Matthew 15:8

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Scripture:  Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Observation: In this scripture, Jesus is refering back to Isaiah 29:13 (Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: ) and is speaking about the Pharisees... but the application here can be made to all. Are you honoring God on the surface only, or is your heart close to His? When you hear His word, do you nod your head and say 'Amen' only to have your heart remain unchanged, or do you let His word soak in deeply and alter who you are to make you fit better into His plan for your life? Do you say with your mouth that you follow Christ and live a life out of step with God's word, or is your every action, word, thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ?

Application: It is so easy to say I am a Christian. It is easy to say I believe the bible, it is easy to hand out a tract and invited someone to church with a smile on my face... but all of those things can be, and are done by people without Christ. The unsaved masses can tell you what you want to hear - they can say they believe it and invite you to believe it too... but the truth is so much deeper than word and action... it springs forth from the heart. When I get dressed each day, I can do what God says on the outside... I can wear the clothes that are becoming for a Christian woman... but my heart can be far from joyful obedience. When I go to church, I can nod my head and say amen - outwardly agreeing with the sermon... but my heart can be seething with perceived injustices. I can say God has been so good to me... but inwardly be filled discontentment about the things that I want that God has not given me. I can draw near to God with my mouth... on the outside where others can see, but my heart can be far from God on the inside, where only God knows the truth.  I can do those things which make me appear to be a good christian woman to those around me, and still be farther from God than any lost soul. I can fool the masses... for a while. But I will never fool God.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the wisdom found in the pages of the bible. Thank You Lord, for allowing me to draw close to You. Lord, I know that it is easy to fool others for a while. I know also, that eventually the truth will come out and the hypocrisy will be seen. Lord, I ask that You help me to examine my faith daily in the light of Your word. I ask You to help me purge all the hypocrisy and draw closer to You each day. Lord, keep my heart pure before You and to allow Your word to change me as You see fit. Thank You Lord, for setting the example for me to follow. I do pray Lord, for those that are living a life that seems to be close to You but whose hearts are far away. We are fooled into only praying for specific things in their lives without ever knowing of their need to draw nearer to You. Lord, I may not know who they are, but You do. And I ask You today to please change their hearts today and draw them close to Your heart. Lord, please work in each of our hearts today. In Jesus name, Amen.