Sunday, June 28, 2015

Righteousness


 
                                                                      Matthew 5: 1-20

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 Bless the poor in spirit, not financially poor but spiritually poor because you have given your all for our Lord, your tithes and offering, your love and compassion, your coat off your back, and have been talked about, lied to, and reviled because of our God.  You didn’t lie, cheat, or steel, because you stood for righteousness and pure justice for all, as God does.  You have been that peculiar one who didn’t follow the world and stood on the principles, oracles, and commandments of God.  You have been a soldier for Christ, and ambassador for your community, the violent who used the wisdom and knowledge from God to take the demons off of our brothers and sisters by force, making a way for our Lord to rest upon their hearts, and clean up their environment.  The word is out, and the laws have been set in stone, and now it’s up to us to enforce them (Reflecting on verse 19).  Remember Romans 12: 1-2, present yourself as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is our reasonable service, and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  We are to do this so that we can discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable before God.  Let your righteousness show, and light up our world. 

 

God bless us with His light. 

 
Vincent Young, Christian Analyst

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