30 Days of Praying for Children and FamiliesSample

When reading the gospels, it is easy to point a finger at the Pharisees and laugh at their hypocrisy and ignorance.

But what if we use these passages as a mirror, held up against our own hearts. What ugliness might that reveal, that we can repent of and reform?

Here, Jesus exposes their hypocrisy and their wrong priorities. The Pharisees have focused on dressing up the outward appearance of their worship and devotion to God, but have neglected true worship.

The worship he desires is “justice and the love of God” (Luke 11:42, NIV), not their aromatic herbs.

Just like the Pharisees, perhaps we’ve focused on dressing up our spiritual lives instead of pursuing God’s justice and loving the vulnerable as he commands.

Prayer

As you wash up or stack the dishwasher today, keep this passage in mind.

Say sorry to God for the ways you have wrongly prioritised outward cleanliness over true heart transformation.

Ask God to align your heart with his heart for justice. Pray that he would transform you, your church, and churches across the UK to truly pursue justice for children and families.