GOD'S PRECEPTS

(Read Mark 7:1-23)

God has given us his ordinance since Adam. In writing, from Moses. God's precepts must be learned, obeyed, passed from parents to children. By doing so, we learn to love His precepts, because they guide us and make us happy; His wisdom allows us to be successful in everything we do. In this paragraph, we learn that there are at least three positions, which usually we take, with respect to the precepts of God:

First position: Formalism (1-5)

The Pharisees and the scribes, coming from Jerusalem, watched and saw that some Jesus disciples eat bread without the ceremonial hand washing, accosted him: "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eating with unwashed hands?"

Just like the scribes and Pharisees, we have a tendency to want to simplify things, and therefore like to organize, systematize what we have learned, to remind ourselves and fulfill what we think important. Once, when explained how I was preparing a message, I would say that thoroughly studied the text, until he found it a consistent statement, covering the entire paragraph that could be said in one sentence. But before I finished, my pastor interrupted me: "you examine the text to find him three points." I did not like the criticism but to my dismay, I discovered over time that he should was right. I noticed that no matter how hard I tried I always ended up dividing the exhibition into three or rarely four points. I could not do otherwise. The three points always sprang to my eyes at the end of preparation.

Sometimes I wonder why God does not presented the whole Bible organized, with well-defined points and sub-points. God does not systematize its precepts because it cannot be molded by human molds. There is no ready recipe to become acceptable to God. That is why religion, although good, cannot save us. God wants us to have a dynamic relationship, intimate, friendship, mutual love.

In our weakness, we need to systemize and formalize the precepts, but we should not think that our entire relationship with God is limited following certain rules. God expects much more of us, than to obey rules.

The Pharisees and scribes were so involved in this process of formalization, that his relationship with God became only rule greetings. Cl 2:20-3.4 warns us about this error: "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. "

Second position: Rationalism (6-13)

Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees: "Well did Isaiah prophesy (29.13) about you hypocrites, as it is written: This honor me with their lips people, but their heart is far from me and me in vain. worship, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Neglecting the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men. "

He said that with a sophisticated little way, they rejected God's precepts to keep the tradition itself. He cited the example of a precept given through Moses, saying, "Honor thy father and thy mother: and who curses his father or mother be put to death" They're reached to release the men to financially help their parents if they gave the corresponding value as an offering in the temple. Also made many such things.

Rationalize is to argue in our defense, so, we just finding a knack of doing what we want, to defend our interests, against of the obvious will of God.

How did the Jews come to this point? It certainly not happened suddenly because his conscience would not bear it. But to appease his conscience, they were developing more and more excuses for your sin of greed, to involving the largest possible number of people in the crime, so that the blame be shared throughout society.

I'm afraid when I examine our own behavior as a Christian community. We are fully involved in trespasses and sins, and we cannot think too much about it, because our conscience would not support it.

We are hopelessly corrupt. We lie all the time, we seek our own interests, superficially do God's work. We cannot escape the judgment of God. Only his mercy, through the Lord Jesus can save us from being released along with the devil in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

We think we're doing well. Preach the Word, we are Bible Church! True? When God judges our works, and compare them with its precepts, what will be left? Will not it be almost all burning in God's judgment?

But someone will say let's stop this! Let us return to the true gospel! Many movements began well, as one that inspired the book In His steps : "What would Jesus do?" (Charles Sheldon). It was a zeal so gave rise to the Reformation of Luther, the charismatic movements, historical revivals led by men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.

Could we, today, repent in dust and ashes and begin a profound change to return to our first love, but how? I have a suggestion.

Imagine a preacher during the service, making an appeal to all deposit there, in the center of the temple, our mobile device. This is an impressive start. Would you dare to do this? Imagine yourself putting it there in the basket of offerings. Take God what you love so much, to prove that only have a God who loves whom, and even your mobile phone, so dear, you cherish more than your relationship with your God.

Then the preacher invites us to take another step. Asks us to leave there in the "altar", our purse, our portfolio, with all the money and also the documents. We will not need them from now on. Then let's go walk. Leave the cars parked where they are, let's not carry this weight on us. No one needs to close the temple. The doors will stay the way they are. Why to care? Why let us worry about the musical instruments that are kept there, with the sound equipment, the furniture, with phones, purses and wallets that we leave on the altar? We no longer need any of this, we need only Christ in us. Let's do this right now? He stops talking, and everyone started to put into practice this action, we will start our revival (pause for thought).

Let's not do this, do not you? We are not ready. We're not sure if it is the voice of God touching our hearts, or is it just a momentary madness.

But let us note one thing: it's not exactly what will happen when Christ returns? All those objects will not be exactly like that while we will be raptured to heaven? You may not believe in the Rapture, so I'll give another illustration: right now and might receive an attack of the Islamic State? We would leave not running for our lives, leaving everything exactly like this?

But if we do not do this now, then we admit our sin. The truth is that we love our cell, we love our purse and our portfolio, we love our car, the temple and all that's inside. We love our particular sins, the food, the drink, comfort, pleasure, power, money. We are devoting our lives to these things, and not feel guilty, we rationalize. After all, we need these material things. After all, we are devoting all this to God. We give tithes of all, we use it all for the glory of God, does not it?

A Bible passage that makes me very impressed is the Daniel 9:1-20 prayer of repentance. Daniel, a man whom we consider extremely fair, and whom God Himself gave testimony in his word, that he was a righteous man, himself, Daniel, did not consider that. His prayer was for repentance and supplication for all the people and for himself. He said no rationalization, and pleaded guilty to all the people, to testify that God is just and we are wicked. God is true and we are liars. Oh! Lord, have mercy on us sinners!

Third position: Internalization (14-23)

Jesus called the crowd and said to them, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile, but what comes out of a man is what defiles.." Then, being at home, the disciples asked him concerning the parable, to which he said, "everything comes out in man cannot defile him, because it does not enter the heart but his stomach, and goes out to shady place ( ...) What comes out of man, that is what defiles. For from within, the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness , deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. But all these evil things come from within and defile a man. "

The internalization of the precepts is what will really help us, because God sees the inside, not the outside. We must keep in our hearts the words of God, I might not sin against him (Psalm 119:11); We should pray, as in Psalm 19:12-14: "Who can discern his errors? Absolve me of me that are hidden. Also the pride Keep your servant, that it does not dominate me; then I will be blameless and I shall be free from the great transgression. The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer! "

Only the internalization of God's precepts can cleanse us of all that is infected so we can continue the search for holiness in our relentless pursuit of our Holy God.

Let's seek therefore the internalization of God's precepts in our hearts, through reading the Bible, prayer, the practice of what we discover, through well guided meditation, which is God's will for our lives. It is all that we will take to the heaven. Our cell phones will stay here.