The Camel In The Room

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse:Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Ephesians 2:10

10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Readings: Psalm 87, 88; Romans 13

The Camel In The Room

We have all heard the term, ‘the elephant in the room’, right?

Today we hear Jesus talk about the ‘rule-pushers’(Pharisees).

“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” (Matt. 23:23).

“You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matt. 23:24)

So, what is the camel in the room? It is merciless injustice and faithlessness.

“They are blind guides,” Jesus said, “and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14)

Jesus is saying for us to get our eyes off the rules and onto the ‘Ruler’.

God’s foundation for any rules is mercy, justice and faithfulness. God’s foundation for all life is mercy, justice, and faithfulness.

Against God’s perfect righteousness, we deserve His full wrath(Ephesians 2), But the justice of God’s love calls for mercy-the mercy of making a way for us to be declared just-a perfect way. Jesus is our perfect way(John 14)-His blood removes our guilt. God is perfectly faithful to His word.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

If we are faithful in trusting God in Christ always and confessing our sins when we sin, He is just and always does what He says he will do-He keeps us righteous-clean and free in Christ.

In our daily growing love for Him, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives results in the life He wants for us-a life that lives by His laws naturally. This is the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light(Matt. 11:28–30).

There is always a camel to be swallowed if we follow a list of rules written by man.

There is always loving obedience in faithfulness to Christ.

Where are you? Confess and forget it. There is no good for God’s kingdom in worrying over sin. There is glory to God in living in His victory.

...because He loves us, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

I want to praise You with my whole heart and honor Your name forever. Your kingdom come and Your will be done. Give me what You know I need for today. Forgive me my hard attitudes for rules. Lead me away from evil.

Merciful, just, and faithful God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen