Day 195- Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

📖Daily Reading

Matthew 14-15 

🎥 Video  

Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.

 

📝 Reflection 

Matthew 15: 8-9

 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”

 

In this verse Jesus is quoting Isaiah and saying the prophesy was correct. This is after a confrontation with some Pharisees and teachers of the law. They asked him in verse 2 “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.” Jesus replies right back with ‘why do you violate direct commandments from God?’ And then gives an example of honoring your father and your mother. In vs. 6-7 he says “In this way you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you..”

We often as human create traditions, rituals, routines, and tasks to remind us of the heart of the matter and to help us keep the main thing the main things. Also, as humans we tend to turn these very things into the main thing and forget about the intent and the purpose behind it and why we started doing it in the first place! 

Even as I am doing this year long routine of Rise and Shine Together, sometimes I catch myself trying to people please, meet a self imposed timeline, skip or rush through, or to do things a certain way. I have to interrupt these thoughts and call myself out and remind myself to keep God front and center and remember the main point of why I am doing this. So there are a few things I have intentionally resisted doing even though a few people have asked for it, like setting a specific time everyday for my videos, rushing to create or turn this into a book, etc..

That would make what I am doing the main thing, vs submitting to God and seeking his will and knowing him. There is time for all of that later. I am fully trusting the process and listens for God’s direction and guidance and will on this. I catch myself doing this in other areas in my life too, I bet you do too! 

In fact, interestingly and I think intentionally, the very next story in chapter 15 after this one is about the Gentile woman who comes to Jesus begging him to heal her daughter who was possessed. Jesus ignores her at first and even the disciples are encouraging him to send her away because she was bothering them. Then Jesus says this to her in vs. 24 “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep-the people of Israel.” She continued to plead and worship, saying “Lord, help me!” He responds “ It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She acknowledges him and say ‘yes that is true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters table.” He responds and says “‘dear woman your faith is great and your request is granted’ and her daughter was instantly healed”.  

If Jesus had not done this he would have been guilty of the same thing. I think he intentionally did this to teach his disciples and he let them in their humanness be guilty of this hypocrisy  and even squirm a bit, so they would be reminded as they went out in his name to be very careful and guard themselves against this trap, that is very easy to fall into, even in the name of God! We have got to keep the main thing the main thing. That is the spirit of the law. When it comes to our personal lives, focus and who you want to be and then within in that make sure the things you are doing are supporting that and that you safeguard yourself against making those things ‘the things’.

 

✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt 

Is there something in your life where you have gotten off track, and let the secondary or tertiary things become the main thing? 

📖Tomorrows Reading

Matthew 16 

Coaching Opportunity

Let's make 2023 the year of YOU by laying a solid foundational mind set! The world needs what only you have to offer! Give yourself the best gift ever, the best version of you is ready to rise & shine!

Book your free📞Wake Up Call today to learn if this is what you have been waiting for!  

If you have stuck with me this far, then you are not reading this by accident, I believe God has a plan for you and is calling you forward!😉🤩

 

CONNECT WITH ME

Subscribe to Rise & Shine✨Together Daily Encouragement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felecia.b.holmes (personal)

Rise & Shine Together Private Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093183278239989

You Tube: Rise & Shine Playlist