For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Matt. 20
Contrast leadership as the Gentiles practiced it and as Jesus taught it to His disciples. Where do you want to be served rather than serve? The Bible Project videos often describe God’s kingdom as, “an upside-down kingdom”. This is because everything about God’s character runs contrary to our human nature. That is the basis for this whole concept of the last being first and the first last that Jesus has been talking about in the past couple of chapters. We base our worth on what we have rather than on what we give. We want those who work harder and longer to earn more. And we all vie for power and position so that we can have others serve us and give us what we want.
I believe the problem stems from a skewed perspective. As humans, we see life through the lens of self. Thus, we are always comparing ourselves to others and gauging everything based on ourselves as the point of reference. What Jesus teaches us, however, is that God and only God is the proper point of reference for everyone and everything. So we need to look at life through His lens, not our own.
When we change our reference point, we see things differently. We realize that we have nothing and are nothing without God. Thus, our worth lies not in what we have, but in what we give out of what God has given to us. Likewise, we know that our best efforts amount to nothing before our righteous God. So all that we receive is by grace, not earned, and there is no reason we should not desire others to also receive that grace. Finally, we understand that all authority belongs to God. Therefore, if He has granted us any authority here on earth, it is so we can use it to serve Him, not ourselves.
Jer. 7-8
What specific changes was God looking for in His people? God told His people, “Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.” (Jer. 7:3b). The “I will let you” part of God’s statement grabbed my attention this morning. It’s a subtle thing, but it seems different than if He had said something like, “you can”. What I mean is that God’s statement doesn’t really scream of any earning on the part of the people.
Our repentance doesn’t make us righteous, and thus deserving of being in God’s presence. What it does is allows God to change us and cover us with His righteousness through Christ’s sacrifice. God is more than willing to forgive our unrighteousness and cover us with His so that we can have life with Him. But that can’t happen if we aren’t willing to let Him have His way in our lives.
God’s people thought they were safe because they bore God’s name as His chosen people and because they had His temple, the symbol of His presence, in their midst. They failed to acknowledge, however, their own unworthiness of all of that. And so they proudly took the gift for granted and used it as an excuse to do whatever they pleased. Because of this God’s righteousness consumed them and thrust them out of His presence. The only way to be safe is to fear our righteous God with full knowledge that we are not worthy to be in His presence. Only then will He let us live with Him.
Ps. 118
His love endures forever.” What are some of the examples of God’s enduring love in this psalm? In your life? “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Ps. 118:1). I was hard pressed – He gave me relief. Because of Him, I look in triumph on The Enemy. He has become my salvation and turned my cries for help into shouts of joy and victory. I live because of Him. He has saved me and granted me success. He has made His light shine on me. “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.” (Ps. 118:28).