Scripture: They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Mark 7:7-10 Amplified
Observation: Jesus is talking with the Pharisees. They are questioning him about ritual cleansing before eating, a man-made ritual. Jesus answers them saying you put a higher priority on hand washing than encouraging the church to follow the laws made by God. He also instructs them on the false notion that once the legal requirements were met as their parent’s welfare was concerned, they no longer had any responsibility towards caring for them.
There are two important concepts for life the Lord is sharing with us here:
1) Don’t let the traditions made by man interfere with your relationship with the Lord.
2) Honoring your father and mother is a lifelong pursuit.
Application: I will only address the second of the two concepts here, although both are equally important. I have a very difficult relationship with my Mom. In a nutshell, we are like oil and water. We have, at times, gone years without communicating and now neither my brother nor I have the strength within ourselves to deal with her. In September 2009 I went to visit Mom and Dad for 10 days to help get my Dad home and on Hospice care. While I did accomplish the most important task of getting Dad situated, I fell short of the long list of things my Mom wanted done. This lead to my husband and I leaving early and my mother and I having hard feelings towards each other. Since that visit in September she has been hospitalized and my father has recently passed away. My help has always been accepted by her conditionally and dealing with dad issues was no exception. Fortunately dad’s social worker and I were able to maintain good communication. Without that communication I would not have known of my Daddy’s passing. This Sunday I was praying about this difficult situation. The Lord began speaking loudly and clearly to me about my relationship with Mom. He told me that I can’t change the way that she behaves but I still have a responsibility to care for her to the best of my ability, that’s why he included that “honor your mother and father” thing in the commandments. He also gave me Mark 7 to remind me of the importance he places on that issue. I must admit, I have failed to fulfill my Heavenly Father’s desires where my mother has been concerned. On Sunday, the Lord promised to give me the strength and protection I would need to express my love to my mother and fulfill my duty as her daughter. He revealed to me that only he can shield my heart, and yours, from someone who purposefully sets out to hurt you. He has called me to see my mother through his eyes and to not give up hope. I called her Monday night and, with the Lord’s help, I listened and I encouraged her and told her I love you.
The Lord is so good to me. He protects me and gives me the strength to deal with the most difficult situations. I’m so thankful that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that the bible gives good counsel on all of life’s experiences.
Prayer: Lord, my mother needs you in her life. I fear that if she doesn’t come to know you soon it will be too late, she is 83 after all. Please Heavenly Father send someone to share the truth with her in a way that she can understand. Lord, please continue to give me the strength to serve you by serving her. Protect my heart and allow me to let any hurtful behavior go through me without taking up residence and causing more hurt. Lord, I do love my Mom and it is my wish to help her live out her remaining years with her family around her, loving her to the best of their abilities. Lord that can only happen with your help! Please refine my attitude and conform it to you Lord. Amen
Laurie
Instructions For Life According to Jesus Christ 
Sorry this is so long, but do you see the strawman who is burned up (as if) by the (FIRE) Of GOD?.
Ecc 1:13 (CLV)
I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens:it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.
Isa 45:6-12 (CLV)
6 That they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is a limit apart from Me. I am Yahweh Elohim, and there is none else.”
7 Former of light and Creator of darkness, Maker of good and Creator of evil. I, Yahweh Elohim, made all of these things.”
8 Drip, you heavens, from above, and the skies shall distil righteousness. The earth shall open, and it shall bud salvation. And righteousness shall sprout together with it, I, Yahweh, create it.”
9 Will anyone contend with his Former? The earthenware with the ceramists? Is the clay saying to its potter, `What are you making?’ And your contrivance, `No hands has he’?
10 Will anyone say to a father, `What are you begetting?’ Or to a woman, `With what are you travailing?'”
11 Thus says Yahweh Elohim, the Holy One of Israel, and its Former, “`What is arriving?’ you ask Me. Yet concerning My sons and concerning My daughters, and concerning your contrivance of My hands are you instructing Me!”
12 I, I made the earth, and I created humanity on it. I, My hands stretched out the heavens, and all their host I instruct.”
Isa 45:
22 Turn unto me—and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth,—For, I, am GOD, and there is none else.
23 By myself, have I sworn, Gone forth out of my mouth, is righteousness as a decree And shall not turn back,—That, unto myself, Shall bow every knee, Shall swear every tongue:
24 Only in Yahweh—for me, Hath one said, Is there righteousness and strength, Unto him, shall come and turn pale—All who have been incensed against him:
25 In Yahweh, shall be justified and shall boast themselves—All the seed of Israel.
Eph 2:4-10 (LITV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even we being dead in deviations, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are being saved),
6 and raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,
7 that He might demonstrate in the ages coming on, the exceeding great riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God;
9 not of works, that not anyone should boast;
10 for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before prepared that we should walk in them.
1Co 3:11-16 (GNB)
11 For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid.
12 Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw.
13 And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.
14 If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward.
15 But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.
16 Surely you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you!
1Co 3:17 (Rotherham)
If anyone (thing) doth mar the shrine of God, God, will mar him (it); for the shrine of God is holy,—and such are ye.