Daily Devotional
Do You Relate to the Pharisees?
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
Matthew 23:23
October 21, 2022
Ponder This
The Pharisees had heads full of Scripture but hearts full of sin. They had religion, but they didn’t have reality. They had laws, but they didn’t have life. Oh, they were careful all right. They would dot every i and cross every t, but they didn’t understand Christ. They did not have the love of the Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts. Legalism is not the answer.
I am a Bible-believing Christian. I believe all of the Bible. I believe it is absolutely true. I believe all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, but I am not a legalist. I pray to God that He will save me and you from the loveless leaven of legalism. Legalism is not what our world needs today. The Bible is a wonderful sword, but it is a terrible club.
- How do you relate to the Pharisees? Where are you prone to legalism?
- What is dangerous about legalism? How does it cause us to miss Jesus?
Practice This
Discuss with a brother or sister in Christ what it looks like to walk in step with Christ instead of walking in legalism.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
