July
18, 2003
IN
VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME
"This
people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from
Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men" (Mark 7:6,7, NKJV).
The Pharisees
and scribes were critical of Christ's disciples because they
ate bread with "unwashed hands.. For the Pharisees and
all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a
special way, holding the tradition of the elders" (Mark
7:2,3). "The priest and Pharisees thought they were doing
great things as teachers by putting their own interpretation
upon the word of God, but Christ said of them, 'You do not
know the Scriptures nor the power of God' (Mark 12:24). He
charged them with the guilt of 'teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men' (Mark 7:7). Though they were the teachers
of the oracles of God, though they were supposed to understand
His word, they were not doers of the word. Satan had blinded
their eyes that they should not see its true import"
(Christ's Object Lessons, p. 110).
Is the
religious world today where it was 2000 years ago? Are the
ministers and priests of God today as open to the word of
God as the disciples of Christ or have they placed the traditions
of men where "This is what the Lord says" should
be?
Human
theories and speculations will never lead to an understanding
of God's word. To understand God, we need to listen to the
words of God. "Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth
of God" (Matthew 4:4). Those who desire to understand
the treasures of God must search for them as the miner searches
for treasure hidden in the earth. No halfhearted, indifferent
search will succeed. The study of God's word with wholehearted
earnestness, praying and searching for truth as for hidden
treasure will be rewarded.
If men
would be obedient to the word of God, they would come to understand
the plan of God. The mystery of redemption, the incarnation
of Christ and His atoning sacrifice would not be vague in
our minds. His service and sacrifice for us would be better
understood and much more highly appreciated. "This
is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).
Those
who seek for wisdom and understanding from the word of God
will find it. "For the Lord gives wisdom. From His mouth
come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). To
such, their worship is not in vain.
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