Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 22:16b & c, which says this:
“ . . . 'Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appear-ances.’ ” (ESV)These words, spoken by God’s avowed enemies, are completely true. The problem is, the pharisees and the Herodians did not believe them. They were lying to Jesus, to seek to “entangle” Him in His words, (v. 15).
Let us not be naive about religious people—even many who claim to be Christians. We should always “err” on the side of “grace”; but the “proof” will be in the “pudding” of regenerative faith, or the lack thereof.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Believing in Christ is the great thing that God presses upon sinners throughout the Scripture . . . ” —Thomas Brooks, in, "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices"]
