The commandment of God.

Mark 7:5-8, And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

And we do the very same thing, we know his commandments and we pick and choose which ones we will obey! At our recent mens’ retreat, our teacher was challenging us to change this, to make up our minds that we will obey that still small voice of the Spirit, to follow his promptings. “And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” He also empowers us when we take a step in faith! And like Peter, even when we think we are able to be faithful out of our own strength, the Lord knows our weaknesses and intercedes for us: “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Lord, give us the strength, wisdom and boldness to honor you with our obedience to your commandments, to walk by faith and not by sight.

ESV Lectionary