Show Me The Way

VERSE:
Matthew 23:27
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like the whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."

REFLECTION:
Jesus was confronting the scribes and Pharisees to inform them that though they appeared righteous on the outside they were just as sinful on the inside as anyone else. I believe that Jesus confronted them for two reasons. First; He wanted everyone to know that we cannot put the holy and righteous up on a pedestal. If we do, we are bound to get hurt.

Many of you may have heard or read the recent story about Ted Haggard, the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals and ex-pastor of New Life Church in Colorado. His experience demonstrates the fallibility of man and how it doesn't matter who you are, you can cave into temptation. Those who are leaders in our church are under a lot of scrutiny but that doesn't mean they should come under attack from other people. After all, it says in Romans 3:10: "There is none righteous, no, not one." and in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

We all are sinners, so who are we to ridicule and point out the sins of others. Instead it is the reaction to such behavior that is the true telling sign of one's character. If we sin, we need to repent of those sins ask God for forgiveness and work on not sinning again. We can do this by following Jesus and the example he set before us.

The second reason Jesus could point out the sins of man was because He is the only one who had never sinned. He is the only one righteous enough to point it out without being a hypocrite. He used this verse as a way to separate Himself from man and show that He is truly the Son of God. Jesus is the only one we should be putting on a pedestal and worshipping. He is the only one who would not sin. He also said the He will never leave us or forsake us. So instead of pointing out the wrongs of others, we need to recognize the wrongs in ourselves and repent of those sins and turn and follow Jesus. It says in John 14:6 that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life and no one can come to the Father except through Him.

Which way are you going to go, the way of man or the way of Christ?

PRAYER:
Pray for those around you. Pray that you will follow the Way. Repent of any sins and worship Christ in all that you do.