Part 1
Series: Faithfully Following — Living Ready for His Return
Before we jump in—grab your coffee (or reheat it for the third time, no judgment here 😉).
Here’s where we find Jesus in this passage:
It’s near the end of His ministry, and He’s speaking to a crowd of religious leaders—people who had all the right words and routines but missed the heart of it. His words in Matthew 23 cut through their polished faith and call us back to something deeper—something real.
And that’s the heartbeat of this Rooted space—where we slow down long enough to let truth take root in the middle of real life.
So before we go any further, let’s ask ourselves the question that carries through this whole series:
Are we truly ready for Christ’s return?
You know that feeling…
when something jolts you awake in the middle of the night—
a creak in the hallway, a thud outside.
In seconds your heart is racing, and you realize: you thought everything was secure, but you haven’t actually checked a single lock. You fumble for your glasses, trip over a shoe, and suddenly feel the unease of being unprepared.
That’s exactly the spiritual picture Jesus painted in Matthew 23.
Because the religious leaders looked secure—robes crisp, routines flawless, verses memorized—but they were spiritually unready. They’d perfected the performance of holiness while neglecting the posture of the heart.
And if I’m honest… I’ve been there too. Maybe you have been too, friend.
The Danger of Filtered Faith
Jesus didn’t hold back.
He said of the Pharisees:
“They preach, but do not practice.” (Matthew 23:3)
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” (Matthew 23:5)
They had religion down to a science—but missed its soul.
It’s easy to shake our heads at them until we catch ourselves doing the same. (gut punch)
We post the highlighted verse and the steaming mug photo—but hide the struggle, the dryness, the doubts.
We talk about grace yet measure ourselves by likes, schedules, or someone else’s approval.
Jesus called them whitewashed tombs—beautiful outside, but empty inside.
He wasn’t condemning their desire to look faithful; He was exposing how easily we confuse looking the part with being transformed.
And that stings, doesn’t it?
Because somewhere between trying to honor God and trying to impress people, faith can get filtered.
Heart Over Appearance
Here’s the relief tucked inside the rebuke:
Jesus doesn’t want polish; He wants presence.
He isn’t impressed by our spotless checklists or curated posts.
He’s drawn to authenticity—messy, humble, sincere hearts that say,
“Lord, I don’t have it all together, but I’m Yours.”
Real discipleship grows quietly:
- in unseen acts of service,
- in forgiveness no one applauds,
- in repentance that softens pride.
When Jesus says,
“The greatest among you shall be your servant,” (23:11)
He flips the spotlight and calls us to a faith that glows from the inside out.
So today, what if we stopped trying to look faithful and simply be with Him?
What if we let Him clean the inside of the cup before polishing the outside?
What if we slowed down long enough to let real faith take root again?
Rooted Reflection
Maybe your heart feels weary from trying to keep it all together—your faith, your family, your façade.
Here’s your permission to exhale.
God isn’t waiting for a performance; He’s inviting you into presence.
He already knows the cracks in your confidence and the corners you’d rather hide.
And He calls you loved anyway.
Friend, let’s be women who choose heart over appearance.
Who trade filters for faithfulness.
Who live unpolished but rooted in grace.
Because the kind of beauty that catches Heaven’s eye isn’t flawless—
it’s faithful.
And as we keep walking through this series, let’s hold this question close:
Are we truly ready for Christ’s return?
A Prayer for the Week
Lord, search my heart.
Strip away the parts of me that crave applause.
Make my faith real and rooted in You.
Teach me to serve quietly, love deeply, and walk humbly.
Amen.
“Real faith doesn’t need a filter—just a willing heart.”
— Brooke Suzette
Next in the Series
Readiness Over Complacency — Living Like He’s Coming Back
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