Traditions
Acts 28:24
Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.
My mother-in-law, Irma, visited my first pastorate in Romoland, California. Irma was one of the sweetest women you would ever want to meet. In fact, she was too sweet. I can’t, in good conscience, tell mother-in-law jokes because of how nice she was!
So there was Irma, sitting in a pew when an older lady walked up and stood at the end of the pew. She didn’t greet Irma, she just stood there looking down on her. After what seemed like an eternity, the woman looked down at Irma and said, “I guess you didn’t know you are sitting in my seat…” Irma apologized and moved down the pew.
For as long as as I was pastor of that church, that woman sat in the same spot every Sunday. It was tradition, and you just don’t buck tradition in church!
I’ve got news for you, some of our traditions keep us from growing in Christ.
When Paul got together with the Jewish leaders in Rome, Paul laid out exactly who Jesus was, the prophecies he fulfilled, and why he was the long-awaited Messiah. They listened, and some believed, some didn’t. Some people listened and heard about Jesus, others just couldn’t get past their idea that the Messiah had still not come. They could not be swayed.
What traditions are you holding onto that may be keeping you from growing in Jesus? Can God’s word only be taught out of a certain Bible version? Does the choir have to sing only a certain style of music for you to worship? Does the preacher have to dress a certain way, or only speak a certain amount of time for you to listen? Do you have to sit in the exact place every week, or can you be gracious to a visitor?
Here’s an idea: throw out your traditions, and let God move in your heart. God wants to do fresh, new things in our lives, but he can’t do that when we allow stale traditions to overshadow the fresh things he is trying to do in us.
Sit somewhere new this Sunday!
Today’s Readings: Numbers 8,9; Acts 28
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