Let’s simply sit at the feet of Jesus this morning and soak in all of the things he felt it was important for his followers to hear before he left them. Let’s start by sincerely praying the words of the psalmist:
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your
paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my
hope is in you all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5
GIVE: “…give to Caesar what belongs
to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” – Matthew 22:21
There’s an element of honesty here. As we live in a community, we cooperate
with the government and authorities by giving what is required of us. In the
same way, we live a generous and honest life with God, giving the tithe that is
required but also responding generously to anything He asks us to give.
STUDY: When the Sadducees asked him
a question about the resurrection from the dead, Jesus said, “Your mistake is
that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God”
(Matthew 22:29).
By studying God’s word, I increase my knowledge of the Scriptures and gain a
clearer understanding of who God is and how incredibly BIG He is! This
understanding helps me face any situation before me.
LOVE: When the Pharisees tried to
trap Jesus with the question of which commandment in the Law of Moses was the
most important, Jesus answered: “’You must love the Lord your God with all your
heart, all your soul and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest
commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two
commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).
The Law of Moses can be quite overwhelming with its 613 rules. But if we focus
on living our lives out of a deep love for God and love for others, the result
will be a life marked by holy living. Our walk becomes about our devotion to a
relationship rather than our commitment to a religion.
PRACTICE: When we love God with all
our heart, soul and mind, we live a life to please only Him rather than
focusing on pleasing people. Our religion becomes more than just what we say
but how we live. Unlike the Pharisees, we practice what we preach.
“So practice and obey whatever they tell
you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.
They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to
ease the burden. Everything they do is for show.” – Matthew 23:3-5a
BE HUMBLE: “The greatest among you
must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those
who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:11-12
Lord, give me a servant’s heart. Create in me a heart that only desires what
you desire. Lord, I want my life to be honest and generous, demonstrating a
love for you and a love for others. Show me YOUR ways. Teach me your word and
live through me in such a way that my life brings you glory, Father God. Amen.
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