That which Defiles

Mark 1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

The Pharisees had a tradition of washing their hands before meals,and whatever else they did. When Jesus went to eat with them he ignored this ritual, and was questioned by the Pharisees. Jesus called them hypocrites!!! 
He said “these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”

God doesn’t want our actions alone He wants us to actively seek him, He wants us to open our hearts to Him. I know in my life going to church and going to bible study can become routine. But I have to make effort to hunt God and to seek Him out and to know Him.

We don’t want out actions to be empty. Our prayers aren’t enough. Singing a worship song is not enough. We need to stir ourselves in His presence. We need to seek Him!

Matthew 7:23. 
We don’t want to be turned away from God. Allow him to know you and allow yourself to know him. Don’t let routine stop your hunger for Him.