Pastor Mary Haley

As we walk by faith in the salvation of our Savior, we are to grow, develop, and live in God’s strength. It is not unusual for people who have been in a relationship with Jesus for decades to think those years is what actually makes them mature and strong in the faith. Time does not make us mature or fill us with integrity; surrender and obedience does. Faith is action and a positive response to the work of the Spirit. So, our level of growth is based on how well we listen and do the anointed Word (Is 55:11).

It is the active faith we have used in following Jesus and his Word during our relationship time that determines the maturity of our faith. We work out our salvation by experiential learning as we trust and apply God’s Word to our lives. Therefore, you may only have known Christ a short while but soar in spiritual matters, because you have used your faith wisely. Salvation is the beginning; becoming like Jesus is the finished work of Spirit-led faith. We can memorize a whole bunch of Scripture and sound mature, but if that Word is not alive—with victorious dominion in our thoughts or revealed through our disciplined actions—we are simply pretending to be Spirit-led. All creation is waiting for the revelation of Christ—in the children of Light (Romans 8:19).

In our passage today, Paul is sharing about how love should motivate those who are spiritually mature. We are to put self on the back burner and learn to live in a way that actually helps other believers gain maturity. God’s love will keep us in a place of harmony and unity. We are to welcome other believers, flaws and all, in order to be a blessing in helping one another grow. Christ’s followers—believers—are all seeking to overcome a sin nature; therefore, we are all being pulled from the same pit. If we are trying to cover our sin, rather than be delivered from it, we do not understand the gospel of the Christ.

Genuine faith is revealed in how we think about salvation; and therefore, how we respond to others. You were never created to live as a self-pleaser or a people-pleaser; you are to be a God-pleaser. That being said, it is unwise for us to pick fights with one another or think more highly of our spiritual prowess. God has a way to humble us. Be kind, compassionate, and loving to others. You don’t have to agree with them; you do need to live by the values and perspective of Christ. The more mature we become, the more we love others [even the immature] in the household of faith, as well as the being burdened with love for the spiritually lost.

Romans 15:1-6 NLT Living to Please Others
1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us grow in wisdom and strength. Please motivate us to reach for your perspective in order to live in a greater measure of spiritual maturity, humility, and kindness each day. We need help remaining in a place of harmony that glorifies you. The world is busy corrupting your pure love, but with our Helper we can remain faithful in how we reveal the reality of love leading our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I enjoy eating really delicious food, but I also want to eat things that make me healthy and strong. So, occasionally I choose to eat for the pleasure and taste, but most times I eat for nutrition and energy. I know I feel better when I pay attention to the things I eat; my body finds a way to tell me,”no!” lol

Jesus offers us salvation and spiritual life-giving food that always satisfies, yet as human beings we still crave the worldly food of pleasure don’t we? We are offered the sustenance that makes us strong, wise, secure, and feel loved—the life we were created to live—but we may actually hunger for the things that add nothing good or eternal to our lives. We have many choices to make in what we take into our lives. If we will listen to his Word and obey his instruction, we will eat the manna of heaven—the finest food.

In our passage today from Isaiah [name means Yahweh is salvation], we read about the marvelous plans God has for us and yet, we must choose to hunger and thirst for the righteousness he offers. Isaiah prophesies about Messiah and how he will come to rescue and deliver humanity from self-destruction by suffering for the sins of the people.

Jesus Messiah takes our sin, so we can taste his glory. That kind of merciful love and forgiveness is hard to wrap our minds around. Nonetheless, it is the Truth, so take time with the Lord, today, meditate on God’s goodness, and praise his name!
Isaiah 55:1-9 NLT Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation
1 
“Is anyone thirsty?
    Come and drink—
    even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
    it’s all free!
2 
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
    Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
    You will enjoy the finest food.
3 
“Come to me with your ears wide open.
    Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
    I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 
See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
    I made him a leader among the nations.
5 
You also will command nations you do not know,
    and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 
Seek the Lord while you can find him.
    Call on him now while he is near.
7 
Let the wicked change their ways
    and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
    Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8 
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for feeding us from your Tree of Life. We reach for the heavenly manna that satisfies and brings good things to our lives. Holy Spirit, help us thirst and hunger for that which is eternal as we live in these human bodies. We need healthy physical food and holy eternal spiritual food in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Throughout Scripture, God is very straight-forward and clear about the salvation he offers to humanity. The Hebrew root word for salvation or to save is “yesha/Yeshua.” So, God’s salvation is based solely on the Rescuer, Yeshua/Jesus, who brings us freedom from sin and death. As we receive this freedom from the Lord, we should be very aware this means ongoing change or transformation in how we think and live.

Jesus offers us ongoing deliverance; yet, we cannot claim Yeshua (the Savior) and not receive yesha (the salvation he offers). We are saved to live as children of Light (heavenly glory) and to live any other way is wicked and refusing what Yeshua actually offers. We have been spiritually delivered from a world of sin and death in order to connected to Christ; so, why would we return to the misery and bondage we created through our fleshly efforts instead of growing the fruit of Christ’s Spirit that actually brings freedom?

In our passage today, we can observe true and false faith. Asaph, one of David’s musicians, sings about the righteous attitude of thanksgiving that should approach the salvation “yesha” our “Yeshua” offers. Praise should be on our lips and obedience guiding our lives all the time and if not, we are simply pretending to be people of faith—Yeshua’s followers. Obviously, we are not ‘perfected’ saints and we fail and fall short of God’s glorious standards; yet, we are saints covered by grace being led forward in faith toward the Light or Truth of God’s glory.

One day Yeshua will certainly judge the world, but he will begin with those called according to his name—the Church. We need to praise God for offering us the Truth so we can live by it. This world is deceived; however, on the earth is the Truth abiding in God’s sons and daughters waiting to be exalted and revealed. Yeshua’s integrity, morality, and honesty is within us; Immanuel—God with us! So, please know honor, purity, and Truth are gifts we have been given by the sacrifice of our Savior and for which we must now give praise with the sacrifice of our lives! What are we called to sacrifice for salvation? Wickedness!

Psalm 50:16-23 NLT
16 
But God says to the wicked:
“Why bother reciting my decrees
    and pretending to obey my covenant?
17 
For you refuse my discipline
    and treat my words like trash.
18 
When you see thieves, you approve of them,
    and you spend your time with adulterers.
19 
Your mouth is filled with wickedness,
    and your tongue is full of lies.
20 
You sit around and slander your brother—
    your own mother’s son.
21 
While you did all this, I remained silent,
    and you thought I didn’t care.
But now I will rebuke you,
    listing all my charges against you.
22 
Repent, all of you who forget me,
    or I will tear you apart,
    and no one will help you.
23 
But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
    If you keep to my path,
    I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for your followers to understand we are never called to simply “be” good people, but to “become” godly people. Going through the motions of trying to honor your laws is not what you require. You require us to exalt Yeshua in the innermost part of our beings and live the Truth out as our daily Bread. Help us become what we profess to be in Yeshua. We thank you and praise you for our daily BREAD! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wednesday night in our LIFE lessons class we talked about how God has used imagery, symbols, parables, shadows, religious practices, cultural depictions, as well as words in Scripture to teach us about his character and motives. Scripture is God’s self-revelation. A type, symbol, shadow, etc. may be the avenue God uses to send a prophetic foretelling of future events. Our heavenly Father remains excited about his plans for us, so he has dropped hints throughout Scripture to prepare us. I love the hints, but most of the time they lack specific details which I am convinced is on purpose so we do not get ahead of the leadership of the Lord.

Just as Moses was sent to Egypt, by God, to deliver and lead God’s people of faith out of bondage, God sent Jesus from heaven to deliver and lead God’s people of faith out of bondage to sin and death. Moses provides a shadow of the work Christ will finish 500 years in the future. We know Christ is the Deliverer and that no evil can stand before him. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can be delivered from evil every day. However, we need to receive that grace and power by faith through our positive response to his work—obedience.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants us to understand God has given us a lot of details (not just hints) as to how we are supposed to live as believers. Father wants us to create a life-style of worship—living according to the holy covenant by the Lord’s power and strength. If we choose to be holy, it means we must separate from the ways of the world and face the struggle in order to conquer sin. Also, if we choose to be holy, it means we are separated or set apart for God or to be his representatives in this fallen world. Because of sin, our image musts be transformed. To be holy, by the work of the Holy Spirit, is to be made in God’s image once again.

Ephesians 4:17-24 NLT Living as Children of Light
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the shadows, as well as details you have provided throughout Scripture, so we know how you desire for us to live and reflect your character and attitudes. Christ has made things very clear through his lifestyle and sacrifice. Please help us to live the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Anger is quick to present itself as an optional response to most anything these days. Angry people are plentiful. When someone is denied control or is not happy with certain circumstances, the default is to first explode with anger and think later. Although believers have the same opportunities to become angry [because someone around us is going to say or do something thoughtless and selfish] we are going to need to practice the power to forgive, because harboring unrighteous anger gives a leadership opportunity to the devil (Eph 4:26-27).

In our passage today, Moses has ascended Mount Sinai to meet with God, so he leaves Aaron in charge to lead God’s people. While Moses is gone, the people grow so impatient they pressure Aaron to agree to do something he knows is wrong as a leader, but wants to please the people. About that time, Moses comes back down the mountain with the stone tablets of the law etched with the finger of God.

The leadership reactions of both Aaron and Moses reveals their need for more wisdom. Aaron denies responsibility for being a poor leader; instead he blames the people . Moses gets mad at the people and in anger confronts Aaron; but God has to remind Moses he is the one who actually smashed the tablets in anger. Leadership is about using wisdom and learning to discern the difference between a righteous or unrighteous display of anger. BTW, God is angry with all of them (Ex 32:7-11)!

Exodus 32:19-24 NLT 19 When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it.

21 Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?”

22 “Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!”

Prayer: Lord, all of your children are being groomed to be leaders of the gospel of Truth. So, help us to gain the necessary wisdom to handle our responses righteously; even when we get angry, give us the power to handle it without sin. In Jesus’ name.

I enjoy a big brunch buffet and recently I pulled my chair up to one. No one puts on a breakfast feast the way my sister-in-law does; she thinks of everything and provides a lot of it! However, as amazing as her brunch was last week to my taste buds, Jesus promises to provide a miraculous Messianic feast in the future that will defy description.

Jesus invites the world to his Kingdom feast. Certainly the inauguration of this feast arrived with the beginning of Christ’s ministry, but the final feast at Messiah’s table will be fully enjoyed in his Kingdom. This feast will be for those who have responded to Christ and turned from sinful living—unbelief. Our salvation is a journey and we are transformed as we obey and follow our righteous Lord. The thoughts of feasting on the righteous love, justice, and grace of God makes me more hungry for Jesus, because he feeds me good things and brings satisfaction and restoration to my soul (Mat 5:6).

This world is decaying from the work of human pride and power that exalts sinful dead living—this reflects rebellion against God. When God is not welcomed to rule his world through his Word, love is lean and Satan tempts people to feed on hatred, corruption, and evil. We cannot have our worldly cake and eat at Christ’s table, too! We were created to enjoy God’s presence; he is our righteous Manna.

In our passage today, Isaiah reminds us about the Lord and his Kingdom. Please stir your appetite for Christ, because we are being made in Christ’s image each day. Darkness has no hold on us and our eyes have been opened to the truth. The world may not see, but God’s children see clearly. What do we see? We see the transformation of Christ in us. “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Cor 3:18).

Isaiah 25:6-9 NLT
6
In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will spread a wonderful feast
    for all the people of the world.
It will be a delicious banquet
    with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
7 
There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
    the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
8 
He will swallow up death forever!
    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
    against his land and people.
    The Lord has spoken!
9 
In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
    We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
    Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling us to join you at your table each day. We can choose to eat from the righteousness you provide and be satisfied. Stir our hunger and thirst for the things you offer and help us push ourselves back away from what the world is serving up and wants all to eat. We cling to your authority over all things and our hope is in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Recently, John and I did some camping in southwest Georgia. We visited a State Park called Providence Canyon—known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.” I did some hiking around a three-mile-loop; a loop that went around the rim of these beautiful geological formations.

Providence Canyon stands as a monument and lesson to the power of erosion, as well as improper or overused farming practices that destroyed the Coastal Plain—low lying land adjacent to the sea coast. Over time, small gullies grew into impressive 150 foot canyons. These huge stone pillars made me think about the power of visual things to help us remember and learn from the past.

In our passage today, Moses builds an altar and a monument of stone pillars to remind people of the Truth—the day they made a commitment to honor God’s character and conduct their lives in such a way to reflect the Lord’s glory. God did not force the people to make an oath to honor the terms of the covenant; they willingly made the commitment. However, God knew these visible twelve pillars (depicting the oath of the people from the twelve tribes) would help them remember their word and remain loyal and faithful to God.

Rocky and jagged cliffs of some form exist in all the biblical lands. Many times, God’s people hid around the cliffs to find security from their enemies. David was one of them. As I think of the altar and stone pillars at Mount Sinai, I cannot help but remember the oath I made to the Rock of my salvation—Jesus. I promised to follow my Lord’s commands—to allow the Holy Spirit to make me anew in his image. Every day, Jesus is my Rock—the Cornerstone of my remembrance to remain faithful to my word.

Exodus 24:1-8 NLT Israel Accepts the Lord’s Covenant
1 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu (Aaron’s sons), and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. 2 Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”
3 Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”
8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many ways you set things into place and help us remember to operate our lives with your Wisdom. You are the Rock we need to build our new lives upon and we need to remember our oath to honor your character and ways. Father, thank you for the work of Jesus to be our Refuge who brings us salvation and for the Spirit to groom us in divine holiness. Please impart to us the hunger and the power to live for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 19, 2024

In 2012, I went with forty-one Asbury seminarians to Athens, Greece.  We explored the ancient building remains of the acropolis [citadel] above the city of Athens—the historical center for Greek culture, philosophy, and education.  Our professors taught about the Apostle Paul and how he left Thessalonica and traveled to Athens with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Paul had been asked to speak to the philosophers at a meeting of the Areopagus—aristocratic council—who met on a stone hill and sat on stone seats.  They had heard Paul was teaching about a new form of Wisdom—salvation.  Prominent men [Epicureans and Stoics] considered “deep thinkers” came to debate spiritual and cultural issues at Mars Hill. The Epicureans believed pleasure was the goal of life; while the Stoics believed the goal of life was growing in wisdom and to care for nature. Both groups really came to debate and defend the idols and gods they had created and worshiped.  Paul graciously and wisely led them to examine the truth and come to the only possible conclusion—Jesus.  I stood on Mars Hill and looked out across this famous location knowing the wisdom of Christ was revealed there through the Apostle Paul. 

In our passage today, we dig into the Scripture that tells about Paul’s time in Athens at the Areopagus.  His purpose was to awaken both Jews and Gentiles to the God who saves. Paul inspired the men and “enlightened” even the stoics who felt they already knew everything about life and worship. Paul delivered a dynamic evangelistic message that revealed the truth of God and his plan to redeem the world.  Remember, humanity has an inclination to misrepresent God. Make sure you have the wisdom in Christ to know He is the One True God!

Acts 17:16-31 NLT Paul Preaches in Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for our lesson from the Apostle Paul, today.  We believe you are the One True God and the Creator of all things.  Thank you for your mercy and guiding love when we fail to understand, listen, or demand our own way.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Things like uncertainty, hardship, change, and sorrow bring overwhelming pressure to the human soul—mind, will, and emotions. These things are a part of living in a fallen world. We must seek an accurate perspective of the whole truth [God’s perspective], so we can gain gracious wisdom in order to navigate through these things while still hanging onto to our faith, trust, and joy in the Lord. It is clear we always need the Lord—our Shepherd—a role of great responsibility and pure leadership.

The biblical concept of a shepherd serves as a metaphor for the kind of loving leadership God provides to bless his people: A holy, humble, benevolent, caring, soul-lifting Leader. God expected his shepherds to follow the Lord while leading his people into a right relationship where they could experience his blessings [moving out of exile and bondage to sin and into the Promised Land flowing with God’s goodness]. Therefore, as we understand from David, shepherds need to follow the gracious Good Shepherd!

In our passage, today, the Lord wants his followers to understand we can live without fear, because he has promised to provide for us. Our souls can know refreshment, because he is the Living Water. Our souls can know peace, because he is the Prince of Peace/Wholeness. Our souls can know the will of God, because he is our Righteous Way. Our souls can know comfort, because he is the Comforter. So, if you need to catch your breath, today, because the issues of life are trying to overwhelm you, remember the Lord wants you to follow him, because goodness is found in his care. He will revive every drooping soul!

Psalm 23 NLV The Lord—Our Shepherd
1 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. 4 Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. 5 You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. 6 For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being true to your Word. You will always fulfill your promises when we are willing to follow you and your purpose for our lives. Thank you for the anointed and glorious grace and character you provide; it is your way to mark those who belong to you. When we feel overwhelmed, thank you for always being there when we call upon your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord and in your name we pray! Amen.

Hypocrisy loves to hide in human hearts [the core of one’s being], because the Truth brings it out in the open. People may be quick to criticize what they do not understand, but a spirit of hypocrisy is godless and filled with inconsistencies. When a person becomes a hypocrite he or she are self-deluded and do not see in himself or herself what everyone else can see; divided loyalty. Hypocrisy causes a person to fail at discerning Truth; it becomes impossible to practice what one professes and boasts about.

In our passage today, Luke draws attention to the fact even tax collectors have repented and opened themselves up to the Truth and accepted God’s righteous way of living. However, the Pharisees continue to deny God’s righteous ways, pretend to be holy even though they have rejected God’s purpose for them as shepherds. So, they continue to justify their attitudes and lifestyles while criticizing Jesus for socializing with sinners. Jesus responds with what he knows to be the Truth about these religious leaders’ hearts. He shines the Light of Truth to expose their hearts. They hate him because of it, but Jesus is unafraid and determined to reveal the Truth through a short story.

Luke 7:31-35 Amplified Bible
31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you].’ 33 For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a [heavy] wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews].’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated and shown to be right by all her children [by the lifestyle, moral character, and good deeds of her followers].”

Prayer: Lord, please help us guard our hearts against the ever-prevalent sin of hypocrisy. Instead, Lord, help us to approach each day with empathy and compassion for others, while still burning the flame of your consuming love. We have no idea how your grace has shielded our lives from evil, but we know we cannot invite evil into our beings by godless attitudes and living. So, we cast our hope on you to form us in your image, Jesus, and pray for our hearts to radiate your loving character when we encounter others each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.