Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Open your hands and shut your mouth

Friday, February 26, 2010

Matthew 5:19-24
Jesus says, "Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God."

Interesting that God seems to care about my brother so much more than I do. He would rather forego my worship and wait for me to make things right with my enemy than spend an hour being adored and praised. God's integrity is a cut above mine.

Surely he doesn't mean the dangerous, mentally ill, psycho "brothers." Hitler and such. Drug dealers and child molesters and the person who just cut me off in traffic with both his finger and his foot. The worst of these? How politically incorrect is that?

There are some people I disagree with so strongly that I don't want to talk to them. Does he mean them too? If I offer an olive branch they might take advantage of my weakness. Certainly they will not stop talking if I don't stop them.

Of course I know he means all of them. Being led by his example is what he insists on from me - that endless love and constant forgiveness He is famous for, with nary a moment for blame or grudge. When my grudge is shattered, let the chips fall where they may. God's in charge of what happens next.

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Go back far enough in defining meek and you get to "become accustomed to the hand." God wants to tame the strong and stubborn self he gave me, so he can take me on the ride of my lifetime. All I have to do is say "yes" instead of no.

Lord, if you kept a record of wrongs, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that is why you're worshipped. So I pray to you, Lord, my life a prayer, and wait for what you'll say and do. I wait and watch until morning, wait and watch until morning. For with your arrival comes love and generous redemption. --- Psalm 130, The Message

Devotions Archive

Open your hands and shut your mouth

Friday, February 26, 2010