Week 27 - Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Wow!  What a command!  Be sure to read the scriptures preceding this one so you can read in context.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

How can we be perfect?  

1.  In character.   In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible.  

2.  In holiness,.  Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values.  But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God's desires rather than our own, and carry his love and mercy into the world.  

3.  In maturity.  We can't achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness.  Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so God expects different behavior form us, depending on our stage of spiritual development.  

4.  In love.  We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. 

We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level -- perfect, yet with much room to grow.  Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ.  Christ calls all of his disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like him.  Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as Christ is perfect (1 John 3:2,3).

Week 26 - Matthew 5:44

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you....  Matthew 5:44

Life Application Study Bible, NIV:

Jesus says we are to love our enemies.  If you love your enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life.  This is possible only for those who give themselves fully to God, because only he can deliver people from natural selfishness.  We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love.

What a perfect time to demonstrate the Lord's love to people around you....friends and enemies alike!  Have you noticed how busy the stores are?  How busy the people are?  It's amazing what a smile and kind words can do.  I've noticed that it seems to soften most people you come in contact with.  Give it a try!

Mary has been on my mind this season.  These are some of my very unorganized thoughts.........

-    Mary was definitely "in God's will."  Don't we all long to be in that place?  Yet she was not without pain, heartache, suffering, trials, etc.

-    Mary was pretty "ordinary" but she opened herself up to the "extraordinary" when she made herself available to God and His plans.

-    Mary must have had to deal with quite a bit of fear from the very beginning.  What would Joseph think?  Her parents?  Her people?

-    Mary had to trust God for everything!  I just can't imagine getting on a donkey and riding 100 (or whatever it was) miles to Bethlehem while expecting.  Was she tired?  Hungry?  Cold?  Scared?  Did she wonder if she would make it before Jesus was born?  Again, she had to trust God for perfect timing.

-    Mary might have felt forgotten?  No room in the inn?!  Not even a place to give birth other than a stable?

-    My thoughts bring me back to God's will.  Every difficulty, every tear, every struggle had a purpose.

I find myself wishing I knew more about Mary but God has given us all we need to know in scripture.  Mary was a willing vessel, an obedient servant for the glory of God!  I pray that I might be the same.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Week 25 - Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Another good verse for meditation this week!  If you want to memorize, you might try verse 41, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

NIV, Life Application Study Bible footnotes:

God's purpose behind this law was an expression of mercy.  The law was given to judges and said, in effect, "Make the punishment fit the crime."  It was not a guide for personal revenge (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19,20; Deuteronomy 19:21).  These laws were given to limit vengeance and help the court administer punishment that was neither too strict nor too lenient.  Some people, however, were using this phrase to justify their vendettas against others.  People still try to excuse their acts of revenge by saying, "I was just doing to him what he did to me."

When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even.  Instead Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us!  Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive.  

This is not natural -- it is supernatural!  

Only God can give us the strength to love as he does.  Instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you.

Week 24 - Matthew 5:37

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Jesus commands us to be TRUTHFUL.  

Truthfulness v. Deception

Truthfulness -- Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.  

Ephesians 4:25 says, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

NIV Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Oaths, or vows, were common, but Jesus told his followers not to use them -- their word alone should be enough (see James 5:12).  Are you known as a person of your word?  Truthfulness seems so rare that we feel we must end our statements with "I promise."  If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to back up our words with an oath or promise.

James 5:12:  Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.

Truthfulness can seem like a rarity in our society these days.  Remember our verse from Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven"?  One of the ways we can let our lights shine is by not going along with the crowd....by being different than the world.  

We shine our lights when we are characterized by truthfulness!

Week 23 - Matthew 5:23-25

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

This command would be a little difficult to memorize but you could easily memorize its meaning.  Spend some time this week considering this principle and meditating on the Word.   

NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God.  If we have a problem or grievance with a firiend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others.  Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God (1 John 4:20).

In Jesus' day, someone who couldn't pay a debt was thrown into prison until the debt was paid.  Unless someone came to pay the debt for the prisoner, he or she would probably die there.  It is practical advice to resolve our differences with our enemies before their anger causes more trouble (Proverbs 25:8-10).  You may not get into a disagreement that takes you to court, but even small conflicts mend more easily if you try to  make peace right away.  In a broader sense, these verses advise us to get things right with our brothers and sisters before we have to stand before God.

1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.