“Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:18-19).
These commandments instruct us about our behavior toward others. Do we respect others and treat them the way we want to be treated? It isn’t just about how we treat others, but also about realizing that I am no different than my neighbor. They are equal in God’s eyes, and we are to treat others, no matter who they are, the way we want to be treated. Respect others and protect them.
Lord, I want others to respect my property, be honest with me, and live faithfully in the community. What I expect of others I should expect of myself. In this age, we are tempted to think of ourselves as special. In a very real way, we are all in the same situation. We are what we are. So help me to have a new way of thinking and to see in others what You see in them. Guide me in the way of true life and how to live it.
Lord Jesus, I need the forgiveness that only You can give me. I have taken from others, not been honest, nor given honor where I should. Take me from where I have been to where I need to go. Guide me in the way of eternal life and help me to see others the way You want me to see them. Teach me how to love my neighbor. Guide me to live life as You know I need to live it, here, now, and forever. Amen.
Jeffray,
I’ve really enjoy reading your daily devotions. I like the fresh and often unique perspective you give on scripture and our response to God’s word. If I was allowed a, hopefully, constructive criticism, I’d like to suggest challenging yourself into a “broader bandwidth.” You are so insightful on our need to confess, repent, and realize we aren’t God and need God. Yet, you seem to skirt around the height and depth and breadth of God’s grace. I often walk away from these devotions with a sense of “how can I do better?” rather than “how can I just rest in the arms of God’s grace?”- not because I’ve earned that rest or dutifully and completely repented of everything that makes me restless… but just because God is good, and gracious and his steadfast love endures forever. Your explanation of the need for God’s Law is absolutely solid, I’m hoping you can strengthen it with an equally solid exposition of God’s Grace.
Mike,
I always appreciate κριτική (critique). When I began these devotions over twenty years ago, they were, so to speak, Luther Lite. In an age of rampant semi (and full) Pelagianism, I have been led to focus on the singularity of seeing Jesus in every verse of scripture. I have written other things that dive into what you are talking about, but specifically to the point you ask, what is not God’s grace? It’s like what I said to a friend in another of the rooms in the Father’s house (that loves to spell out what and what not to do) when he asked me about spiritual warfare, looking him straight in the eye, I said, “It’s all spiritual warfare.”
Resting in God’s grace is completely trusting the only One who is trustworthy. Of course, battling against the forces of darkness daily that love to get us wound up, it is impossible to rest fully in God’s grace except this one thing: He who is greater than me is leading me ever forward. I am working all things as though it were dependent upon me knowing full well that it is God who does the work. That is His grace!