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And He (Jesus) said to (the Pharisees and scribes), “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’”
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What the Lord said that day is just as true today, if not even more so! It is quite evident that very much of the ‘bible believing’ church is still being taught and led by the traditions of men rather than the commandments, neglecting the Word of God. {Mar.7:7-9}

The Lord does not look at how much you give to the church, or listen to see how loudly you sing the hymns, or how well you dress on Sunday, or how patriotic you are, or any of the many other things that seem to be the measure, the standard used so often to assess your faith and holiness. God spoke to Samuel when in the process of choosing David to be the king of His people saying, “for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord (YHWH) looks at the heart.” {1Sam.16:7}

And yes, today, the Lord still searches the heart {Rom.8:27} looking for the love that He has poured into us through the Holy Spirit. {Rom.5:5} Without that love nothing profits just as the apostle Paul wrote. {1Cor.13:3} And as he, who had been a Pharisee, also said ‘for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcised means anything, but faith working through love.’ {Gal.5:6}

Surely being led by the innumerable traditions of men will inevitably bring a person’s focus upon his or her works. The problem is of course the righteousness of those works of themselves are no more than filthy rags in the eyes of the Lord. {Is.64:6}

We are all instructed by Jesus Himself to do the good works, not because of traditions or being exalted, but so that others would be blessed and our Father would be glorified. {Mat.5:16} Do the good works because the love of God is flowing in you and through you! And without doubt, what people really need, desperately need, is God’s love! Consider what the apostle Paul learned:

“And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:14-17)

HAVING FREELY RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE