September 17, 2024 - Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬-‭5a

““The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show.” Matthew 23:2-5a NLT

Lord, help us be people who lead by example. We want to be in your Word and studying your truth so we can help lead others to you. But let it not be because we can say the right things but not apply them to our own lives. We never want to demand something of other people that we are not trying to live out ourselves. Help us to live in a way that our knowledge of your Word matches the way we live. Align our lives to the truth of your Word. We invite you to point out any place in us where we are not living in your truth. And give us the strength that we need to make changes where you ask us to.

Lord, as we endeavor to live lives that point others to you, help us to see others with your eyes. Help us to walk in your love and compassion for them. Show us how we can come alongside them and ease their burdens. Help us walk with them and help them to move forward into a deeper walk with you. Help us to be open and honest so they can see us overcome our struggles through you and your truth. We don’t want to do things for show or just point a finger and dictate what they should do, but we want to do life alongside them and support them in their journey. Holy Spirit, help us do this. We can only do this with your light, wisdom, and power working through us. We praise you for how you want to help us make this prayer a reality.

In Jesus name, amen.