START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION
(KJV) Mark 7:6-7
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Their Hearts Are Far From Me: Overcoming the Trap of Legalism
In Mark 7:6-7, Jesus addresses a profound and dangerous spiritual condition. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, He says: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”
This passage strikes at the very root of legalism—the dangerous habit of substituting outward acts, traditions, or words for a true, godly attitude that can only come from a genuine relationship with God.
What is Legalism?
Legalism is not simply living by the laws or standards of God’s Word. Biblical standards and disciplines are good and proper when they are built on God’s commands. Instead, legalism is a matter of the motive behind our actions.
A legalist might appear outwardly to live perfectly and seek what pleases God. Inwardly, however, they lack a real love for Him. Any motive that does not flow out of a true, active faith in Christ and a desire to please Him falls into legalism.
This mindset often creates two major spiritual traps:
- Man-Made Regulations: Creating human rules that have little to do with God’s original commands, yet treating them as divine law.
- Self-Salvation: Depending on human effort, laws, and standards for spiritual worth or salvation—something that is completely impossible apart from faith in Christ.
Grace vs. Effort in the Law of Christ
In this age of grace, we are spiritually saved through faith in Christ and His underserved favor, not our own efforts. However, this does not mean Christians should neglect spiritual disciplines or duties.
True faith produces a desire to show our love for Christ by being faithful to His teachings. The New Testament reframes our obedience not as a heavy burden, but as a response to love, calling it:
- “The perfect law that gives freedom” (James 1:25)
- “The royal law” (James 2:8)
- “The law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)
- “The law of the Spirit” (Romans 8:2)
Within God’s Word, we find positive commands of things we should practice, negative commands of things to avoid, and basic ethical principles that reflect God’s holy character. We honor these out of love for the One who saved us, keeping our motives pure and our hearts securely anchored in Him.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of Your grace and the unmerited love You have shown us through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We confess that it is easy to fall into the trap of going through the motions, honoring You with our lips while letting our hearts wander far from You. Protect us from the coldness of legalism and the pride of self-righteousness.
Search our hearts, Lord, and purify our motives. Let our obedience, our service, and our disciplines flow purely from a place of deep love, active faith, and gratitude for who You are. Keep us anchored in Your truth, walking in the perfect law of liberty and the power of Your Holy Spirit. May our lives be a true reflection of Your character, and may our hearts always beat in alignment with Your purposes.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
- FIVE LOAVES … TWO FISH … THANKSGIVING AT MEALTIMES / MARK 6:41
- COMPASSION / MARK 6:34
- DANCED / MARK 6:22
- JOHN IN PRISON / MARK 6:17
- ANOINTED WITH OIL / MARK 6:13
- EVIL SPIRITS / MARK 6:7
- LACK OF FAITH / MARK 6:6
- JESUS … A PROPHET / MARK 6:4
- JUST BELIEVE / MARK 5:36
- JUST TOUCH HIS CLOTHES / MARK 5:27-28
- A MAN WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT / MARK 5:2-17
- JESUS WAS SLEEPING / MARK 4:38
- MUSTARD SEED / Mark 4:31
- EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN / MARK 4:24-25
- TAKES AWAY THE WORD / MARK 4:15-17
- A FARMER WENT OUT TO SOW / MARK 4:3
- PARABLES / MARK 4:2
- BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT / Mark 3:29
- TIES UP THE STRONG MAN / MARK 3:27
- AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS / MARK 3:15
- THAT THEY MIGHT BE WITH HIM / MARK 3:14
- HEALED MANY / MARK 3:10-12
- HERODIANS / MARK 3:6
- LOOKED … IN ANGER / MARK 3:5
- THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN / MARK 2:27-28
- SABBATH / MARK 2:23
- NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS / MARK 2:22
- ON THAT DAY THEY WILL FAST / MARK 2:20
- TO CALL … SINNERS / MARK 2:17
- HEALING THE PARALYZED MAN / MARK 2:11
- SON OF MAN / MARK 2:10
- DROVE OUT MANY DEMONS / MARK 1:34
- EVIL SPIRITS OBEY HIM /MARK 1:27
- SYNAGOGUE / MARK 1:21
- COME FOLLOW ME / MARK 1:17
- KINGDOM OF GOD / MARK 1:15
- THE GOOD NEWS / MARK 1:14
- TEMPTED BY SATAN / MARK 1:13
- MY SON, WHOM I LOVE / MARK 1:11
- THE SPIRIT DESCENDING ON HIM / MARK 1:10
- JESUS WAS BAPTIZED / MARK 1:9
- BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MARK 1:8
- THE WHOLE JUDEAN COUNTRYSIDE / MARK1:5
- BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE / MARK 1:4
- THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL / MARK 1:1-3
- CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE
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Blessings, Margarita & Stace
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