The Story of My Life as told by Jesus
Christ
(Seed Sowers Christian
Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 I Taught About the Kingdom
Page 94-97 Matthew 5:13 - 6:4; Luke 6:27-36
In this portion of the Sermon on
the Mount, Jesus followed his Beatitudes with six examples of practical,
ethical issues. In each example Jesus is saying, “Here is what the law says;
now I am going to the very heart of the law to show how children of God can
live out its deepest meaning.” Jesus reveals how I can make living a life of
the Beatitudes a realistic expectation for my life. When Jesus says that my
righteousness must exceed that of the religious leaders, he is not saying that
I have to do more than they do. He is saying I am called to a different kind of
righteousness. This is the righteousness that comes through faith in the Son of
God who loved me and gave himself for me. In this, righteousness the life of
Jesus becomes visible in my life as I live in a way that expresses the
merciful, forgiving, reconciling will of God. As I live in this way I am
fulfilling the deepest intent of God’s law. How is this possible? Wouldn’t you
have to be perfect to live this way? Yes.
But remember, God’s definition of
perfect is different than ours. God’s perfection is not getting a grade of A+
on every test. God’s perfection is the wholeness of life that comes with new
life in Christ. To live with Godly perfection is to respond to other people –
even those I think of as my enemies – with the compassion and desire for good
that expresses the way God has responded to me. It is the way God responds to
the whole world. Godly perfection is within me when I see other people the same
way God sees me, and them.
Jesus’ instructions about living in
a new righteousness are not complex; they are quite simple, direct and easy to
comprehend and remember. Even so, there seems to be a scarcity of disciples of
Jesus who take seriously these instructions. However, the enormity of God’s
love for us is matched by His patience. God has very, very high expectations
for his children, and he will not rest until his children are transformed to be
like Jesus.
Every Sunday, as the followers of
Jesus gather in their sanctuaries for worship, the Holy Spirit moves through
the pews and can be heard asking, “Who will be a follower of Jesus? Who among
you will live for Christ in this world?”
Who among us will respond, “Here
I am. I will be his disciple.”
Sē’lah
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What word or phrase
in today’s reading attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word
or phrase.
What insights come to
you?
How does this passage
touch your life today?
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(Selah is a word that appears in the
Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my
correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about
these things.)
These
meditations are available by email. Contact me at Amkrom812@gmail.com to be added to the email list.
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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus
Christ
(Seed Sowers Christian Book
Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 I Taught About Prayer and Fasting
Page 97-98 Matthew
6:5-24
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