August 4, 2019
Evening Service

Jesus began this teaching telling the disciples that their “righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.”  He then began to explain to us the true meanings of the Law as He magnified it for us.  He, just like the song we sing asks, “open the eyes of our heart.”  He gave to us a new perspective of what it would take to follow Him.  Last week we saw the importance of keeping our faith active by asking, seeking and knocking.  God promises us that He will hear and that we will receive what we ask for, find what we seek and the door we are knocking on will be opened unto us.  Which means we can be as close to God as we make the effort to be.  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  (James 4:8) What we must be able to realize is that this newly magnified law that Jesus is revealing to us is not just guidelines for a successful life, they are commandments from the Lord.  “Love your enemy” is not just a deep theological idea that we study and try to understand, it is an action that we need to be doing in our life.  “Be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) Jesus asks us to demonstrate our love to Him through obedience, putting our faith into action.

John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

            The difference between our righteousness and that of the Pharisees is that we are doing it out of the love that we have for our Savior who gave His all for us and we now want to give our all for Him.  We are not doing it just to look religious, be good citizens or because have to, we do it because the desire of our heart is to follow Jesus wherever He leads us trying to be obedient to His commands along the way.  This brings us back to our study and one of the most famous verses from this teaching.

Mat 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

            I know I heard this scripture quoted towards me many times as I grew up in church and attended Sunday School.  It is often commonly called “The Golden Rule.”  I can still hear my mother and father not only quoting to me this scripture, but living it out in their lives.  Though this is great “life skill” to strive to attain, I want you to understand this morning that it is much more than that.  It is a command from God.  Jesus expects you to put this attitude into action at home, at work, and in every situation you find yourself in along life’s journey.  The transformation that occurs in our lives when we fall in love with Jesus affects how we treat others.  That has been a common theme throughout this teaching, but Jesus summarizes it very well right here.  And talk about magnifying the law, look how clear the whole meaning of the law has become to us.  “Treat others how you would like them to treat you;” even someone who is simple minded like me can understand that!  But yet it even goes deeper and more challenging than that as Jesus also takes this a step farther in John 15.

 

Joh 15:12-13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  (13)  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

            Jesus here goes to greater depths as we are not only to treat others as we would like to be treated, but love them as He loved us.  He then defines His love for us as He says “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  Jesus put no limits on what He would do for us as He demonstrated that by going to the cross and paying the tall price for our sins.  Just as Jesus magnified the teaching on forgiveness and commanded us to forgive because we have been forgiven, the same principle applies to loving others.  Jesus loves us more than we can even comprehend and proved it by his actions.  We now are also commanded to follow His example and love others in the same manner.  Is there someone in your life right now that needs that kind of love?  Are you loving them like Christ is loving you? 

This is indeed a huge challenge for us as there are some people in each of our lives that seem to be “unlovable.”  This is where the same power that gave Jesus the strength to be an overcomer and love us without measure, empowers us to do the same.  The Holy Spirit that abides in you will make it possible to do this as you yield your will to His.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) When we are unable, He will enable.  When we can’t He will.  When it is impossible for us He will make a way.  You may think that you are unable to love like this and you would be correct.  But through Christ, you can do all things!  Is it easy?  No way, it can be extremely hard and difficult!  It is His strength not mine trust Him to empower you!  The key is to choose to follow even if the path is narrow and it will be.

Mat 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  (14)  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.;

            Jesus does not sugar coat His call for us to follow Him and the challenges that lies ahead; “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way and there are few who find it.”  Following Jesus takes effort on our part.  The wide gate that leads to destruction is like the lazy river at the water parks.  All you have to do is get on your raft and let the current take you along your way; no effort and no decisions to make and easy ride and everybody is doing it.  The narrow gate is like swimming against the current taking great effort and resolve to make it and only a few are doing it.  I must choose to the path that leads to where I want to go.  In the Roman letter Paul told this:

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

            We are not to “conform to this world” and do as they do floating down the lazy river of life concerned only with ourselves.  We are to be “transformed” or changed into living a life of presenting ourselves to God as a “living sacrifice” set aside for doing His will.  We are to be swimming upstream and contrary to the direction the world is going. We are speaking truth when the world tells us to tolerate.  We are giving when the world says take.  We love when the world tells us to hate.  We have chosen the narrow path and are doing our best love others.  Later in this chapter 12 of Romans, Paul does a great job of explaining what it looks like to walk this narrow path and loving your brother.

                        Rom 12:9-18 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  (10)  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; (11) not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (12) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;  (13)  distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  (14)  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  (15)  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  (16)  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.  (17)  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  (18)  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  

            Your homework is to read Romans 12 and then look in your mirror and see what needs attention.  Put your faith into action by allowing the Word and the Holy Spirit to transform you into all that He has designed you to be.  Treating others just as you would have them treat you and then loving them as Christ loved you.  You are best imitating your Savior when we you are loving your brother.

 

Father open the eyes of our heart to areas in our life that need attention and help us to love each other just as You loved us.