““Again, your ancestors were taught, ‘Never swear an oath that you don’t intend to keep, but keep your vows to the Lord God.’ However, I say to you, don’t bind yourself by taking an oath at all. Don’t swear by heaven, for heaven is where God’s throne is placed.”
Matthew 5:33-34 TPT
Jesus Raised the Bar for Godly living.
He was pointing to the Need of Himself.
It was no longer, actually never had been the perfect will of God for people to have a form of Godliness on the outside.
Jesus wanted a heart renovation.
This next verse was loud and clear to me today.
“Don’t swear an oath by the earth, because it is the rug under God’s feet, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King. And why would you swear by your own head, because it’s not in your power to turn a single hair white or black? But just let your words ring true. A simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ will suffice. Anything beyond this springs from a deceiver.”
Matthew 5:35-37 TPT
Anything beyond that, a simple yes or no,
springs from a deceiver.
Think about it. Who do we make promise us that they will be there? Or do this or that?
The ones who have not kept their word before.
I find myself doing that in my own life.
I’ve struggled to keep my Word.
Especially where time is concerned.
It’s hard to be several places at once, but for whatever the reason,
I’d rather try than just say no.
Who am I deceiving?
I’m the one deceived, when I feel I can’t say no.
I shared yesterday how the Holy Spirit illuminates and then when we agree, Jesus restores.
Here is what that looks like.
As I look in this mirror of the Word this morning, I’m being changed.
That’s what it means to walk in the light.
The Word is Light.
That’s how the Holy Spirit illuminates things for us.
We see Jesus, in His Perfection, and what we aim to be,
And then we dial into that by agreement,
Accompanied by Grace.
Jesus was pointing to Grace.
I could write an entire blog on this subject,
and then some,
But the meat of it is this:
Grace is like having a spotter while you’re lifting weights!
Jesus was showing a law enforcing generation that their standard was coming up short.
But their thoughts, much like mine, was how to get that new standard accomplished.
Grace.
Like check this out;
““Your ancestors have also been taught, ‘Take an eye in exchange for an eye and a tooth in exchange for a tooth.’ However, I say to you, don’t repay an evil act with another evil act. But whoever insults you by slapping you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.”
Matthew 5:38-39 TPT
How is that even possible without Grace?
Sure it looks good on paper, and we nod our heads in church,
But when was the last time we turned the other cheek when we got cut off in traffic?
Or even worse,
We’re treated unfair?
I see this in my kids,
so I know it stems from me…
When someone makes fun of them or points out a flaw,
The first thing is to crack something back at that person.
Right?
Wrong.
Jesus says, turn the other cheek.
Move forward, don’t get caught up in that.
It stems from insecurities.
Jesus was always addressing the root and not just the vine!
If we are secure in the Love of God, as Jesus was,
then we can respond as Jesus did.
He obeyed His Own teaching when they were pulling out His Beard, at the cross that day.
He did more than turn the other cheek,
He died for them,
Praying that the Father wouldn’t charge them with it.
Talk about raising the Bar.
We need Grace.
Simple as that.
Father,
I see what you’re showing me this morning. I come boldly into your throne, to receive Grace, appreciative that I can.
I want to look more like Jesus today than yesterday.
He’s worth it and so are you.
Not to mention, everything you ask of me is for my own good, and the good of others.
Thank you for a Thorough Work.
In Jesus Victory,
Amen
ThankFully Restored 