A Personal Devotional Journal

I invite you to journey with me. Sometimes we will look at short passages of Scripture and I will give my first thoughts and impressions. Other times, I will just share my thinking about spiritual issues. Always, you are welcome to comment and add your thoughts. Together, we could learn something.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Matthew 23:1-12 "Trying To Get Noticed"

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.  The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses' Law.  So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don't practice what they preach.  They tie onto people's backs loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet they aren't willing even to lift a finger to help them carry those loads.  They do everything so that people will see them. Look at the straps with scripture verses on them which they wear on their foreheads and arms, and notice how large they are! Notice also how long are the tassels on their cloaks!  They love the best places at feasts and the reserved seats in the synagogues;  they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them Teacher.  You must not be called Teacher, because you are all equal and have only one Teacher.   And you must not call anyone here on earth Father, because you have only the one Father in heaven.  Nor should you be called Leader, because your one and only leader is the Messiah.  The greatest one among you must be your servant.  Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great.

Although Jesus speaks here about how Pharisees dress and what they want people to call them, He is not actually talking about garments and titles; rather, He is addressing motives and attitudes.  Hypocrites love to call attention to themselves.  Jesus tells us that this is not how the Kingdom operates.  Kingdom-minded people call attention to their King, not to themselves.  Accordingly, those who honor God are honored by God.  Those who exalt God are exalted by God.  This is not something we can fake or manipulate because God knows the motives of our hearts.

Be wary of "leaders" who call attention to themselves -something is amiss.  As with the Pharisees, these kind of people might sometimes be able to expound on Scripture and teach correct doctrine, but that does not make them worthy of honor.  People can be skilled teachers, or have spiritual anointings or operate in high-profile spiritual giftings and at the same time be arrogant and ambitious and self-absorbed.

Don't follow/honor/imitate anyone because of giftings and anointings -follow because of character and the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control) evidenced in his life.  Godly character can't really be faked -it only comes from walking with Jesus.

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