"For you ignore God's law and substitute your own tradition." Mark 7:8 NLT

In today's title verse Jesus is talking to the Pharisees who ignored the commands of God in Scripture to practice the traditions that man came up with. Jesus went on to say in verse nine; "You skillfully sidestep God's law in order to hold on to your own traditions."

Least we look down our noses on the Pharisees, every religion in the world no matter what or where they are has there own church doctrine that men created. Jesus called them the traditions and precepts of man, they are things that are added apart from Scripture.

Whether or not you realize it you are very affected by these doctrines, traditions and precepts, truth is many of us know more about church doctrine than we know about the Scriptures. Even if you have never been part of a brick and mortar church, you too are a product of the traditions and yes doctrines that exist for those people that have rejected God and formal religion. Among whom are atheists and agnostics to name but a few.

So why was Jesus upset with the Pharisees? Because their traditions were overriding the commandments of God as found in Scripture. If people hear something all of their lives usually from childhood on, they tend to believe what they are told without ever questioning it. On one occasion Jesus entered into the synagogue and a man was there with a withered hand. And the Pharisees were just waiting and watching to see if Jesus would heal the man on the Sabbath so they could accuse Him! "After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart. He said to the man, Stretch out your hand, and he stretched it out, and his hand was restored." Mark 3:5.

I am convinced that because so much of church emphasis is placed on activities instead of the Scripture, or doctrines taught more than the Word of God. That we have generations of believers that do not know the Word of God! Now the responsibility of seeking God in His Word is up to the believer! The church can preach God's Word and proclaim it as truth and encourage daily time spent in the Word,but the doing is squarely on us!

If we don't know God's Word, we don't know Jesus Christ, we don't know who we are or what we are to do. No wonder so very few believers share their faith, witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Church traditions and lack of knowledge of Scripture have convoluted the message and the gospel, no wonder people are fearful of sharing Christ!

We need to get in the Word daily, stay in the Word and let it be our guide, our only authority especially when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not convoluted, it is simple, so simple even a child can understand it! Jesus said in Matthew 18:3; "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."

Maybe its time for us to get back to basics, this time building our foundation on the Word of God, seeking the truth for ourselves and then doing it. Walking in fellowship and obedience to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.