More popular than Christ... Kathleen Carnali

Matthew 23:1-12  -- Jesus warns against the religious Leaders for they "do not practice what they preach..."

 

Matthew 23:5-12, “Everything was done for men to see... For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

“Christian, Pagan, Jewish, American, Idols all with their own name.”  Underneath we are all the same. No one should put attention on themselves. That would be trying to be, “more popular than Christ.”

We can’t create our own God to suit our own purpose and plans. We need to choose who we will serve, “not just with lips or vain praising words.” We need to "[speak] the truth in love..." (Eph. 4:15) pointing them to JESUS, not just laws to follow. Once the change begins to take place in a person, the rest will follow.

The lyrics of this song are so powerful. Could this be why so many who don’t know Christ, aren’t even wanting to come to Him?  What are we looking like to them?  Do we come across to them like Jesus would? Or do we act like the religious leaders who didn’t even know Jesus rode in to town, because they were too busy with their religious acts.  “They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor...” (Matthew 23:5).  How can we point them to Jesus, while we’re on the throne?

Phylacteries were little leather boxes containing scripture verses. Very religious people wore these boxes on their forehead and arms. Eventually, the phylacteries had become more important for the status they gave, then for the truth they contained.

The religious leaders, just like people today, are always trying to trick Jesus (in you) with questions. But throughout scripture, Jesus always answered wisely exposing their self- interest and wrong motives.  What are our motives as Christians? What is our deepest interest when we speak to those who are lost?  Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is LIVING AND ACTIVE... it penetrates... it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Let the Word of God do its work.

You read in Mark 11:1-11, that Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, not on a horse or a chariot, not dressed as a king. Would people recognize Jesus in you? It’s not how you dress, or what you drive, or religious traditions, or even how much of the bible you know. It’s knowing and experiencing the AUTHOR of the bible…GOD!  

I pray the way we point people to Jesus is pleasing to God. Not by how we look on the outside, or how much of the word of God that we share with them, but how we LOVE like Jesus.

Grace and the peace of God to you

Kim