Verse of the Day 4/5

 

Matthew 5:19-20  "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.   The Message (MSG)

 

In today's modern, secular society people who are opposed to Christianity are doing their best to "trivialize" the Bible.  When a Christian will take a stand on something that the Bible teaches a common response is "what does it matter?"  The thought is if they can convince enough people that it doesn't matter it will just go, or fade, away.

 

Verse 18, below,  Jesus is reminding His followers then as well as us now, that the things written in the Bible from the Ten Commandments to His teachings here in the sermon on the mount and elsewhere recorded, will not only not pass away, but they will never lose their significance before God.

 

You may people say or may have thought yourself, that you can't be expected to do this or that.  There may be cultural reasons or excuses, we may no longer wash one another's feet, but we can serve others.  We may say that we cannot be expected to give to the poor every time that we're asked, but can we?  We can't be expected to go the extra mile can we?

 

As we prepare for worship this weekend may we reflect on what is being trivialized in our society, and more importantly, may we take a closer look at ourselves to see what we may be "trivializing" without even realizing it.

 

Don't trivialize God's Word, take it seriously.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 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 5:18-20

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 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.