This week, Michael writes: Jesus’ sermon on the mount encourages us to look at ourselves in the mirror and see what’s really in our hearts. Jesus said, seven times “You’ve heard it said... but I say unto you...”. When we see the truth through Christ’s eyes behind our eyes, then we will see that the world is upside down from the truth of the Word of God. The world says you should get even with those who’ve wronged you. But Jesus said, if someone steals your clothes, then give him your coat also. If someone slaps you on the cheek, then turn the other cheek. When we live for the god of self, we cannot live for the true God.
The devil appealed to Eve’s selfish ego in the Garden of Eden. He questioned the love of God and the word of God. He said, If you disobey God and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you won’t need God. You’ll be like God ... don’t trust God, he doesn’t love you. He wants you to remain ignorant. Trust your own knowledge and intelligence. Then you can worship yourself instead of God. The devil has been preaching the same lie ever since and the world has fallen, worshiping the god of self.
Pride goes before the fall. In the midst of a fallen in sin world, Jesus said, don’t think less of yourself, think nothing of yourself. As the Apostle Paul said, in my flesh that I inherited from Adam’s fall, there is no good thing. Jesus said, in order to be my disciple, then forsake yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me. In order to follow in the way he has prepared for us, we must crucify the old nature that we inherited from Adam. Then we can follow the Lord from a heart of love, meekness, humility, joy, and thankfulness. In an upside down world, Jesus contrasts the beautiful attitudes of the spirit of life in Christ with the worldly attitudes of the flesh. The Sermon on the Mount separates Christ-followers from the followers of the god of this world ... those whose eyes the devil has blinded lest the glorious light of the gospel of truth should shine unto them.
It’s not about the cost, the pain, and the suffering of following Him ... instead it’s about the value of following the Lord from a heart of love. We cannot love like Jesus loved without His valuable gift of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of life in Christ is different from the life of the fallen flesh we inherited from Adam and Eve. God loved us before we could love Him. The love of God is not of this world. His love is the motivation for the Spirit that He gave to us as the perfect gift, paid for by the innocent blood of Jesus Christ sacrificed on our behalf. He loved us not because we were deserving of His love, but because love is God’s nature, not ours. We can love Him only because He first loved us ... For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
A man and woman of God’s desire is to learn to love and live like Jesus. A follower of Christ says, I want to learn to become just like my Lord. Colossians 2:6-7 says, As you have received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him. Rooted and built up in Him and stablished in the faith as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Let's continue Michael's message about living in an upside-down world on the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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