Genesis 11:1-13:4
Matthew 5:1-26
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 1:24-28
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
The sacrificial legal system which established the understanding of a need for sacrifice was not really able to save anyone. Jesus fulfilled that law. Jesus also clarified the law. The Jewish understanding of the intent of the law was all based on the outward appearance and actions.
Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law taught and lived as though that outward appearance and actions is what was important. They didn't understand that the heart is what mattered. Jesus is telling them that righteousness comes from a heart to do what is pleasing to God because of a faith in Him not from just doing the right thing. The outward appearance of righteousness does nothing for your eternal future.
Matthew 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
The gift, the sacrifice, the action, is useless without a heart surrendered to God. Without a heart made right. Making things right with someone who has something "against" you is not always easy. Especially if your heart is not in line with God. Recently I had a situation where a person who has a lot of mental and spiritual struggles that I had befriended and was helping was angry at me after I did something out of love for her and concern for her health and safety that she did not like. I met with her yesterday and had been praying for God to give me a right heart to know the best way to respond to her. Because the hurt human side of me wanted to try to convince her that what I did was right and to help her see that she was hurtful to me in the things that she did and said because she has a skewed view of what a friendship means. I thought that she may needed a hard truth to open her eyes to see that her expectations of friendship go both ways. I had been praying for God to guide me because if she needed truth I wanted to give it to her with love but if she needed grace I wanted to do it with a heart free of bitterness. Well on my way there I called Kino and God spoke loud and clear through him. I was reminded that I do not and cannot live up to the standard of friendship that God is capable of. He loves me and treats me as his friend even when I am more focused on myself than on Him. I realized that my idea that she needed to learn what friendship means was my own desire and from a wrong heart. Jesus shows me grace and love and that is what I should do as well. This wiped away any bitterness that I had and allowed me to treat her as though nothing had happened with love, and joy to see her.
I am so grateful that I have been so focused on God's word lately that my heart was wanting to do the right thing because if it hadn't been, last night would have been so different and would have likely had a really negative effect on her emotional and spiritual health. And I know that because there have been times that my heart was not right in other situations and that never works out for the best. I pray that instead my time with her yesterday helped her to see Jesus and feel His love. Thank you Lord!
Create in me a clean heart Lord and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen
Change my heart O God - https://youtu.be/IlSmG-_eJTU?si=rprGe2As6HsBHCs5
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am happy things worked out well. Praise God.