Lenten Devotional
The reading for today is the bulk of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. These passages are some of the most most difficult and blessed passages in the New Testament. For these passages ring of great hope of the lowly and hopeless. But they also speak of great demands on the life of one who follows after what God desires.
the first chapter we read is the great list of blessings. We can probably find our self in at least one if not more of the blessings listed by Jesus. Who has not mourned a loved one or fells meek. We gain a connection quickly and acknowledge in one way or another a blessing will be coming for us in the life to come.
Jesus soon turns from a great blessing to mighty teachings. We are left in trouble and frustration. For what is to come seems gravely hard to follow. Jesus is not just asking the hearers to follow the current laws of Judaism, they are being asked to go even farther.
Jesus tells people to cut out and off body parts if they even think or look in ways that are contrary to law. What I think is that Jesus is coming to a point on what the foundation these very specific rules demand. By the end of chapter five, Jesus makes a statement on oaths, "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Then he teaches on giving more than required. When demand the cloak give them your tunic. There is something greater to come by following. The life of a follower of Jesus will be profoundly different. This is what what the foundation of the Old Testament Law in ancient times. The follower of Jesus is called to stand out for following in fantastic ways.
We finish our reading today with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. For one had built on the sand while the other built on the rock. The one who listens and follows the teachings is like the one who builds on the rock. When the rains, winds and storms come through, the house will stand. Everything Jesus just presented was hard and difficult. Some was even radical to the people listening. Some is radical for us today. But when the storms of life and society come through, the person built on the rock will withstand. May this be our building foundation.
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