Transforming Encounters: The 40-Day Challenge (Luke)Sample

The Pharisees and Lawyers in today’s passage knew God’s law very well, but they missed the heart of the Gospel. In today’s passage, the first thing the Pharisee noticed after inviting Jesus to a meal was that Jesus was not holding to the tradition of washing before eating. Immediately Jesus gives specific examples in which their superficial religiosity is apparent. Jesus thus challenged the Pharisees to look at their own lives and see if their hearts were truly aligned with God’s heart - if their lives were pointing others to God. The laws that the Pharisees held on to, or thought to be of utmost importance are called into question in this Pharisee’s encounter with Jesus.

In the same way, we are all challenged to reflect on our lives. Are we saying one thing but living differently? Are we showing others the outside of our lives, but our insides are not aligned with God? Are we doing things just for others to see? Are we being hypocrites? If we say we are followers of Christ, are we living that out in a way that glorifies God? If not, are we willing to change? Or will we be like the Pharisees who strictly adhered to written rules and empty forms, instead of living the Gospel.

Decide today to abandon superficial religiosity, and to live the Gospel. Think about what this specifically means in your daily life.