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Friday January 3 - Servant king
“...whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in
the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19
The religious leaders once tried to trick Jesus by asking which was the greatest of God’s laws. Jesus replied “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Mark 12:30-31). Pharisees prided themselves on meticulously keeping the many details of Jewish law and teaching others to do the same, but Jesus said that what really mattered was relationship, with God and one another.
Jesus explained to the woman at the well, “the Father is looking for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23), not through dutiful ritual but by the heartfelt giving of ourselves. He told his disciples, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). He poured out his life for the unwanted, unloved and uncared-for. He washed the feet of his disciples – a slave’s job. He went to the cross to fulfil God’s plan of salvation. What a wonderful king and how worthy he is of our love and obedience!
Holy Spirit, please teach us to worship and serve as Jesus commanded. We cannot do this on our own but only as you strengthen us. Amen.
Saturday January 4 - Only by God’s grace!
“...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees... you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
One word of caution as we reflect on Jesus’ commands to be effective salt and shining lights, to do good, and obey God’s word. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) says: ‘God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.’
It is not about the way we become Christians but how, as his disciples, we are to live. Pharisees went to phenomenal lengths to satisfy God’s Law, observing countless intricate rules, but Jesus said this would never remove their sin. Likewise, our good deeds cannot make us forgiven, earn the Father’s love and gain us entrance to the Kingdom. The only key to open heaven’s gates is the cross of Christ, because he alone kept all of God’s law and fulfilled his will. Jesus ‘surpassed the righteousness of the Pharisees’ by giving his life in obedience to his Father, to save us from sin and death.
As we understand this truth, and the glory of his utter beauty, goodness and kindness dawns on us, our desire to please him and humbly serve others grows. Good works flow from our worship and deepening concern for a hurting world. What we do for others we do for Jesus, and it will be remembered and one day rewarded.
Lord God, I came empty-handed to receive salvation and now thankfully I give my life to do your will. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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