Catching Fire: The Power of Our WordsNäide

One of Jesus’ biggest frustrations with the religious establishment was their obsession with outward behavior and lack of attention to their hearts. Jesus regularly got in trouble with the religious leaders for healing on the Sabbath and hanging out with people the religious community had shunned. They saw these actions as problematic and in opposition to the laws of God. Over and over again, Jesus emphasized that these outward demonstrations didn’t necessarily represent anything that had happened internally. God’s law was there to point out the change that needed to take place in people’s hearts, and not just their outward behavior. In fact, in many cases, people’s actions were more of a show and became roadblocks to actual change.

Outward actions are not the source. The heart is the wellspring for all outward behaviors. If there isn’t a changed heart, outward displays mean nothing. Today, think about ways you can focus more on what is coming from your heart rather than putting on a show with behavior.