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Today's Scripture ~ Matthew 5.20 (NLT)
But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
Wisdom Saying
The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is saying, "If you are My disciple, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives, your aspirations, and in the deep recesses of the thoughts of your mind." ... [This] purity ... is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus has undertaken to do ....
No one can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations ~ He gives us His teachings which are truths that can only be interpreted by His nature which He places within us. The great wonder of Jesus Christ’s salvation is that He changes our heredity. He does not change human nature ~ He changes its source, and thereby its motives as well.
*Oswald T. Chambers. My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today's English. Ed. James Reimann.
Comments
The difference between Christian spirituality and Christian religion alone is clear. True, spiritual Christianity is distinguished by an inner transformation of the wellspring of motives. This is by Grace; that is, an inward birthing flowing from and consummating in the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit.
Christian religion apart from this transformative process fails to touch the wellspring that makes actual your being right in God and able to receive eternal Life. This is so regardless of how many good deeds you do or how right your claim to correct religious belief.
Oswald T. Chambers clarifies what we must have to receive and enjoy eternal Life: a "new heredity." This teaching Jesus Christ gives us in John 3.5-7 (WE):
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. This new birth is by water and by the Spirit. No person can enter God's kingdom if he has not been born that way. That which is born of a person [lit., the flesh] is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. You must not be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'"
Suggested Reflection
1. What does it mean to say, "Christ teaches us that right being must precede right doing?"
2. Have you experienced a spiritual rebirth? If you have any doubt on the matter, I invite you to pray a simple prayer of surrender of your total self to God~in~Christ. Following is a prayer of surrender to the Love of God~in~Christ.
Dear Christ, fill my life. I surrender all I am to all You are. I accept You love me unconditionally. I accept You only what what is best for me. Lead me. Grant me the joy of eternal Life, now. Teach me how to walk in Your way. Teach me how to receive Your love, daily, and share it, always. In Christ's name, Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer and sincerely affirmed it in trust of Christ, please send a message to the e-mail below... at "Submit Query"...
See next page for Invitation to writer's contemplative village, purpose of OneLife, data on ordering author's book and upcoming devotionals 2008, and material on citations.
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