Most religions have many external traditions to make right with God

My sacrifice, O God, is[a] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17

They reason, “If a man DOES, he shall live.” Jesus countered that practice: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and Pharisees. You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup…but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!” (Matthew 23:25) Man has sought to appease God by bringing THINGS to God. But God does not want THINGS. He wants our heart, or our human will to be broken or yielded to Him. Contrast these two personalities in the Bible: First, the proud and very religious, ceremonial Pharisee! He prayed, “I thank you, God, I am not like those awful tax collectors. Let me tell You everything (external) that I do” and he proceeded to list his external activities! But the sinful tax collector was so broken in spirit he would not even look up to heaven. He bowed his head (and his heart) and prayed, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18) Jesus said, “Only the tax collector went home right with God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. “ Let’s ask ourselves, “Am I primarily an external or internal person? How is my heart and will before God?” Remember: God’s measurement is the only proper measurement.

Tom Swartzwelder was born again at the age of nine in an old-fashioned revival meeting. Tom received his B.A. from Tennessee Temple University and his M. Div from Luther Rice Seminary. He has pastored for nearly forty years in both bi-vocational and full-time roles. He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”