Verse by Verse Devotional on Philippians by Pastor Jack #152

The Snare of Formalism

3:6b as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

We have seen how the Pharisees (including the Christian Pharisees, which are commonly called Judaizers) lowered the standard of God’s law in order to call themselves blameless before it. One of the primary ways they lowered it is through formalism. Again, it is one of our biggest struggles as well.

Formalism is when a person relies on the outward forms of something instead of the inward reality. God has given us forms. We cannot escape them. But forms are meant to reflect inward reality, not be an end in themselves.

The problem is that forms are much easier to practice than inward realities. It is much easier to say prayers than it is to cry out in your soul to God. It is much easier to read sentences in the Bible than it is to listen to the voice of God speaking through it. It is much easier to be nice to someone than it is to sincerely care about them in your heart. It is much easier to sing a hymn than it is to sing praises to the living God from your heart. It is much easier to say "I’m sorry" than it is to inwardly grieve over what you have done. It is much easier to go to church than it is to truly worship. It is much easier to have a "quiet time" than it is to really meet with God.

Because of this, we always gravitate toward going through the motions. We can still feel good about ourselves, and it’s much much easier! We can check off that item on our to-do list and think we’ve fulfilled our duty.

But our duty is not to go through the motions. Our duty is to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength. Our duty is to walk before Him and know Him and fear Him and yield to Him. Our duty is to live naked before God, not to play games and act righteous.

When we remember this, we will always realize how far we are from being blameless before God’s law.

Father, thank You for Your patience with me. How I want to serve You in a way that is easy for my flesh! How I drift into thinking I am doing Your will when I fulfill my external religious duties. I want to be a man who knows You, who seeks Your face, who is gripped by the reality of Your holy presence in my life. Forgive me for the sin of formalism. Rescue me from its grip. Help me to walk in the freedom of sincerity.