Living In The Kingdom Of God | Matthew 5:17-20
Monday, January 27
Reading: Matthew 5:17-20
An Impossible Righteousness:
Most of us know the path to reward and achievement. Early in life, we learn that if we want something, we have to work for it, earn it, and secure it for ourselves. This important lesson is drilled into us at an early age and is super important for our growth and development. But when it comes to mature discipleship to Jesus, we sometimes bring a perspective of reward and punishment, earning, even acquiring, God’s favor by doing or not doing certain things. We may get trapped into thinking that our behaviors will influence, even force GOD to grant us a certain kind of life.
In his well-known, and important book, The Divine Conspiracy, author Dallas Willard said it like this:
One of the greatest problems of merit-based religion is the tendency to think we can control GOD by our good behavior (or be separated from GOD because of our poor behavior). Even with good intentions a difficulty often arises when we try to balance trusting JESUS to secure and redeem us, while at the same time engaging in spiritual practices that form us into the kind of disciples that bring honor and glory to GOD.
In his well-known, and important book, The Divine Conspiracy, author Dallas Willard said it like this:
The Law and the Prophets had been twisted around to authorize an oppressive, though religious, social order that put glittering humans—the rich, the educated, the ‘well-born,’ the popular, the powerful, and so on—in possession of God. Jesus’ proclamation clearly dumped them out of their privileged position and raised ordinary people with no human qualifications into the divine fellowship by faith in Jesus.
One of the greatest problems of merit-based religion is the tendency to think we can control GOD by our good behavior (or be separated from GOD because of our poor behavior). Even with good intentions a difficulty often arises when we try to balance trusting JESUS to secure and redeem us, while at the same time engaging in spiritual practices that form us into the kind of disciples that bring honor and glory to GOD.
Think about your own discipleship challenges
- Where do you struggle with the balance of trusting that Jesus has forgiven, redeemed, and secured you while also responding to his invitation to “be transformed”? (Romans 12)
- In what ways are you tempted to believe that your good behavior earns you points with GOD?
- How would the idea that GOD is not opposed to effort, only to earning change your perspective on discipleship to JESUS?
Grab your journal and jot down a few notes about your experience with these things. Take time to imagine GOD looking at you. What is that like? Does he look at you with hope, joy, love, and kindness? Or does it seem judgemental, condemning, frustrated, angry? If you are feeling really brave, share this experiment with a trusted friend.