Walking with Jesus: Through the Villages in Gennesaret
Mark 7:1-8: The disciples eat with unwashed hands

1 The Pharisees, along with some religion scholars who had come from Jerusalem, gathered around him. 2 They noticed that some of his disciples weren't being careful with ritual washings before meals. 3 The Pharisees - Jews in general, in fact - would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand-washing, 4 with an especially vigorous scrubbing if they had just come from the market (to say nothing of the scourings they'd give jugs and pots and pans). 5 The Pharisees and religion scholars asked, "Why do your disciples flout the rules, showing up at meals without washing their hands?" 6 Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull's-eye in fact: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. 7 They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, 8Ditching God's command and taking up the latest fads."

This morning I have sat here and read and reread this scripture over and over and over again. I would type and then delete it and type some more only to delete it again. Although I know that God cares about every detail of my life even this stronghold of unhealthy, this morning I have to focus on so much more. I think the best thing for me to do today is just let the scripture speak to whoever reads this blog.

Lord, forgive us when we are so wraped up in man made rules and fail to see You. Forgive us when we use the latest fads and fluff to get Your message to the lost....