READ
Matthew 5:21-30
CONSIDER
In this next part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continues to challenge His followers to love God and to love others by redefining and reframing the laws through the lens of what is at the heart of His ministry: reconciliation. This is how Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. A legalistic obedience is not the righteousness that He desires for us, but rather to have a renewed heart that is lived in response to His love, completely changing the way we see and relate to others. They are no longer objects of our wrath and anger; they are those in whom we make peace and settle with. They are no longer objects of our lust, nor used for our pleasure and gratification; they are deserving of dignity, respect, and honour as image bearers of the Most High.
There is a fundamental change in our minds and hearts when we shift away from considering how far we can go before we fall into sinning and towards pursuing and proclaiming God’s reconciliation among us. The practices of confession open up ourselves to the Spirit’s healing and transformation towards this redirection and form us into people of His Kingdom. Under His reign and movement to make all things right, there is no longer room for anger, wrath, or lust, only His love experienced in and through a sacrificial and covenantal community.
Looking forward to being together and diving into our passage this Sunday,
Pastor Jon Nip
PRAY
Seek and know our hearts, O Lord, and uproot every last trace of sin. We confess that we have been antagonistic and angry toward others, held grudges and resentment, and have cut down others with our words through cursing and gossip. We confess that our hearts have sought to possess and use others for our benefit, making them objects of our desire and gratification. Gracious and merciful God, we repent of these distortions and ways that lead to death. Would your Spirit turn us around and give us new heart that resembles your own, seeking reconciliation and restoration in the way we relate to one another. Would the ways of Jesus be our focus and what we practice and would righteousness flow out of transformed mind and spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
DIVING DEEPER