"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We are to follow the law until everything is accomplished. If we do not and tell others they don't have to we'll be least in the kingdom of heaven.
QUESTION: When is "everything accomplished" and what is "the Law and the Prophets"?
IMPACT: A couple days ago when reading Matthew 5:12 I commented that I didn't "have any desire for anything extra in heaven." Now I read about being the least in heaven and I don't exactly want that either.
The statement "least in the kingdom of heaven" gives me an image of going to family dinner and knowing they all love me and accept me because I am part of them but I also feeling clearly that they aren't happy with how I'm acting. So I'm there and they love me, but they don't necessarily like me.
That would be an awful feeling. I wouldn't want to experience it here and I certainly wouldn't want to feel that with my heavenly Father or my brother Christ Jesus.
It's a little hard for me to imagine anyone treated that way in heaven. My image of the triune God is one and all being so loving.
Tomorrow I'll change gears from what pops into my mind and back to doing a little research.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Matthew 5:16
16. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Letting my light shine so others will see my good works and glorify God ... to me this means, in short, to live in such a way that if someone said something bad about me, no one would believe it.
Peter put is so clearly in 1 Peter 2:12 ...
"Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." - 1 Peter 2:12 NLT
Letting my light shine so others will see my good works and glorify God ... to me this means, in short, to live in such a way that if someone said something bad about me, no one would believe it.
Peter put is so clearly in 1 Peter 2:12 ...
"Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." - 1 Peter 2:12 NLT
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Matthew 5:15
15. "nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house."
I have hermit-like tendencies. Many times I start to close myself off in my house, doing my own thing. The past few years everything seems so overwhelming and I want to stop all outside engagements or activities so I can focus on catching up with what needs doing in my own home and family. I don't though, because despite feeling overwhelmed, I still feel God's love and light in my life and I can feel Him calling me not to hide it away behind my closed doors, keeping it to myself.
Hiding a lit candle under a basket seems absurd. How much more absurd to try hiding the light of Jesus' love in my own home, however unintentional.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."
This fills me with hope. I still complain and argue and am criticized. My life is not completely clean and innocent. I make mistakes frequently. I truly feel Him working in me. I have felt that desire to do what is pleasing to Him. I need to trust more fully that He is also providing me the power to accomplish what is pleasing to Him.
I have hermit-like tendencies. Many times I start to close myself off in my house, doing my own thing. The past few years everything seems so overwhelming and I want to stop all outside engagements or activities so I can focus on catching up with what needs doing in my own home and family. I don't though, because despite feeling overwhelmed, I still feel God's love and light in my life and I can feel Him calling me not to hide it away behind my closed doors, keeping it to myself.
Hiding a lit candle under a basket seems absurd. How much more absurd to try hiding the light of Jesus' love in my own home, however unintentional.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."
This fills me with hope. I still complain and argue and am criticized. My life is not completely clean and innocent. I make mistakes frequently. I truly feel Him working in me. I have felt that desire to do what is pleasing to Him. I need to trust more fully that He is also providing me the power to accomplish what is pleasing to Him.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Matthew 5:13-14
Salt and light for God's glory. We are to be a shining example to others of God's grace and love. The way we live our lives should be done in such a manner that regardless of our circumstances people think, "What's different about them? How do I get that?"
13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
I don't want to be tasteless and thrown out.
14. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;"
I want to be like that first gleam of dawn shining ever brighter from Proverbs 4:18.
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. -Proverbs 4:18 NLT
The light I want shining is the light of Jesus Christ spoken of in John 8:2.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
When I was a child I was told, "You're not afraid of the dark, you're afraid of what you can't see in the dark." While it was supposed to be a joke and was perhaps less than comforting at the time it has stuck with me through my entire life and it has always been true. As a child in bed in a dark room alone imaging what might be there that I can't see and now as an adult thinking of spiritual darkness and what lurks there ... as well as being alone in a dark house or car, still scared of what I can't see that might be there.
Thank you Jesus for being there and letting me know that as long as I follow you I have light and the darkness cannot touch me.
13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
I don't want to be tasteless and thrown out.
14. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;"
I want to be like that first gleam of dawn shining ever brighter from Proverbs 4:18.
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. -Proverbs 4:18 NLT
The light I want shining is the light of Jesus Christ spoken of in John 8:2.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
When I was a child I was told, "You're not afraid of the dark, you're afraid of what you can't see in the dark." While it was supposed to be a joke and was perhaps less than comforting at the time it has stuck with me through my entire life and it has always been true. As a child in bed in a dark room alone imaging what might be there that I can't see and now as an adult thinking of spiritual darkness and what lurks there ... as well as being alone in a dark house or car, still scared of what I can't see that might be there.
Thank you Jesus for being there and letting me know that as long as I follow you I have light and the darkness cannot touch me.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Matthew 5:11-12
11. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Taunted, persecuted, lied to in every way because of a belief in Jesus Christ and who He is. If ever it happens to you, remember that you will be supremely blest because of it. Lay it at the feet of Jesus, give it all to Him, because He has no problem handling it so you don't have to take it on yourself.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Cheerfully jump for joy thinking about how huge your gain will be in heaven, like those inspired speakers of God's truth before you.
I always have the same reaction when I read about rewards or crowns to be received in heaven. I don't think I'm going to arrive to a whole bunch of accolades about hot great I am for what I did here on earth. I'm definitely not great! More than that though, I don't feel any desire for anything extra in heaven, I just want to be there. I can't imagine anything better than simply being in His presence and feeling full acceptance. I just can't grasp the idea that any rewards could make that experience better.
Taunted, persecuted, lied to in every way because of a belief in Jesus Christ and who He is. If ever it happens to you, remember that you will be supremely blest because of it. Lay it at the feet of Jesus, give it all to Him, because He has no problem handling it so you don't have to take it on yourself.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Cheerfully jump for joy thinking about how huge your gain will be in heaven, like those inspired speakers of God's truth before you.
I always have the same reaction when I read about rewards or crowns to be received in heaven. I don't think I'm going to arrive to a whole bunch of accolades about hot great I am for what I did here on earth. I'm definitely not great! More than that though, I don't feel any desire for anything extra in heaven, I just want to be there. I can't imagine anything better than simply being in His presence and feeling full acceptance. I just can't grasp the idea that any rewards could make that experience better.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Matthew 5:9-10
9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
If the peacemakers will be called the children of God, as children of God shouldn't we be peacemakers?
10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The persecution or suffering for Christ that we might experience here in the Americas is not comparable to what may be experienced in other parts of the world, but it does still happen here.
The word persecution is διώκω dioko (dē-ō'-kō) which means to pursue. Described as both being made to flee or drive away and to seek after eagerly.
The word for kingdom is βασιλεία basileia (bä-sē-lā'-ä) which means royalty. Described in Easton's as referring to the reign of the Messiah when used in the New Testament.
So, what does it mean "the kingdom of heaven shall be theirs"? I still don't know.
If the peacemakers will be called the children of God, as children of God shouldn't we be peacemakers?
10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The persecution or suffering for Christ that we might experience here in the Americas is not comparable to what may be experienced in other parts of the world, but it does still happen here.
The word persecution is διώκω dioko (dē-ō'-kō) which means to pursue. Described as both being made to flee or drive away and to seek after eagerly.
The word for kingdom is βασιλεία basileia (bä-sē-lā'-ä) which means royalty. Described in Easton's as referring to the reign of the Messiah when used in the New Testament.
So, what does it mean "the kingdom of heaven shall be theirs"? I still don't know.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Matthew 5:7-8
7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
I need mercy. The number of mistakes I make on any given day ... I am so glad that our Lord Jesus Christ has an unending supply of mercy.
I must remember that and extend mercy to others. Even if I feel hurt or rejected or wronged in any way. I must remember that I repeatedly fall short and relinquish my self-righteousness in favor of reaching out for the righteousness of Christ.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The word for heart is καρδία kardia (kär-dē'-ä) which means, literally, the heart. It also means the thoughts and feelings or mind in a figurative sense.
Easton's Bible Dictionary describes it as the center of spiritual life: the soul or mind as the fountain of our thoughts, passions, desires, purposes, etc.
I will continue to struggle with keeping my thoughts, words, actions, etc. pure because I really want to see the face of God.
I need mercy. The number of mistakes I make on any given day ... I am so glad that our Lord Jesus Christ has an unending supply of mercy.
I must remember that and extend mercy to others. Even if I feel hurt or rejected or wronged in any way. I must remember that I repeatedly fall short and relinquish my self-righteousness in favor of reaching out for the righteousness of Christ.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The word for heart is καρδία kardia (kär-dē'-ä) which means, literally, the heart. It also means the thoughts and feelings or mind in a figurative sense.
Easton's Bible Dictionary describes it as the center of spiritual life: the soul or mind as the fountain of our thoughts, passions, desires, purposes, etc.
I will continue to struggle with keeping my thoughts, words, actions, etc. pure because I really want to see the face of God.
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