Traditions

Haven't we all celebrated our family traditions? It is wonderful to have a certain way to honor a persons birthday, or an accomplishment, or a secular holiday. But,there are times when 'traditions' can take over and become a controling factor in our lives. Such is the case in our worship of our God. We are warned in many scriptures not to become entrenched in 'traditions' and forget to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.

In Matthew 15:2 Jesus was asked by the religious people,"Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they eat without washing their hands". What was His answer? "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" All to often we continue to practice the 'tradition' we have become used to enjoying in our everyday life instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us in our worship times. Worship must come from our heart, a heart that is fully surrendered to the One who is Worthy, the One who gives us our Life!

Jesus went on to tell the religious bigots that "you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. You draw near to me with your mouth and honor me with your lips, but your heart is far from me. In vain do you worship me, teaching for doctrines the comandments of men". We have been warned! We must be certain that our teaching is written in the Word of God.

1 Peter 1:18,19; Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Colossians 2:8; Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.

Do we follow traditions and circumvent the Word of God?
God has given us His Word, why do we then lean on the teachings of worldly men? Trust in the Lord!! Trust His Word! It is True, Sure, Perfect, unlike the philosophy and the vain theories of worldly men!