Verse of the Day 9/25

Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

If you've seen pharisees depicted in movies or perhaps paintings, you've probably noticed that they were dressed for the part.  Image being everything didn't start with Andre Agassi.  They were overly concerned with appearances and doing things  to be seen, following the "letter of the law" in public display but not the heart of the law in serving others and putting their interests in front of their own.  The gospels are full of examples of this.

Scriptures teach us that we can't please God through our own works our own efforts without faith, without trust without following His leading, "putting on Christ" with the backdrop of this sermon on the mount in mind.  Jesus was looking for a deeper relationship, something more radical that the rigid life of the pharisees.  The following verses go on to display what this looks like.  It is the heart that matters, we may measure ourselves against others and feel good about ourselves but Jesus  words in the this passage would quickly put us in our place.

Jesus is not so much interested in trying to uphold the letter of the law, He is looking for those who are willing to go beyond it, from the desire of the heart to be closer to Him, to have a "closer walk".

I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord, let it be

Is  it our desire to trust and obey?

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
   What a glory He sheds on our way!
   While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
   And with all who will trust and obey.
   • Refrain:
     Trust and obey, for there's no other way
     To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
   Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
   What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
   Never fear, only trust and obey.
3. Being "happy in Jesus" in this way will exceed the righteousness of the pharisees.
   

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Matthew 5:17-20The Message (MSG)

Completing God's Law

^17-18 "Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.

^19-20 "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.