Jesus, I Want to Love You Part 1Sample

HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS After Jesus lays out the Beatitudes—the path of righteousness—He explains that although He is establishing something new, He is not discarding the old but fulfilling it. His teaching is revolutionary, but not as man would think! The law pointed to Jesus; He is the fulfillment of it. The law pointed to the way of life, but Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the King of Righteousness! He is our righteousness, our very provision, the righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. He is the way. According to the Scriptures you read today, where does our righteousness come from? Prayerfully meditate upon each word of Matthew 5:18-20 and listen carefully, knowing that these are Jesus’ words to you. Please take them to heart. Jesus spoke very plainly to the scribes and the Pharisees before His ministry was completed on earth. Matthew 23 serves as a warning to us. I am sure they did not see themselves as He saw them. I pray that we don’t fall into the trap of being so “religious” or “rigid” in our thinking that we lose our relationship with Christ and our effectiveness with those the Lord has put in our lives. Our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees—we must be credited with Christ’s righteousness in God’s sight. Any other “righteousness” falls short. How can we respond now to Christ’s righteousness given to us? Don’t be afraid to preach the gospel to yourself (see Day 6) or to ask the Lord to shine light into your heart so that you can burn more brightly. He loves you and wants to gently show you where you can line yourself up more with His Word. Ask Him to help you see and obey the things He shows you.