Day 11 – Better than that

Matthew 5:20

Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

The Pharisees had most thing right. They knew the rules and they kept the rules well; washing their hands before meals, paying their tithe and observing the Sabbath day. What’s even better they were great at, accountability? No sorry, that would be judgment. You see they got so caught up in their rules they forgot one main thing.

Man looks at the outward appearance, man keeps a check list and weights all things on the scale of right. God on the other hand looks at the heart. Mindlessly or should I say heartlessly following a bunch of rules get you nowhere with God… You’ve got to do way better than that.

 

Day 10 – Follow Me

Matthew 5:13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven

Jesus was always in the streets and among the people. Jesus was always doing something for the community that He was in, to bring hope to their hearts. He befriended those that were deemed too sinful and were shuned by the religious. He had dinner with those that cause hardship to the community. Jesus was always doing something to make life better for others, I guess he said it best when he said “I came to serve not to be served”… We need to be followers of Jesus Christ.

 

Day 9 – Heaven Knows

Matthew 5:10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. 11 “Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

At some point your outlandish devotion to God is going to rub others the wrong way. They’ll be quick to say that you’re intolerant, put words in your mouth and otherwise persecute you. Should this happen, you a assured that God is paying attention and that all of heaven is in your corner.

At some point your outlandish devotion to God is going to cause others to rub you the wrong way. Don’t be quick to judge, put words in their mouths and otherwise persecute them. Should this happen, you are assured that God is paying attention and that all of heaven knows…

 

Day – 8 Stay Focused

Matthew 5:9 You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

Since the days of Paul, Christians have been drawn to factions. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul makes an effort to address this issue with much urgency. He asks them, “Why are you picking sides and forming groups? ‘I’m on Paul’s side,’ or ‘I’m for Apollos,’ or ‘Peter is my man,’ or ‘I’m in the Messiah group.’” These are the things that were being said.

In an attempt to bring their focus back to where it should be, Paul asks another question. Has Paul been crucified for any of you? Paul was showing them how to cooperate and not compete or fight. Paul’s example serves us well; we must keep our focus on Christ. Too often in our history, have we gone off and formed factions based on some trivial matter; women wearing pants or men having long hair. Even some of the more widely debated arguments in the end mean nothing.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it alone is the power of God unto salvation. When we keep a kingdom agenda, when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, when we begin to live selflessly and as conduits for the purposes of God, then we will all walk together in agreement with God. Admittedly, all of the above seems really outlandish but with God’s help we can do it.

 

Day 7 – Inside Out

Matthew 5:8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world

As a zealous Christian teen I used to tell my friends; I don’t belong to a religion (institutionalized) I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It might have been true then but I’m afraid over the years even my churches that promote personal relationship with Jesus have forgotten the meaning of the word personal. Instead we have learned and emphasized words like corporate, and mandatory.

I’ve learned these words too and at times I can find myself doing things, which should otherwise be worship, simply to be in compliance with the rule of man. This will never do. Performance never impresses God heart does. What He is after is a change of the heart and the soul. What God desires is that what I do on the outside in always as a result of a change on the inside based on Him.

Outlandish devotion dictates that I can’t live as if I am under the historic law. I am bond to live as if I am under grace and as such I must live graciously or inside out.