Father, what do I cling to?

For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders…

Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition. (Mark 7:3, 8 NET)

Those words, “hold fast,” really stood out to me.

By holding fast to their traditions, the Pharisees and the Jews dishonored God’s word, and by extension, the One who gave it. They honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from him, clinging to other things.

Of course, we see the same kinds of problems among people claiming to be Christians today. They look at some of the things God has said, but instead of holding fast to those words, they cling to the values of “modern-day culture.”

And so though they may honor God with their lips, their hearts are actually far from him.

But I was thinking today, “What am I holding fast to? Am I holding fast to Jesus and his Word? Or am I holding fast to other things? A desire for financial security? My pride? Wrong attitudes? Or even sin?”

Jesus, take my whole heart. Let me hold fast to nothing else but you.