Lifting a finger

I came across another interesting matching on the reading plan today. Matthew 23:1-12 and Romans 2:17-29. Both target the Pharisees for being hypocrites. Jesus says in Matthew, "But don't do what they do, because they don't practice what they teach." Paul in Romans expands that thought with a series of questions one of which was, "You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?" It was also very convicting for me as pastor. Jesus accused the Pharisee teachers of "tie[ing] up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put[ting] them on people's shoulders, but [being] unwilling to lift a finger to move them." Paul quotes Ezekiel the prophet as saying, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

I long to be the kind of teacher that infuses grace into every teaching without compromising the instruction. I want people to see both the seriousness of holiness and the splendor of mercy. There is such joy in obedience. But we cannot chase the joy by adding rules that God did not command. Those rules do not multiply the joy. They increase guilt and self righteousness.

At the same time, it is a heavy burden to know I am forbidden from preaching an exhortation to eliminate sin if I have not dealt with that sin in my own life. There are so many areas where I am painfully aware of how short I fall of God's intent. So on those frequent occasions, I put myself in the pew and listen to what God is saying through me. I often don't stand in front but beside the members of my church as we each work to lay aside the "sin that so easily besets" us.

Father, thank you for the perfect righteousness that Christ has given me, only plea. It allows me to stand before you unashamed. Please help me to grow in holiness. Help me to be more like Christ. But also help me to be appropriately transparent in my current struggles and never prideful over the victories you have granted me. Help me to boast only in the cross and let the victories the cross has won for me encourage me to do more than lift a finger to help others in their pursuit of holiness. Use all of me to free the captives.