Scripture Union Daily Guide 5 February 2023 | Devotional
Do You Know That? Daily Guide Reading is published by Scripture Union Press & Books Ltd, an arm of Scripture Union Nigeria. Daily Guide is a true nondenominational, interdenominational Christian Bible engagement/reading aid – meditate on the Bible without denominational colorations. May the Lord bless you as you study!
Today’s Topic: Purposeless Visit!
Opening Prayer: May my heart, O Lord, be receptive to your word as I meditate on it.
Scripture: Mark 7:1-13
Question(s) for Reflection
• Q 2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
Outline For Scripture Union Daily Guide 5 February 2023
Compare the end of the passage we read yesterday (6:53-56) with the opening of today’s passage (7:1). Jesus was still around the Sea of Galilee, in Judea when the Pharisees travelled all the way from Jerusalem to see Him (7:1, NLT).
While some people were struggling to see and touch Jesus and be healed, what main purpose of the Pharisees’ visit can we observe from v.2? Fault finders they all were! Their complaint was failure to wash hands in line with the rituals they practise before eating. They thought the ceremonial washing of hands, cups, pots and copper vessels cleanses them from unclean thing they might have touched (vs.1-4).
It is important to note that these activities were not wrong in themselves. For example, washing one’s hands (with soap) after using the toilet or before meals is an important discipline if one is to avoid infection. The problem is when these rituals become prerequisites for religious acceptance and when we are not emphasizing the things that matter in true worship of God and so end up paying only lip service to Him. What are the things that matter in true worship of God? See John 4:23-24 (cf., Christ’s response in vs.6-13).
Examine your personal worship of God. Are you worshipping with all your heart or are you concerned only about external rituals – baptism, church attendance, offering and tithing, etc?
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Help me, dear Lord, to daily worship you in spirit and in truth.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Proverbs 1:8 ‐ 9
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Exodus 15,16, Hebrews 2
Thanks for reading Today’s Scripture Union Daily Guide 5 February 2023 | Devotional
