Scripture:

Mark 7:9-13
9 He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 
10 "For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH'; 
11 but you say, 'If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),'
12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 
13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that."
NASU


Thoughts:

What is the will of God?  A question asked by countless people every day.  Here we see a way to know what is not God's will.

Jesus shows the conflict between the written, inspired word (verse 10) and a tradition amongst the Jews of the day (verses 11-12).  The tradition opposed God's direct commands (verse 13).  Rather than honoring and caring for parents, this tradition allowed a person to neglect them.  Even in such an ugly way as to make the neglect sound as though it were a spiritual sacrifice.

When seeking God's will, it's such a comfort that He is unchanging.  His words are always relevant and the same.  As we discern His will then, we have a constant interpreter in the Bible.  If what we are thinking is His will, violates a command or principle in scripture, then we know that cannot be His will.  The filter we use is God's word, not the shifting opinion of people.


Prayer:

Thank You Lord.  You are so good, and so good to us.  Thank You for giving us the scriptures that we might know You and Your will for our lives.

Amen