The First 15

Friday September 30, 2022

by Jan Davis

Today is Friday, September 30 and we are praying through the Sermon on the Mount.

Opening Prayer

Jesus invites me to come to Him and find rest for my soul, take His yoke upon me and learn from Him, drink from the well of Living Water and be filled, and sit at His feet and hear His voice.

Pause and Pray

My Lord Jesus, in the early moments of the dawning day, I come to You as invited. I come with a quiet spirit, bearing the weary burdens of my soul to rest in the joy of Your presence and abide in the glory of Your love. Amen.

Scripture Reading

The Lord is holy and righteous! In the morning, I lift my heart to worship Him with the ancient words of Psalm 29.

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:1-2

Pause and Pray

In the day of Jesus, the Scribes were professional students and teachers of the Jewish Law. The Pharisees were members of a largely lay movement of Judaism devoted to scrupulous observance of the Old Testament laws and Jewish legal traditions. Both the Scribes and the Pharisees could not be doubted for their strict attempt to obey even the most miniscule of the commandments. They would have kept the Sabbath, fasted twice a week, tithed the full amount, given alms to the poor, spent ample time reading scripture and been devoted to prayer. Yet, Jesus says my righteousness must surpass them.

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19-20

Reflection

How could I possibly surpass the righteousness exhibited by the Scribes and the Pharisees?I consider how often I have fasted, how many times I neglected the Sabbath and skipped church, how many times I skimped on my financial gift to the church, how often I let my Bible get dusty or ignored my daily prayer time. According to John Wesley, Jesus is calling me to exceed the practice of outward righteousness by fulfilling the spirit as well as the letter of the Law, by inward as well as outward obedience.* Real Christianity means a righteousness that comes from the Holy Spirit sanctifying me on the inside so that my obedience is wholly lived on the outside.

Ask: When I seek to obey Christ, do I do so in my own power or the power of the Holy Spirit?Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I recognize my poverty of spirit and know I am far from righteousness. Only You can make me holy through the power of the Holy Spirit. Cleanse me, purify my heart, sanctify my soul and fill me with grace to love. Grant me the desire to be fully obedient and provide the inner motivation to live an upright and holy life. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19-20

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage?What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

This morning, Jesus wants to speak to me and teach me through these words from His Sermon on the Mount. How do His words inform my current circumstances or answer a particular prayer on my prayer list?How has my righteousness fallen short of expectations?How many times have I set aside His commands?I name the emotions His words evoke in me. I consider how this passage makes me feel?I repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me and carry it throughout my day seeking fuller understanding.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, You call me to live a holy and obedient life and yet I often fall short. Come and remind me of Your great love and forgiveness. I invite the Holy Spirit into my heart to sanctify me from the inside out and give me the power to be wholly obedient and walk the narrow road to which You call me. Amen.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

*Resources: Sermons on Several Occasions, Volume II – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, by John Wesley, edited by William J. Abraham, 2021.

Closing Prayer

I leave this time of prayer seeking to live a life of obedience and holiness. I go to share the love and grace of Jesus with everyone I meet.

Amen

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