A Call to Cultivate Truth
In today’s world, religion is often used as a mask, an ornate covering for deeply rooted personal, political, or cultural agendas. People cling to religious structures, not to seek truth, but to preserve their own counterfeit perspectives. When we rehearse religion without a relationship, we perform empty rituals. But righteousness is about living aligned with God’s heart and truth. Jesus didn't die so we could play church, He died and rose again so we could be the Church, filled with His Spirit, unified in His mission, and alive with divine purpose. Are we rooted in righteousness or simply rehearsing religion?
In a culture obsessed with appearance, Jesus Christ calls us to authenticity. In Matthew 15:7–18, Jesus doesn’t hold back. His words slice through pretense like a gardener pruning diseased vines. He confronts the Pharisees, quoting Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” The indictment is sharp, but the heart behind it is pure. Jesus, the Master Gardener, is after fruit that lasts—and roots that run deep.
Where is your heart?
The Pharisees were polished on the outside but polluted within. Their mouths spoke of God, but their motives were man-made. They taught tradition as truth and prioritized ritual over righteousness. Jesus responds plainly: “They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”
In today’s world, we still see this; people parroting spiritual language with no spiritual transformation. We wear Christian quotes like badges but often lack the brokenness that births repentance. In an age where public performance, and personal branding reign supreme, Jesus is still asking, “Where is your heart?” We live in a time where influencers may inspire but not always embody the Spirit of truth. Culture is saturated with voices, but many are spiritually blind, leading others into pits of confusion, compromise, and counterfeit convictions.
Jesus then turns to the crowd and shifts the focus inward. “It is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out.” He draws a line between ritual cleansing and real character. Just as a plant can look green on the surface yet rot at the root, so too can our lives bear false fruit if our hearts are not surrendered to God.
When Peter asks for clarity, Jesus reveals the truth plainly, “What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and these defile a person.” Gossip, slander, pride, jealousy; these are not just words or habits. They are heart-issues, rooted in soil that has not been tilled by repentance. Every tree not planted by the Father, Jesus says, will be pulled up by the roots.
Be wary of traditions without transformation…
Be wary of traditions without transformation. Let your lips speak what your life lives. Because what we plant in private will grow in public—and only what is rooted in Christ will survive the storm. God never intended for His people to walk blindly. He desires that we see with spiritual clarity, grounded in His Word, and led by His Spirit.
Yes, trouble may show up at home. You might face challenges on the job, feel misunderstood in church, or even wrestle silently in your mind. But Jesus sees it all. And more than that, He is the Light in dark places. John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” You were not created to stumble—you were made to stand strong in truth.
Jesus still opens blind eyes today—not just physically, but spiritually. He wants you to discern, to walk boldly, and to know what is real. Confusion is not your portion. Christ offers clarity, comfort, and courage.
Let Him lead. He will never guide you into deception. Instead, He will anchor you in truth, uphold you in love, and light your path with purpose. This is the way to cultivate a heart rooted in truth.
