“Make faithfulness your daily practice, rooted in loving and abiding in Christ.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 14, 2024
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23, ESV
Jesus addressed the religious leaders of His day by contrasting good behavior with better behavior. We should keep in mind that some of these leaders were teachable and would eventually be leaders for the Lord. Paul, Nicodemus, and Gamaliel are a few noteworthy Pharisees that Scripture highlights. But these leaders had drifted into the lazy behavior of valuing the gift of their stuff over the gift of themselves. Jesus placed more importance or weight on some matters over others. There is a divine scale of measurement that values certain Christian behaviors over others. In His example, giving out of their herb garden paled in importance compared to giving out of their justice, mercy, and faithfulness. One is disconnected giving—stuff versus connected giving—self. Engaging myself to elevate my community is Christ’s priority. Disconnected giving without being connected to the life of Christ limits life change.
So, what might Jesus say to the religious leaders of our day? Like His words to the Laodicean Church, He might say something like this: Many of you are doing good work; keep it up, but there is better work—harder work, wiser work. It is a work that requires getting your hands dirty by praying, thinking, and advocating for justice in your community, showing mercy to the poor and those who have lost their way, and being faithful to the gospel in your relationships and life. Church attendance and tithes are important, but more important is for the Church to deploy. To be with Christ and live like Christ in your community. Give your stuff, but more importantly, give yourself. So, what does it look like to give yourself with justice, mercy, and faithfulness?
Following Jesus is much more than following the rules; it’s about reflecting God’s heart. When you live out justice, you stand for what’s right and defend the vulnerable. When you show mercy, you offer grace to others, just as God has shown grace to you. And faithfulness? That’s your commitment to live out God’s truth consistently. Jesus teaches that these qualities are central to true discipleship. They are how you reflect His love in the world. So, don’t just focus on the outward rituals—let your life overflow with the deeper, weightier things that truly matter to God. Do the hard heart work, and your heart will connect deeper to other hearts you love.
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “We are not simply to bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, but we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.” Living out justice, mercy, and faithfulness means actively participating in God’s mission of redemption in the world, letting your actions reflect His love and truth. Justice stands up for what is right, defends the oppressed, and speaks out against injustice in your community. Micah 6:8 reminds us to “act justly.” Show mercy by offering forgiveness to those who have wronged you. Forgive generously, just as God has forgiven you. And remain faithful—stay committed to God’s Word, especially when it challenges you. Make faithfulness your daily practice, rooted in loving and abiding in Christ. The weightier matter of being Jesus brings people to Jesus and glorifies God!
Prayer
Lord, help me to live out justice, mercy, and faithfulness in my daily life. Guide me to stand for what is right, to show compassion and grace to others, and to remain steadfast in my commitment to Your truth. Let my actions reflect Your love and bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Application
Where in your community can you stand up for justice with mercy and remain faithful in the process?
Related Reading
Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 3:3-4; Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:36
Worship Resource
Gateway Worship feat. Matthew & Jessie Harris: Open the Eyes of My Heart
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