do you want your heart to be?
How do you make sure your heart stays like the good soil, a place where God's truth will grow?
Activity: Get four paper cups and some rye grass seed. Let each of the four cups represent one of the "places."
Pathway: an empty cup with some seed in the bottom.
Rocky Place: rocks and seed in the bottom.
Thorny Place: put soil with rye grass in it and then put a layer of coins covering the top of the soil to represent the riches of this world.
Fertile Place: soil with rye grass seed planted in it.
Put all four in the sunlight and remember to water them all. Watch and see what happens to all four "places." Think about how to remain like the good soil, allowing God's Word to grow in your heart and life.
Sue Bohlin
January 20, 2012 08:34 AM
"Through God's grace, I realized those things were all self-centered and were not right in His eyes." This is what struck me from today's reading--what spiritual transformation looks like. When Jesus healed the lame, the deformed, the blind, and the mute (v. 30), He was doing something in the physical, seen realm that helps us understand the greater work He does in the spiritual, unseen realm. Giving you (us!) the ability to see things from God's perspective is just as miraculous as restoring sight to blind eyes, but it lasts eternally. Freeing a person from the crippling effect of addictions and idolatries so they can walk with God is just as miraculous as strengthening useless limbs so people can stand on their own two feet and walk unassisted. Pouring the Father's love into a heart deformed by abuse, neglect and unmet needs so it is restored to its original intended shape and capacity is just as miraculous as filling out and restoring withered and deformed body parts. Changing unhearing hearts so they recognize the voice of their Good Shepherd, the whispered direction and promptings of the Spirit, and the delighted affirmations of the Father is just as miraculous as unstopping deaf ears so people can hear again. Jesus' healings were SO much more than simply making life easier for the sick and disabled! They were a picture of what He wants to, longs to, do in our souls as well.
Amanda Guillot
January 20, 2012 09:12 AM
Love your heart, Cara…and purple trees rock! :)
Lee Danis
January 20, 2012 09:20 AM
Wow! Two great devo's today - Tara & Sue's. Q#4 is the test and Q#5 tells us if we have passed. Sue such great insight in your comments - thanks for sharing.
Sue Bohlin
January 20, 2012 10:45 AM
Thanks, Lee. Thinking through today's reading was a major lightbulb moment for me. I'm recording it in my wisdom journal because it feels like a personal gift from the Holy Spirit!
Bill Roberson
January 20, 2012 10:58 AM
Your time with the Lord shines through, Cara. Grateful to partner with you in ministry. Note to Ladies: Join Cara in our Monday morning Ladies Only with childcare Equipped Disciple class starting Feb 6. http://www.watermark.org/ministries/equipped-disciple/
Lisa
January 20, 2012 03:40 PM
Well said,Cara! Enjoyed your devotion!
Lynnlie
January 20, 2012 09:55 PM
My sister and I were raised in the Church of Christ, but as we've grown older and God has become the central part of our lives we've both realized that we missed out on a lot. Recently, our mother has really started questioning us and voicing her disappointment that we've "strayed." She refuses to accept that we are both closer to and more in love with God that we ever imagined. She lives by the idea "God doesn't say we can't, but He doesn't say we can either." It's so frustrating...... I would love some help on topics like this.....
sarah
January 21, 2012 09:27 AM
Great dvo! It spoke to my heart. Now I've got some praying and confessing to do.
AJ
January 21, 2012 10:21 AM
Great stuff Cara!
Molly
January 21, 2012 02:26 PM
Have a family member who's been in CR for years, yes years. This program seems t teach coping skills, not healing and freedom from the grip of porn, not the miraculous release from the power of porn. We have seen a sadness slowly replacing his once happy outlook. Now in coping mode, trying to live in community(which appears to sometimes edge over into approval) this very bright young man is also conflicted about getting a student loan for grad.studies, not seeing the lifetime benefits for his family vs a relatively brief time of repaying the cost of school. So while I agree w the Cara, not sure my nephew is receiving this gospel, this good news from Watermark. CR and community should bless, right? Hope he has read Cara's thoughtful writing.
MW
January 21, 2012 06:03 PM
Great devo! To expand on Sue's comment I wanted to learn more on the significance of the chosen healings. For example; are there any references to healings for mental illness, aspergers,down.etc. or is it Jesus sees these differently? To your point, in healing the soul
Aleks
January 21, 2012 06:53 PM
Such an evcouraging devo Cara. I love see God continue the work He started in you by reading this and marveling how much He has grown you into His image.
Robin Howard
January 23, 2012 10:54 AM
Cara, Thanks you for the great reminder that apart from God I can do nothing. It is only by faith in Him and by the power of his Spirit that I can walk His way! It is a constant battle of my soul...to trust Him and His way or my own.
Nate
January 23, 2012 01:44 PM
Dear Molly - Thank you for letting us know about your nephew. Clearly, it is a difficult thing to watch a loved one continue to repeat foolish decisions by turning to vices instead of the Lord. A prodigal can bring much pain and frustration on themselves and the family. I don't know why your nephew continues to relapse, but I do want you to know that we care about everyone that participates with us in recovery at Wstermark and want to do all that we can to help them turn to Christ and see their addictions and afflictions healed. CR is not a perfect program and we are not a perfect people but both the program and our people do all that we can to direct those that are stuck back to the Word of God so they can experience freedom and intimacy with God. There have been many people here in Watermark's recovery program that have experienced intimacy with Christ and freedom from their addiction. I am one if them. If you are willing to talk, we are eager to discuss the situation with your nephew and follow-up with him and his community to see where he is stuck, help repent and find freedom in Christ. James 5:18-20, "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." Please let us know if there is a time we can speak with you about your loved one. In Christ, Nate Graybill Director of Recovery Watermark Community Church
Molly
January 24, 2012 07:19 AM
Nate, thank you for your response. I will begin to pray... that all things come to light in this situation. I am so grateful for your concern, this gives me a different view of CR. We have watched this nephew retreat from his gifts and talents because he's come to believe that the fun and accomplishment was really too prideful and that it's connected with the porn desire. True, we must come t the end of self... But something is a little off. I will encourage him to contact you and I will be praying for this ministry to bless.