| Lesson 14: The Law Of The Old That Is Covered In the New Testament: The Least In The Kingdom 2/05/2014 by turtle Matthew 5:16-20 KJV (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Have you ever thought what it means to be least in the kingdom. Few do I suspect. Most of us will be happy just to get through the pearly gates. Yet if our works were the only means of salvation we would fail. Those that break the ten commandments and teach men are consider the least in the kingdom. There is a standard in ministry that can not be undone. A standard among ministers that should not change. Men and women of noble character without wild living. People not without fault, but people not living seeped in the sin world. Often these people live private lives, reaching out to those they meet. They choose to live holy unto the Lord and not to the way of the sinful world. For these people to sin openly cost them not only their ministry, but there outreach to the lost. The main reason is people are looking for godly characteristics. Characteristics fitting to all that follow Christ. They are looking for ministers that practice what they preach and not ones that are living in contrary to what they teach. No one person sticks to every word they say or speak. If they did they would be God. To be consistent is to do the best by power of God flowing in one’s life, as one yields to the Spirit of God. The disciples of Jesus are called to be holy. However, though one is purged from sin from the day of salvation does not make one free from making a mistakes or necessarily yielding to temptation in their journey with God. What it means to be holy to God, is to live a life pleasing to God. To strive or to walk toward Jesus, and not away from the ways of God. It is having the cross of Jesus before us and learning to yield to the will of God and not the temptation of sin. We all yield at times in our life to temptation and we must learn to repent of these ins as well. It called going through the sanctification process of the cleansing through the word of God. We are all called to live holy as believers and to obey God’s commands. Jesus taught to obey the law. To live justified by the saving power of Jesus. Not by our works, or we might boast of our ability to save ourselves, which we can not do. The power of God working in our life as we yield to His Spirit and His ways. It is a learning process, no one does it right, we all fail, and we are all unworthy to teach the gospel, but God instructs us too. Our failings are lessons also as well as our good deeds. If we can learn those things we fail at are to teach both ourselves and others not to do, then we strive to work through and accomplish those goals. That why repentance and seeking forgiveness is necessary. Dear Heavenly Father help us to live in obedience to your commands, knowing first we saved by your grace and not our works. Help us to strive to be holy for you are holy. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com _ |
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