For Such a Time As This

 

This week Michael writes that Jesus taught the multitude at the Sermon on the Mount that the life of a disciplined follower of Christ is through the narrow gate and in the narrow way. Jesus Christ himself is the Way, the Truth and, the Life. In Matthew 5:36-48 Jesus continued his teaching. His message was upside-down from the teaching of the Pharisees. Jesus said, you have heard it said that you should love your friends and hate your enemies. But I say unto you love your enemies; bless them that curse you, slander you, and despitefully use you.  

Why? Because tribulation works patience and patience experience and experience hope, and hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is made manifest in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. The important thing is to think, respond, and act according to Christ’s heart behind our heart. When we act and react from a heart of the love of God, love covers a multitude of sins. The way to defeat your enemy is to make them your friend. Jesus Christ himself is the one who reconciles our hearts together in the unity of the spirt in the bond of peace.

How do we tolerate turning the other cheek when we’ve been slapped? How do we go the second mile when we’ve been unjustly compelled to go the first mile? According to Philippians 2:5, let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. He humbled himself and became obedient, even unto death on the cross. He for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and is set down upon the right hand of the throne of God.

The beatitudes are the godly attitudes. These attitudes are upside-down from worldly attitudes. These attitudes start with humility …. Blessed are the poor in spirit who mourn over the sin that separated our hearts from God’s heart. Blessed are they who are meek to be taught by the true Word of God. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst not for the things of the world, but for God’s righteousness ... the righteousness of God in Christ. For He who was without sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. An attitude of gratitude for God’s gracious gift of His Holy Spirit is the prerequisite for loving and praising God through our thoughts and actions. The love of God is manifested in walking in the Spirit of life in Christ … His hands behind our hands, His feet behind our feet, His eyes behind our eyes as we are motivated by His heart of love and service behind our heart.

 

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

In an upside-down world, to live is to die to self. To be a leader is to humble our hearts to become a servant. To be “set free” is to be bound by the bond of love as a bondservant of our Lord. The ultimate victory is the ultimate surrender to His will. We have been called to liberty, which is the greatest freedom is to live captive to Christ. To be “lifted up”, is to be abased and to condescend to men and women of low estate. God is not impressed with our knowledge of the Word, for knowledge puffs up; it inflates our egos. In contrast to knowledge, love builds up. We’re called to edify, to encourage, and to love with the mercy, grace, kindness and peace of the Prince of Peace. As the people of God whom He has called for such a time as this, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

 Your brother in Christ, Michael