We love our traditions…

Mawmaw Grace was going to ask someone to pray at 11:00 a.m. sharp on Thanksgiving Day, and then she was going to tell everyone to start eating. That tradition was non-negotiable. Everyone knew it. And honestly—I looked forward to it every year.

Traditions can be beautiful. They give structure, memory, and meaning. But traditions can also become dangerous.

In Mark 7:1–13, Jesus confronts the most religious people of His day and exposes a hard truth: they had elevated the traditions of men above the commands of God. Their habits looked holy, sounded spiritual, and were widely accepted—but they were quietly canceling obedience to God’s Word.

God is not honored by outward religious habits that replace inward obedience. When human traditions—family, cultural, or church-based—are treated as equal to God’s commands, they slowly nullify His Word.

This shows up today when church involvement replaces heart obedience—when attendance substitutes for repentance, serving substitutes for surrender, and activity substitutes for intimacy with God. It also shows up when we excuse sin with, “That’s just how we do things,” tolerating gossip, pride, unforgiveness, or prayerlessness because it’s culturally normal.

Practical application: Ask yourself one honest question this week: Where am I defending a pattern God’s Word is actually challenging? If Scripture and tradition collide, obedience to God's Word must win.

Hold traditions gratefully—but lightly, allowing God’s Word to have the final say