Reading: Matthew 5
My Verse: "You therefore must be perfect,
as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
What a challenge! You, LORD God, ask us to go beyond the old expectations of good behavior. You challenge us to go a step further. You challenge us to go beyond rules and laws!
Jesus opens his ministry with a bang! He turns everything upside down for the staid church that was so set upon old traditions that had become increasingly self-serving to the church hierarchy.
First we are given those amazing beatitudes in verses 2-11.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit . . .
Blessed are those who mourn . . .
Blessed are the meek . . .
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . .
Blessed are the merciful . . .
Blessed are the peacemakers . . .
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake . . .
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you . . . on my account . . ."
These give us a whole new focus. These tell us to take our focus off of ourselves and onto You!
You tell us we are to be "salt" and "light" in this world so that others might see You in us.
Finally, You tell us that if we even think of sinful things, that is as good as doing it! You tell us this by going through some of our worse sins.
Anger: You say that, of course, one is liable if murder is committed.
But You say if we are even
"angry with a brother"
"insults his brother"
tells him "You fool" - we are liable.
Lust: Of course adultery is wrong but You go further here as well.
"everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has
already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Divorce: By divorcing ones spouse we cause them to commit adultery by remarrying.
Oaths: The old law says, "You shall not swear falsely"
but you say we should not take any kind of oath.
For we do not have the power to make it come about.
Only You have that kind of power.
Retaliation: Oh, this is a hard one.
If someone hits you, turn the other cheek!
If someone sues you for your robe, give him your cloak!
If someone forces you to go a mile, go two!
If someone begs from you, do not refuse him.
Love your enemies: The old law says we are to love our neighbor
and hate our enemies.
You tell us we are to love our enemies also!
You want so much for us, LORD God! You want us to strive to be perfect.
"You therefore must be perfect . . ."
I will never be perfect but I am to keep on keeping on in that direction. Be on being
perfect!
Love Like Jesus
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "You therefore must be perfect,
as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
What a challenge! You, LORD God, ask us to go beyond the old expectations of good behavior. You challenge us to go a step further. You challenge us to go beyond rules and laws!
Jesus opens his ministry with a bang! He turns everything upside down for the staid church that was so set upon old traditions that had become increasingly self-serving to the church hierarchy.
First we are given those amazing beatitudes in verses 2-11.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit . . .
Blessed are those who mourn . . .
Blessed are the meek . . .
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . .
Blessed are the merciful . . .
Blessed are the peacemakers . . .
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake . . .
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you . . . on my account . . ."
These give us a whole new focus. These tell us to take our focus off of ourselves and onto You!
You tell us we are to be "salt" and "light" in this world so that others might see You in us.
Finally, You tell us that if we even think of sinful things, that is as good as doing it! You tell us this by going through some of our worse sins.
Anger: You say that, of course, one is liable if murder is committed.
But You say if we are even
"angry with a brother"
"insults his brother"
tells him "You fool" - we are liable.
Lust: Of course adultery is wrong but You go further here as well.
"everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has
already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Divorce: By divorcing ones spouse we cause them to commit adultery by remarrying.
Oaths: The old law says, "You shall not swear falsely"
but you say we should not take any kind of oath.
For we do not have the power to make it come about.
Only You have that kind of power.
Retaliation: Oh, this is a hard one.
If someone hits you, turn the other cheek!
If someone sues you for your robe, give him your cloak!
If someone forces you to go a mile, go two!
If someone begs from you, do not refuse him.
Love your enemies: The old law says we are to love our neighbor
and hate our enemies.
You tell us we are to love our enemies also!
You want so much for us, LORD God! You want us to strive to be perfect.
"You therefore must be perfect . . ."
I will never be perfect but I am to keep on keeping on in that direction. Be on being
perfect!
Love Like Jesus
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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