Consider
the Division by Zero fallacy where all numbers can be shown to equal all other
numbers (as a reference, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_fallacy). I used this illustration with high school
students to demonstrate just how easy it is to be misled by someone you
trust. The students were speechless when
I concluded that 2 = 1, and by induction, 3 = 2 and so on. "Everyone you've ever known has lied to
you," I told them. "Your
parents have been lying to you; your church has been lying to you; your
teachers have been lying to you. I care
about you, and I will tell you the truth."
Dumbfounded, the students attempted to reason through what truth is. Mathematical principles are critical to philosophy
and to your life. If 2 = 1, then I
should accept religious universalism. "All
roads lead to heaven."
When
Jesus spent time with the disciples, He was influencing them as well. Imperfect people have shaky foundations for
their beliefs and worldviews, and therefore have the ability to form fallacious
arguments. Christ was perfect, and His
life was based on truth. Jesus addresses
the issue of truth many times in scripture, but perhaps none as profoundly as
in response to Pilate's inquisition, when He says, "… For this I have been
born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." There is no better instructor than Christ; He
will not lead us astray.
When Jairus, my son, was younger he had a video from the Max Lucado series Hermie. Hermie and Wormie are caterpillars in a
garden, and they have other bug friends.
In one episode, they are trying to figure out if they are special. They note the ant's strength, the ladybug's
beauty, and the snail's practical house-in-tow.
When they confront God, He responds that He is not finished with them
yet, and He is giving them a heart like His.
At the end, Hermie turns into a beautiful butterfly. God is working on each of us. He's not going to turn you into a butterfly,
but He is giving you a heart like His.
As you study His character and nature, you develop a sense of who He is,
and you become more like Him.
Week 2 – Blessed Attitudes
(Beatitudes) Part 1
According to your daily readings
this week, what is God's
standard for His people?
What does this standard really
demonstrate?
What did you find when you
evaluated your own life in response to how seriously you take God's commands every day?
Matthew 5:1-12 (NASB)
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He
went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2
He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This passage teaches us some key
characteristics that we should have in our daily lives. If we truly seek God's blessing on our lives, Jesus
tells us what character traits we should work on. "These Beatitudes, like Psalm 1,
do not show a man how to be saved, but rather describe the characteristics of
one who has been saved,"
(Liberty Bible Commentary, 1982, Vol 2, p 18).
These characteristics are not necessary
for salvation but demonstrate the lifestyle of one who is saved.
Nine
Characteristics Found in Believers (1-4)
Humility
"the poor in spirit" – This is the opposite of being
proud in spirit being humble. Jesus tells a parable (Luke 14:7-11)
referencing a principle found in Proverbs (25:6-7) demonstrating how we should
practice humility. Paul warns us not to
think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3). The fundamental nature of humility is
not self abasement but rather recognition of self insufficiency.
Repentant
"those who mourn" –This strange phrase is
generally believed to refer to those who mourn for their own sin and the lost
state of others. Psalm 51 records David's repentant mourning of his own
sin. When we truly understand the nature
of God, we are repentant and spiritually broken for our sinfulness.
Gracious
or Meek
"the gentle" – These are not only humble
before God, but also graciously submit themselves to God's authority in their lives. Titus 3:1-17 reminds us of who we were before
Christ saved us and who we should be in Christ.
Another word used for gentle is "meek".
Christ was meek. Many times we
confuse "meek" with "weak", but in reality, being "meek" could be better defined as "restrained power".
Think of the "Undercover
Boss". He has all of the ability to fire or promote
someone, but instead he submits himself to all kinds of insult until he finally
reveals himself. Christ did this when He
humbled Himself and became a human. He
was meek. He had all the power in the
universe, but He submitted Himself to earthly experiences. Gracious or meek people submit
themselves to demands for the ultimate good even when it is not obligatory
or pleasant.Hungry and Thirsty for God
"those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" – In scripture, on occasion prophets were commanded to eat the words of God (Ezekiel 3, Revelation 10:9). Jesus spoke of the need to eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:41-58). Also, Hebrews 5:11-14 indicts the audience in their lack of spiritual maturity. To be hungry and thirsty for God is to desire to have a deeper relationship with Him, and grow strong in spiritual understanding. The Psalmist says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good, " (Psalm 34:8). Peter tells us (1 Peter 2:1-3) to turn our backs on evil, and desire the milk of the word so we can grow, if we have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Week 2 Daily Readings
Monday
Read
Psalm 1. Are you
serious about seeking God? Is your
delight in following God’s commands? Do
you know or are you studying Gods’ commands?
How is your commitment to knowing and serving God demonstrated by your
work life, school life, family life, and church life? Why is knowing God’s law important? Are fundamental principles important to
determine logical and reasonable mathematical results? How much more important, then, is it to be
rooted and grounded in the Godly principles of life? This world will tell you that Christians
should live like this, that, or the other.
However, if you get your Christian principles from the world, you will
be a worldly Christian at best.
Tuesday
Read
Proverbs 25:6-8 and Luke 14:7-11. Being self-confident
is important in business, but humility does not mean lacking in confidence, it
means having an accurate understanding of who you are and who others are. It means respecting those in authority over
you. How do you practice humility? Do you yield or concede respectfully to other
people at appropriate times? Your value
doesn’t come from having a corner office, being the varsity quarterback,
driving the coolest car, or wearing the hippest shoes. Your value comes from Christ’s willingness to
die for you. When you understand this,
you realize that nothing in you is sufficient to please God, and you naturally
value others as more significant than yourself.
This is the nature of humility.
Wednesday
Read
Psalm 51. This is
a repentant heart crying out in desperation.
How long has it been since you were genuinely broken over your
sinfulness before the Almighty? Can you
stand in His presence? The Psalmist says
that his sin is “ever before him”. Are
you constantly aware of your sinful behavior?
Does the Holy Spirit convict you on a daily basis? If you are not struggling with sin and
temptation, you may need to evaluate your relationship with Jesus.
Thursday
Read
Titus 3:1-11. In line
with being broken over our sinfulness, we are to turn away from the arrogance
and self-serving actions of the flesh and be gracious toward God and
others. Do the negative character flaws outlined
here describe your lifestyle, or are you walking in the kindness of God and His
love for mankind? This passage lists
disobedience with hatred and lust. Many
times, we try to categorize and weigh our sins, but the truth is that God hates
all sin. All sin is contrary to God’s
nature. This is why knowing God’s law,
understanding our insufficiency, and being repentant lead us to being
spiritually broken before God. Are you
apathetic in your relationship with God?
Friday
Read
Hebrews 5:11-14. These
are harsh words. Are you guilty of being
lazy when it comes to studying God’s word?
In order to really be Christ like, we need to be diligent students of
God’s character. Are you seeking God,
studying His word, meditating on His principles, and living out His
commands? How does His design affect
your everyday life? Are you hungry and
thirsty for God’s righteousness? This
world suggests that many things will fill your appetite. Drugs, sex, alcohol, fortune, fame, friends,
video games, education, etc. all compete for your time and attention. However, the only thing that will truly
satisfy you is God’s righteousness. When
asked, “How much is enough money?” an extremely wealthy business man replied,
“One dollar more.” The desires of this
world will always leave you wanting more.
Christ is the only One who promises satisfaction.
