Matthew 5:48

I got started late because of a snow storm, no school, a new baby in the house...the list goes on and on, but I did finally get started reading the Bible as I had posted in December. Now at least once a week I want to comment on something in the readings for the week that jumped out at me. I started in the New Testament with the Gospel of Matthew and here is what jumped out at me in chapters 1-7...

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 ESV 

I  have no problems proclaiming God is perfect. In fact, I would argue against anyone who would say God is less than perfect, however, I have never before noticed that I too am to be perfect. I know all about sanctification and how we are on a journey to being sanctified or complete or perfect as different versions interpret the text. And I buy into that...I am to be more Christ like...more perfect even daily as I follow after Jesus. It takes work, it is a discipline, it is my spiritual maturity I am speaking of. Just as any normal person matures physically as they grow older, we ought also mature spiritually as we age. What really jumped out at me in the text was that I MUST be perfect as God is perfect. That's the requirement to get to heaven...talk about setting the bar high! If we were to attain that we would never lie, slander, speak or think evil, lust and we would easily love both friends and enemies.

In context Jesus is not telling us we must work harder to achieve perfection in this life...he is telling us we cannot reach it in conjunction with the Law. What we really  need is a righteousness that is apart from the Law. We need Jesus!

"The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."        Romans 3:22-25

Now as I re-read Matthew 5:48, in God's eyes I AM perfect. Thank you, Lord!

Re-start...with a Purpose!

I have been absent for over a year...busy, distractions, more important things to do...I've got many excuses, but I guess that really doesn't matter. Bottom line is I am planning to post again starting in January. I thought I would do something a bit different though...I am attempting a new discipline for  reading the Bible beginning Jan 5. My plan is to read 7 chapters each day for a week (that's the same 7 chapters for seven days) in an attempt to let the Word speak to me. This is not a plan to simply read thru the Bible in a year, but rather a plan to become intimately familiar with scripture...more familiar than I am now...perhaps to the point of memorizing large blocks of scripture. I will start with the New Testament, specifically Matthew and I intend to post at least weekly, maybe more often, on what I am seeing, hearing, learning from my study. So plan to check in each week, my hope is that we will grow in both knowledge and devotion to our Lord.

Labor Day 2012

So it’s Labor Day, and Anna and I have been ‘laboring’ over her homework since she missed a week of school due to her tonsillectomy. For some reason it really doesn’t seem right, but I don’t want her to know that because she is certain it isn’t right! Regardless, Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain.” I wonder how much laboring we have done in vain…I wonder how much vain laboring we are even aware of?! Too often I have found myself running ahead of God, working at a frenzied pace, only to find that God was busy on another project. Frustrating yes, but also an exhausting and humbling experience…one I don’t care to repeat. So how does one make sure you do not labor with the Lord? Never take your eyes off of Him. Stay in constant communication with Him…that is not only talking to God, but more importantly, listening to God. It is only then that I can rest assured that I am working in His power. Now, back to studies…math, history, reading, & spelling done…language and science to go. I pray our work is not in vain…Happy Labor Day!

Complaints Become Prayer

Concerning Habakkuk’s Complaint (see yesterday’s blog)…I’ve got to tell you that when I first read it I was upset that the translator’s had titled it a complaint. I mean, wasn’t he just crying out to God and others to make them aware of the injustices around them? Well, after I re-read it a few times I realized he was just complaining to God. Whenever we repeatedly see the word “I” in reference to a person’s will and not to God’s will it is often a complaint…or soon turns into one. However in Habakkuk’s case the complaint turns into a prayer in chapter 3. That is key, I think, to our complaining to God. I am not sure there is anything inherently wrong with complaining to God…at least we are in conversation with God rather than turning from or ignoring God. But far too many people get stuck in the complaint mode and never listen to God. That is a problem! And as a result, they never move to prayer. We’ve got plenty to complain about with America in the shape it’s in, perhaps more than Habakkuk had…and we seem to be gifted at complaining, perhaps better than any generation before us. But in our day there are few who seem to move to a state of prayer…fervent prayer. I am not sure the reason, I suspect it varies greatly for each person, but unless and until we do, God continues to move but we never see His hand at work…and are robbed of joy.

Habakkuk's Complaint

Today I read the book of Habakkuk (it's a short, powerful book and you should try it!) and I must tell you it hit me between the eyes…here’s how it starts out in chapter 1, verse 2-4 from the NLT:

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.

Sounds like it could have been written for the first time yesterday doesn’t it! Goes to prove human nature does not change…however the part that hit me between the eyes was verse 5: The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it."

Now there’s our hope! God is at work, even today, in ways that we cannot, or would not believe. Praise His name for His work and for His faithfulness.

Lean In

Here is the best church video I have ever seen...bar none! It is also oozing with truth...what do you think?

Warning!

So, I am back and in the office now, but there is so much to do after you’ve been gone a week or two…add to that some other distractions and I am just now getting back to posting. I had a great time with the youth and did some reading while gone, studying ahead our Bible study lessons, and I must tell you Matthew 7:21—23 hit me between the eyes. First of all my Bible titles the subsection “Warning”…now that got my attention, but my ears really perked up when I realized (again) that Jesus was speaking about (us) believers in this passage. “Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Got your attention?! He is speaking to us…and they respond by saying, “We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.” Have you read the passage yet? These gospel-preaching, demon-exorcising, miracle-working followers will NOT get into the kingdom of heaven! Anyone else feeling worried? Well, you shouldn’t! Jesus goes on to give us the criteria for making it to heaven: “Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.” Gives surrender a new meaning doesn’t it? No wonder Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done…” I'm thinking we ought to give this some attention, and my prayer is that each of us might take our eyes off the things we want do for God (our will) and focus on what he wants us to do (His will) with our lives…no matter how small or insignificant they might seem.