John Hagee Devotional 16th January 2025, Thursday Message
Today’s Scripture
Now when [the Pharisees and Scribes] saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.
Mark 7:2
The Pharisees were of the right people and the right lineage; they just had the wrong approach. Rather than relate to Jesus Christ and what He wanted to do in their lives, they argued and found fault with Him based on their flawed religious knowledge. Jesus had already turned water to wine, fed the five thousand, healed lepers, walked on water, and raised the dead. Now the Pharisees come and just sit and watch to see what they can find Him doing wrong. Religious people always want to point out what’s wrong before they will talk about what’s right.
What did they find wrong to disqualify Jesus? His disciples ate bread with unwashed hands! The Pharisees had taken a law stated in Leviticus 16:28 that regarded the high priest washing before going into the tabernacle, and they built it into a long list of constant hand washings. That’s what religion does. You’re going to meet some religious people like that. Don’t become like them and start making a religion out of rules and regulations, building lists of do’s and don’ts. When you have a relationship with the Son of God who died for you and set you free, never let religion get in the way of loving and obeying Him.
Blessing
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you live and walk and think like sons and daughters of the Most High God for you have the robe of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel, and the signet ring of royalty. May the blessing and the peace, the love and the joy of God the Father be your portion. This we pray, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Today’s Bible Reading:
Old Testament
Genesis 32:12-34:31
New Testament
Matthew 11:7-30
Psalms & Proverbs
Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20
John Charles Hagee is an American Protestant pastor and televangelist. The founder of John Hagee Ministries, his ministry is telecast to the United States and Canada. Hagee is also the founder and chairman of the Christian-Zionist organization Christians United for Israel.