Daily Devotional

Sometimes, in our hot pursuit of justice, we forget the law of love. We forget that as much as God would be pleased with our strict obedience to his laws, there is no law greater than loving our neighbour as ourselves. Like these Pharisees, sometimes we become interested in certain persons not because we like them but to find something we can use against them. Have you become an accuser of the brethren who accuses others day and night before God? (Cf. Revelation 12:10). Rather than point fingers, learn to look inwards.

Where are our watchmen today? Where are those prepared to die for speaking truth to power? Have we become carried away by the Gospel of prosperity or sold our conscience by collecting bribes from those in power? When will we realise that worshipping God goes beyond merely trying to make people feel good? It is easy to point fingers at priests and religious for not condemning the government in their sermons, but let us ask ourselves: what stops me from becoming a watchman for God?

Although we cannot separate obedience to God’s commandments from worshipping God, we risk not worshipping God at all if we focus only on obeying the commandments. For instance, every household has rules. While children obey out of love for their parents, servants obey with bitterness in their hearts. Jesus wants us to have the child mentality rather than the slave mentality. He wants us to go beyond religion (observing rules) to spirituality (a deep connection with God).