The Lord always has a standard for our behavior that is higher than anything we could have thought. I sometimes find it amazing. Actually, if I am totally open with you, there are many times I’d rather just simply follow the law of things than follow the heart of what Jesus wants.
In the book of Matthew, chapter 5, we find multiple times where Jesus uses this statement as He teaches. He says, “You have heard that it was said of those of old.” Then He follows those statements with these words “but I say to you.”
For example, Matthew 5:43 says, “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
When I hear that I wonder if the Lord really means what He says to us. I ask, “Lord, You say that You want us to love our enemies and to bless the people who curse us and to do good to those who hate us. Is this what you really mean for us to do, Lord?”
Every time I ask this question, He says, “Yes, I really mean it.” His silence tells me that He wants what is best and what is good for everyone, not just for me. He really means that.
People can be the opposite of that, especially those among us who may have some authority. Many will want us to follow the law, the rules, and the norms that they make. We end up serving the ways of man more than we serve the heart of God.
The Lord has a way of taking us beyond merely following the rules we make. He takes us to the place where we become the spirit of what of what no rule can make us. But to do this He knows that we must become very mindful of listening to the things we have heard others say.
Others want us to live under the idea of rules, norms, and laws because we cannot live together without these. But Jesus wants us to learn to live happily with rules, norms, and laws because we live happily in Him.
He really means it when He says to love our enemies. It makes our enemies more friendly towards us.
He also really means it when He says that if you are angry with anyone you are in danger of His judgment (Matthew 5:22). Anger develops when love is absent.
Again, He really means it when He says never to swear but just let your yes be your yes (Matthew 5:33-37). He wants us to be people of our words.
Here is what Jesus is saying:
- What good is it for us that we follow the law, but we still have hate in our hearts? How can we love when we hate?
- What good is it for us if we follow the law, but we still detest the law? How can we follow what we do not like?
- What good is it for us if we do what we have heard others say its okay to do, but we miss out on being who He says we should be? How can we really serve Him when we serve our own desires?
Does He really mean what He says? Well, the simple answer is yes, He does. We should never question that. What we should question is why on earth would we want to live according to what we have heard others say is ok to do.
The Lord wants us to live before others in a way that makes them wonder about who we listen to. When we learn to live happily above the things that would make us more like them, it will make them wonder if we really mean it.
Learn to listen more to Him than you do to them, and when He tells you something hard to believe, just remember, yes, He really means it.
Live a Delivered Life. Love you.
Live Delivered 