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Saturday, November 1, 2008

Substance or Facade?

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.
SCRIPTURE:
6-8 Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull's-eye in fact: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, Ditching God's command and taking up the latest fads." Mark 7:6-8 [MSG]
OBSERVATION: Our actions speak louder than words.
APPLICATION:
Do we profess to believe, but not live like believers? Do we claim to be Christians, but not model the values of Christ? Do we go to church on Sunday, sitting in the front for all to see, after a Saturday night of drinking and carousing? Do we aspire to love everyone as Christ commanded, but fail to love those who need our love the most? Do we really practice what we preach? Or are we too busy with the preaching to put it into practice?
In just days in America we will be selecting our next President. From two candidates who are in most ways polar opposites, we will be choosing the man who will lead America into the next decade -- the next era of our history. We can choose a typical politician, whose talking points are more in line with what's popular right now than with any real substance; a politician who has had very little time to show that he practices what he preaches; a politician who seems more focused on himself than on others. Or we can choose a man who has given his entire life in service to others; a man who has had the courage to stand alone when no one else would stand for what is right; a man who has lived the kind of life that he preaches.
The choice should seem clear, but to so many it isn't. So many people will choose their candidate based upon the thin surface they can see and disregard the true substance. We only have one chance to get it right.
PRAYER:
God, help Americans to choose wisely at the polls. Open their eyes so that they might see through the facade.

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