Mint and Dill and Cumin

I'm not blessed as a chef, but I do know those are herbs. I'm assuming pretty expensive herbs in Jesus' time.

The other night I was thinking of how I've been learning that spiritual disciples are necessary, but they aren't the end-all-be-all of our sanctification. Reading God's Word, communicating with Him through prayer, being poured into and pouring into other Christians are all necessary pieces to walking closely with the Lord. However, they're only some of the pieces.

This is Jesus speaking. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!" (Matthew 23:23-24 ESV) (Aside: When I read words like these, I wonder how people can think Jesus was just a nice teacher who said fluffy stuff all the time about love and peace and "being a good person.")

I thought of this Scripture when I was thinking about spiritual disciplines. I felt God saying, "You read your bible, go to church, pray, and sing spiritual songs, and you neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness..."

I'm not sure what to do with justice other than pray for the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner. Mercy? Love the ladies God's placed in my life, all my Small Group girls. Love them and be merciful and kind and compassionate with them. Faithfulness? Be a faithful and loving wife and mommy, doing all I can to show my men how much they're loved and appreciated.

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Okay, I began this post a day ago, and now I'm not sure what else I planned to say. So...the end.