Matthew 15:6 (KJV) The Tradition Trap

Matthew 15:6 (KJV)

And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

When my oldest son began courting his future bride, he met with her and her parents for dinner. When he came home, he shared how the evening had gone. One of the questions they asked him was, "What traditions does your family have?”

The question took him by surprise, and he answered, "We don't have any traditions."

His mother and I then began to recount a list of our family traditions: We open our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, just after returning home from the Christmas Eve service. Every Memorial Day, we visit his mother's family graves in Oregon, and so on.

It reminded me of myself in my early days of pastoring. Whenever I led a wedding rehearsal, I would say something like, "We're Baptists. We don't have any traditions. The bride gets what the bride wants!”

That was, of course, not true. I had plenty of expectations for the wedding. I simply never thought of them as traditions.

We Baptists use the phrase "like faith and practice" as the basis of our fellowship. Faith is our doctrine. Practice is the application of that doctrine—in other words, many of our traditions.

To deny that we have traditions would be absurd. Paul even speaks of traditions and commands believers to separate from those who do not follow them. (I believe that separation is for the sake of peace and the preservation of the faith—not necessarily, or at least not always, as an act of judgment.) We have traditions. Everyone does.

But here's the important point: We must recognize our traditions and take careful steps to ensure that none of them make the commandment of God of none effect.

#BibleOverTradition #FaithAndPractice #GodsWordFirst #BiblicalChristianity #CommandmentOfGod

The Tradition Trap: Don’t Allow Customs to Replace God's Word

What do you think? Have you ever discovered that something you thought was "just the way we've always done it" was actually a tradition rather than a biblical command? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. Then visit marvinmckenzie.org for more Bible studies, articles, videos, and resources designed to help you build your faith on God's Word rather than man's traditions.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 15:6 (KJV) The Tradition Trap

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxkFcPQrSGbq0_uhw0zTv-KU7rXZUWp053?si=Xv15p830qnRrlImt

Ezra 9:9 (KJV) What the Bible Calls Revival May Surprise You

Ezra 9:9 (KJV)

For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Being a fundamental Bible believer, I am very interested in revival. I read about revivals in England. I research the revivals in the United States. I enjoy the sermons of revivalists from the past—Moody, Sunday, Whitefield, and others.

• I pray for nationwide revival in the United States.
• I beg the Lord for worldwide revival.
• I participate in and pray for church services intended to seek revival.
• I have also preached my fair share of messages from passages of Scripture that speak of revival.

As a spiritual exercise, I simply want to note what Ezra identified as revival in his day.

Israel had been dispossessed of the Promised Land for some seventy years. God moved upon the heart of Cyrus to decree that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.

The return and the work on the Temple faced opposition and, frankly, were disappointing to many of the returning Jews.

Ezra confessed shame, astonishment, and heaviness over what had transpired. Yet, in his prayer, he declared that they had experienced "a little reviving." What was this reviving?

• Grace had been shown by the Lord our God.
• A remnant had escaped Babylonian captivity.
• They recognized that God had not forsaken them.
• Mercy had been extended through secular rulers.
• The house of God had been rebuilt.
• Jerusalem's wall had been restored.

I notice that this reviving was from God, but it was not:

• National
• Without conflict
• Perfect

Perhaps, by those standards, we have experienced more reviving in our own day than we have acknowledged or thanked God for.

We have enjoyed:

• Liberty to preach
• Churches planted
• Souls saved
• Opportunities for missions

Let us not forget that even in times when we are embarrassed by the evil around us and by the compromises of many who profess to be Christians, God has still been gracious to us. He has given us "a little reviving."

#LittleReviving #GodSendsRevival #Ezra9v9 #ReviveThyWork #BibleRevival

What the Bible Calls Revival May Surprise You: Have We Missed the Reviving of God?

If this devotional challenged or encouraged you, I'd love to hear from you. What does "a little reviving" look like in your church, your family, or your own walk with God? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. For more Bible studies, devotionals, and resources to strengthen your faith, visit marvinmckenzie.org. I look forward to hearing from you!

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Ezra 9:9 (KJV) What the Bible Calls Revival May Surprise You

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxIi-K0zsUo78HceCCm0_Hnt2ZP1ycWJ8l?si=UBjrRioarUZzVUp_

Ezra 8:36 (KJV) Fresh Troops

Ezra 8:36 (KJV)

And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

Ezra's journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was purposeful, authorized, and well supported. (But it was not without opposition.) He was not the first to come to Jerusalem. Many had made the journey before him and had already begun the work of the Lord. Those who came before him had also faced opposition. There had been seasons of blessing, seasons of difficulty, and periods of stalled progress.

Ezra came with "fresh troops," as it were. They were aware of the opposition. Perhaps some of them had even experienced it in the past. Yet they arrived with people, priests, and treasures. The Bible says, "they furthered the people, and the house of God.”

This is exactly where I want to find myself. Having gone through many years of ministry and experienced the good hand of God upon my life, I now have the means, the authority of the church of which I am a member, and the desire to journey to those who are in the thick of the work so that I might encourage the people of God—especially the pastor—and strengthen the house of God.

It appears, at least for now, that God's hand is upon it.

#FurtherTheWork #StrengthenTheChurch #FaithfulService #EncourageTheBrethren #TheGoodHandOfGod

Fresh Troops: God Could Be Sending You to Encourage a Pastor Instead of Lead a Church

Have you ever had someone come alongside you at just the right time and strengthen your faith? I'd love to hear your story—share it in the comments below.

If this Bible lesson encouraged you, please like, share, and follow for more daily studies from God's Word. You can also find hundreds of Bible studies, books, videos, and free ministry resources at marvinmckenzie.org.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Ezra 8:36 (KJV) Fresh Troops

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxoLVIuAgvwnT6fLt7s3YsRKPzpZxrVb38?si=seljWZupLC33PPnO

Ezra 7:26 (KJV) Critics Who Never Give Up

Ezra 7:26 (KJV)

And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

I find myself amazed once again at the remarkable support God gave to the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Artaxerxes was not an Israelite king. He was the ruler of the greatest empire on earth. Yet here he authorized Ezra not only to teach God’s Law but to enforce it. Those who refused to obey were to face severe consequences. It is difficult to imagine a pagan emperor giving stronger support to the work of God than this.

What makes the story even more remarkable is that the opposition did not disappear.

The enemies continued to resist. They accused. They discouraged. They looked for every opportunity to hinder what God was doing. Even with the blessing of heaven and the backing of the Persian throne, they refused to admit defeat.

There is a lesson here for every believer.

We sometimes assume that if God is truly in a work, the obstacles will vanish. Ezra teaches just the opposite. God may open every necessary door, provide every needed resource, and move hearts in ways only He can, yet opposition may continue just as fiercely as before.

The persistence of God’s enemies is often irrational. They cannot ultimately succeed, yet they continue fighting. Their resistance is not driven by evidence but by rebellion.

The encouraging truth is that God’s work is never dependent upon the approval of His enemies. It advances because God has determined that it will. The opposition may delay the work, but it cannot defeat the purposes of God.

If God has called you to a work, do not mistake continued opposition for God’s absence. Sometimes the clearest evidence that you are walking in His will is that, despite every effort to stop it, He continues opening doors that no adversary can close.

#DailyVisit #Ezra #Faithfulness #TrustGod #BibleStudy

Critics Who Never Give Up: Why Doesn't Opposition Stop When God Opens the Door?

Do you think ancient civilizations were just as intelligent as we are today, or do you see the evidence Have you experienced opposition even when you knew God was opening the door? I'd love to hear your story. Share your thoughts in the comments and encourage someone else who may be facing the same struggle.

For more daily Bible studies, devotionals, videos, and biblical resources, visit marvinmckenzie.org. I look forward to having you join me again tomorrow for another Daily Visit with God.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Ezra 7:26 (KJV) Critics Who Never Give Up 

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxTMRsjmyvdbnzitpcYpsFYCRaAGOdPHG8?si=ttyXYfvxBj1zLKH9

Ezra 6:5 (KJV) The Myth That Early Man Was Primitive

Ezra 6:5 (KJV)

And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

It’s intriguing to me that, though a number of political shifts occurred in Babylon between the time Nebuchadnezzar took the treasures from the Temple in Jerusalem and the time they were finally restored, Babylon still had them.

• They were not destroyed.
• They were not sold.
• They were not converted into financial capital.

They were kept in storage, preserved in such a way that they could be identified, retrieved, and returned to the place from which they had originally been taken.

It speaks to the wealth of Babylon. It also speaks to the intelligence of people who lived so long ago. They were not brutes barely above cavemen (in fact, there never were any cavemen). They were not superstitious ignoramuses. They were highly intelligent, skilled, and capable of cataloging, preserving, and valuing fine treasures from multiple sources.

There are, of course, people who are less caring and less insightful, but that has nothing to do with the era in which they live. There have always been careless people just as there have always been thoughtful people. There have always been brutish people just as there have always been well-mannered people. There have always been pagans and atheists just as there have always been believers and followers of the true and living God.

We have not evolved since Cyrus made his decree and Darius searched for and found the record of it. Nor had they evolved from some sort of cross between man and beast.

God made man fully man—always intelligent and always distinct from the rest of His creation.

#Ezra6 #BiblicalHistory #CreationTruth #TrustTheBible #GodsWord

The Myth That Early Man Was Primitive: Evidence That Ancient Man Was Fully Intelligent

Do you think ancient civilizations were just as intelligent as we are today, or do you see the evidence differently? Share your thoughts in the comments—I enjoy reading and responding to your insights.

If this study encouraged you, visit marvinmckenzie.org for hundreds of Bible studies, daily devotionals, videos, books, and other Christ-centered resources designed to help you grow in your faith and strengthen your understanding of God's Word.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Ezra 6:5 (KJV) The Myth That Early Man Was Primitive

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxfMzT7qbUEm7AU7Fa6stCwXef-mRrjacI?si=g-gAFN114L5vo-S9