Jesus again pointed out the main issue with the Pharisees: They only pay attention to formalities on the outside, but neglecting the lives in the inside. Isn't that the same when we teach others? When I first started my ministry, I often taught brothers and sister, to do this, to do that, to tithe, to not stop attending meetings, to not stop serving, etc. But I forgot one important thing - Teach brothers and sisters to love God. In fact, love of God is the foundation of everything. The life of Jesus is the foundation of everything. If we only emphasize formalities on the outside, but neglect the live within, our service will bear no fruit.
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There is a parable about a country folk. He had never seen faucet and plumbing before. One day, he came to town and saw the faucet on the wall where water came out once faucet was opened. He thought, this really solved my problem. I usually got water from wells. I spent much effort but only got a little of water. Now if I put this faucet on the wall, water would just flow out. He was very happy, and bought a faucet from the hardware store. After returning home, he put the faucet on the wall. But when he opened the faucet, no a single drop came out. He was very disappointed. Truly, he forgot the fact that there was a pipe inside the wall that was providing water. Similarly, we often are like this country folk, paying attention only to the outside, but neglecting the pipe behind the faucet which is the true conduit of water.
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Brothers and sisters, we need the life of Jesus inside of us. Without His life, all things on the outside are empty. They are formalities that will not help us at all. May God help us to pay attention the life within. When we teach, do not just teach formalities, but teach about the life of Jesus, because only the life of Jesus can meet our needs!
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