January 14 Are you different?

Matthew 5:17-18 The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

The Ceremonial Law was given in Leviticus. Through these ceremonies, God taught us about sin, how sin offended Him and how we could sacrifice in certain ways to bring us back to relationship with Him. :…. and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22b). “Jesus fulfilled every part of the ceremonial law and we do not have to repeat these offerings today. However, the principles of the offerings reflect God’s character and remain valuable today.” BSF

To fulfill the Law took perfection. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48b) Be holy as God is holy. Is that something anyone besides the Son of God could do? Certainly not! So what do you do? How are you supposed to live? Is perfection, which is following all the Laws, the goal? I have heard that perfection is the enemy of greatness. One of the kids in the Confirmation Class I taught in 2007 wrote the Message on Perfection based on God’s Word in Genesis. She said that it was inconsistent for us to strive for perfection and giving 110% when God called His best creation, man (adam in Hebrew), very good. If very good was God’s rating, where do we, as the created, come off trying to go beyond that level to perfection? The only perfect One was Jesus and they hung Him on a tree! My Study Bible tells me that the purpose of the ceremonial law was to help us love God and teach us of His character. Jesus tells us the two laws we need (the summation of all the laws and the prophets) are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Is that what the world teaches; to love our neighbor?

First, God gave us only one law; don’t eat from THAT tree. Then, He gave us ten laws. The religious leaders expanded that to 600 + laws. What has been our track record with the law? How do you want to live? Do you think you can keep the law?

When people see you, what do they see? Are you just like everybody else or is there something special about you? Jesus was the reflection of God’s character. Our calling is to live according to God’s perfect will for us. Jesus clarified that to us teaching that it was the Spirit of the Law and not the letter of the Law that mattered. It was a new way of understanding the Law to bring us back to the original purpose of loving God. We are to reflect the fruits of the Spirit. What are you reflecting? Whom do you follow? What light do you cast into the dark places? Are you different?

Father, we cannot be perfect on our own by following the Law. It is hopeless if that is our way. But Your way is better. You gave us the gift of Grace in Your Son. Help us to follow Him the best we can and remind us of Your grace which takes us where we cannot go on our own. It takes us to You! Thank You for that grace and Your love for us. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!

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