Day 256, Year 1

A Heart that Seeks the Truth

Jesus said, “Do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.” (Matthew 23:3b NASB)

From Jesus’ perspective, believers who can practice their faith are more valuable than those who only speak without practice. Probably, among the crowd at that time, there were some better role models than the Pharisees and scribes, etc. Precisely, when Jesus speaks these words to the crowd, He implies that there is a better example to follow, and that is Jesus Himself. Today’s verse leads to the following points.

First, believers should cultivate a heart that seeks the truth and puts it into practice. How could we be willing to listen to a teacher and not imitate the teacher’s misbehavior? It seems that the only way to avoid this is to cultivate a heart that seeks and practices the truth. That is to say, we do not care what kind of person the teacher is, but if anyone tells the truth, we are willing to listen to it.

Second, beware of people whose words and actions are inconsistent. Whether believers should imitate someone depends on whether that person practices the truth they say. People who are inconsistent in their words and deeds are not only unconvincing but also more likely to give others a sense of charlatanism. Hence, if we fail to persuade such people to become consistent with their words and deeds, we should distance ourselves from them. In any case, only those who are consistent in their words and deeds are worthy of respect and friendship, as interacting with people who are consistent and coherent helps us to avoid being deceived and keep our honesty.

Third, be a person who listens to and does God’s Word. In Jesus’ teachings, He points out how people could be both listeners and doers. If we find it difficult to put the Lord’s words into practice, we can ask for His help, and He will certainly help those who earnestly seek His guidance. In this way, even if you do not know how to teach others, being able to do His words is already affirmed by Him. It is far better to be able to do God’s Word, even if you are unable to say it clearly, than vice versa.

Fourth, seek the secret to obeying God’s Word. We need to learn from  Jesus to practice His words. Furthermore, we can learn from the apostles because they are all role models who can both say and do His words. In fact, many new believers look for mature role models of faith to help them practice God’s truth. Mature believers will rise above the shortcomings of the scribes and Pharisees, etc., and guide new believers to obey His Word. In short, God’s Word is meant to be understood and obeyed, and thus brings blessings on us.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you have a fervent desire to seek God’s truth? If you lack the enthusiasm, how would you overcome this obstacle?

2) Are you willing to find believers who are consistent in their words and deeds, spending more time with them, and helping each other?