4/28/09 I was a Pharisee

Matthew 15:11-13 What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "12Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" 13He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.

The disciples were still worried what the religious people thought. Jesus didn't care if they were offended or didn't understand. He had his reason to be on earth and He was going to fulfill it with or without their permission. Jesus rocked their thinking with this statement because it meant not only the food they ate but the people they were affiliated with, the things that they did. It meant they didn't have to be ashamed to be seen with a certain type of person or to do certain thing. Jesus was merely saying you can do just about anything but not everything is good for you and whatever isn't Gods - He will take it out of you.

In today's world there are still those Pharisees that don't accept the concept of being free. But on the other hand there are some Christians who take this way too far. Jesus came to make us free, free in Him - free to eat what we want, dress the way we want, hang out with who we want, say what we want, do what we want. And even though there is this great freedom, He also says be careful with what comes out because of it. Because if something bad and perverted comes out than that's not God. If you help tempt someone because of your freedom that's not God. And He will pull all whats displeasing to him out of the heart to set us straight again.

I had to learn this the hard way because i used to be a Pharisee. I didn't hang out with certain people or watch certain things because i thought they weren't holy enough. But God even took that out of my heart straight from the root and showed me it wasn't them that were wrong - it was me. Jesus came to save those people and i had to see that by God offending me.

Lord-
Thank you for letting me see you for who you are. I know i haven't done all the right things but i want you to know that I'm gonna be free and smart about my decisions. My heart and my mouth are yours and i only want your words to come. Guide me God to do the right things and be the instrument you need me to be.
I forever love you
Amen