And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
“Make his paths straight” (Matthew 3:3) — Is that part of my calling today?
If so, how is that done?
Will I accept (without complaint or self-pity) the discomforts of the wilderness?
How do I overcome the fear of man which causes compromising of the message?
What has repentance produced in the garden of my life?
Is it possible God has purging to do in my life?
![[The Scriptures say in Matthew 3:3 -- The voice of one crying in the wilderness]](/pantinghart/wp-content/in-the-wilderness.jpg "God's Word says: The voice of one crying in the wilderness (Matthew 3:3)")
The religious leaders of the Jews had many questions for Jesus. This time the question had to do with the behavior and the values of His disciples:
“Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?” (Matthew 15:2).
If those who observe my life could easily go to Jesus face-to-face to ask about me, what would He say to this question: “Why does Mark…?”
Can we at all imagine the sadness (and shame?) in Jesus’ heart when the question is a legitimate one? (An example. You want an example. Well…try this one: “Why does Mark promote himself so much?”)
Thankfully, the question of the scribes and Pharisees was one about which Jesus could defend His disciples!
Jesus turned the question back on the accusers, probing the darkness in their own hearts:
“Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3).
Wow! I like it when Jesus is my defender!
That’s a blessing and an encouragement to me this morning.
But it’s sobering — extremely sobering — to me to put myself in the disciples’ shoes and think of Him being questioned about some aspect of my life.
And there’s also this additional challenge: Before going to Jesus with a complaint about another, I’d better throw out the darkness that may be within me.
Come to think of it, that challenge also applies to going to someone else with a complaint about another!
![[The Scriptures say in Matthew 15:8 -- This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth]](/pantinghart/wp-content/withtheirmouth-b.jpg "God's Word says: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth (Matthew 15:8)")