Power for LifeSample

In Mark 7, Jesus clashes with the Pharisees and scribes about elevating religious traditions above the commands of God. Take a moment to imagine the "movie in your mind" of this disagreement. What emotions do you imagine Jesus experiencing? Is He sad? Is He angry? Is He frustrated as He talked about people putting on a religious show, but missing the heart of the matter? In prayer today, reflect on this conversation. Ask God's Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of your life where you have been more focused on keeping up a good "religious" appearance rather than on knowing Jesus personally and following his commands in your life. Use the list in verses 20-23 as a guide. Have any of these "evils" been taking place on the inside while you keep up appearances on the outside? If God brings anything to your mind during this time, ask Him to forgive you and show you what He wants you to do about it. This concept of confessing and following God's lead in a new direction is called "repentance." Reflect on your conversations with the Lord using the Notes feature in the YouVersion App.