We sometimes mistake religious performance for a relationship with God, convinced that if we just check enough boxes, we’re doing what He desires. The Pharisees kept all the rules, yet their hearts were far from Him. Jesus repeatedly crossed their man-made boundaries, not in rebellion, but to remind us that God cares more about what’s right than what’s merely religious. The world isn’t looking for people with all the answers; they want to see people who actually look like Jesus. May we have the courage to love like He does, even when the religious establishment won’t, because doing what’s right sometimes means breaking the rules.

Jesus Got Dirty for You
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When Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet, Peter strongly resisted because He was embarrassed at the thought of having the Lord wash his filthy feet. When we become dirty by sin, our shame makes us want to run and hide from God. Yet God longs for us to come to Him despite our dirt. Just as the father ran to embrace the filthy prodigal son and put a clean robe on him, so God longs to embrace us and wash us clean.



