Do NOT Think of Jesus
Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
As much as Jesus came to reveal who He was and what He was here to do... He was equally clear at times what He was NOT here to do. In this case - He did NOT come to abolish the law or prophets.
I'm amazed at the common lack-luster effort many give to know the Jesus in the Gospels.
Sometimes "Christians" use Jesus as an excuse to pick and chose what we must do as New Testament Christians. Many like to cherry pick the passages that are palatable to their personal preference or sensibilities. But Jesus makes it clear from here on out - the standard is going up, not down. The law is going to be fulfilled through his life and death and resurrection, but it's not going away.
He even says in four verses: VERSE 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
In Christ, we have more from God and of God.
In Christ, our blessings far exceed that of the Covenant of Israel.
In Christ, we are given abundance beyond our belief.
Does that mean we give less? We serve less?
Woe to the Christian who confuses God's grace with leniency.
Christ gave His all! And He asks for nothing less from those who follow and believe.
So...
Do not think Christ is a way out of doing life on God's terms.
Do not think Christ is not demanding of our attention and full allegiance.
Do not think that following Christ is an easy comfortable endeavor.
Do not think of Christ in any way that He explicitly told us not to think of Him.
The stakes are much too high.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to know what Jesus didn't come to do as much as know what He did come to do. Forgive me for a picture of anything less in my mind than the REAL Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Thank you for bearing with my bad theology and misled understanding of WHO Jesus is. Help me to KNOW JESUS and DO WHAT HE SAID more than ever. Amen.
As much as Jesus came to reveal who He was and what He was here to do... He was equally clear at times what He was NOT here to do. In this case - He did NOT come to abolish the law or prophets.
I'm amazed at the common lack-luster effort many give to know the Jesus in the Gospels.
Sometimes "Christians" use Jesus as an excuse to pick and chose what we must do as New Testament Christians. Many like to cherry pick the passages that are palatable to their personal preference or sensibilities. But Jesus makes it clear from here on out - the standard is going up, not down. The law is going to be fulfilled through his life and death and resurrection, but it's not going away.
He even says in four verses: VERSE 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
In Christ, we have more from God and of God.
In Christ, our blessings far exceed that of the Covenant of Israel.
In Christ, we are given abundance beyond our belief.
Does that mean we give less? We serve less?
Woe to the Christian who confuses God's grace with leniency.
Christ gave His all! And He asks for nothing less from those who follow and believe.
So...
Do not think Christ is a way out of doing life on God's terms.
Do not think Christ is not demanding of our attention and full allegiance.
Do not think that following Christ is an easy comfortable endeavor.
Do not think of Christ in any way that He explicitly told us not to think of Him.
The stakes are much too high.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to know what Jesus didn't come to do as much as know what He did come to do. Forgive me for a picture of anything less in my mind than the REAL Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Thank you for bearing with my bad theology and misled understanding of WHO Jesus is. Help me to KNOW JESUS and DO WHAT HE SAID more than ever. Amen.
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