“And he said unto them, full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9).
Are you stuck on some tradition that you have been doing all of your life? Well notice what God’s Word said about those traditional folks. It said they reject the Word of God. Isn’t that something? They rejected what God said in order to practice their man-made traditions. But in order for you and me to be successful in the things of God, we have to leave our traditions behind.
I know plenty of folks who had problems attending my church because we didn’t follow a lot of the old traditional ways. I mean, they were hooked on the fact that the service style was different, or that the preacher didn’t preach the same way, or that we didn’t to this way, or that way. So they ended up rejecting God’s Word because of mere traditions.
Mark 7:13 says we can make the Word of God ineffective in our lives if we hang onto traditions. That means we have to examine ourselves to see why we do we what do. Is it because everybody else does it or is it because that’s the way it has always been done?
But you can’t practice God’s Word in some areas of your life and then have men’s traditions for other areas; you have to let those old traditions go.
The reason why we hang on to traditions is because we don’t like change. People would rather have it one way – all the time – period. Their attitude is: don’t you touch it, move it, or change it. But then what if it’s not God’s way? Then it becomes a sacred cow or a tradition of men – and men’s traditions will hurt you.
That’s why it’s important to seek God and ask Him how He wants you to accomplish something. God looks forward to giving you a new and fresh way. He desires to design a way that’s just for you, but you have to be willing to let your old ways go and be open to Him.
God knows when it’s time for a change in your life. He wants to move you into a whole new realm. So spend time in God’s Word and learn His way of doing things. He will guide you and lead you in the way you should go. God’s Word is what produces blessings in your life – not men traditions.
Scripture References: Colossians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).