Selfless or Selfish
A major theme of the Sermon not the Mount is the spiritual life in Christ characterized by supernatural selflessness. Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. After he taught them the beatitudes Jesus said, You’ve heard it said…. they had been taught by the Pharisees who were zealous for the letter of the law. However, the Pharisees did not understand the spirit of the law. Jesus came to deliver a new law of the spirit of life in Christ.
Jesus said, You have heard about the law of sin and death… an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you love your enemies, bless them who despise you and persecute you. As the Apostle Paul said, it’s not I, but Christ who lives in me… I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Jesus continued, if you only love those who love you in return, don’t even the hated tax-gatherers do that? Perfection is not in the nature of the flesh we inherited from Adam… the love of God is upside down from worldly motives. The world teaches that we should make regular deposits into a resentment bank. When those we live with, work with, and associate with offend us and use us, don’t get mad, just get even. Store up resentment and with a heart of vengeance and retaliation, seek “just retribution.” However, Jesus said, if someone slaps you on the cheek, then turn the other cheek. If someone steals your clothes, then give him your coat also. Love your enemies, do good to those who slander you, speak evil of you and despitefully use you, for great is your reward in heaven.
Forsaking our sinful selves and mourning over the sin that has separated our hearts from God’s heart is the beginning of approaching God’s throne of grace. With a heart of meekness and humility we can relinquish our own lives under the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he will give us his nature… the nature of the spirit of God in Christ in us the hope of glory.
The gospel is a paradox. It’s discouraging to the flesh but encouraging to the holy spirit of His righteousness. Jesus is come for the rising and the falling of men… the difference is whether we confess Him as Lord… as master of our lives as born again believers of the truth of the word of God made flesh.
The average Christian guy has one foot in the church and one foot in the world. He has not committed his way unto the Lord. He has difficulty with understanding the unconditional love of God. He struggles with admitting that he is weak in his own power. He is anxious and worried over the things of this world that consume his time and energy…. his family, his work, his marriage, and his relationships. He is unwilling to work on his marriage and an intimate meaningful relationship with his wife. Even though he has been to Christian retreats and has participated in small group meetings, he feels like he should throw in the spiritual towel because the things of the spirit haven’t made a difference in his life. He questions his salvation and feels like a loser when he’s around devout dedicated Christian men. He’s uncomfortable on spiritual turf and cannot identify with the preacher’s message. He avoids situations where he will be called on to pray or share something from the Word. He has a hard time trusting other men and does not have a best friend. The average Christian guy is a casual Christian. Casual Christians become casualties in the spiritual battle.
After a message, Pete approached a man who was standing in the back of the church. He asked him, what’s on your mind? The man answered, this morning I woke up and found a note from my wife that said, If you want to save this marriage then go see Pete. Pete asked him, Are you willing to do whatever it takes to save this marriage? The man searched his heart and then answered honestly, Probably not.
What is the distinguishing feature of a Christian man? What does the Christian man do more than others? After Solomon had written the book of Ecclesiastes, his treatise about the vanity and emptiness of this world’s empty promises, he came to this conclusion: Fear, respect, honor and love God and keep his commandments… for this is the whole duty of man. As the Prophet Micah said, And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
The Lord’s bondservant must not strive… he must not be quarrelsome but be kind to all, apt and able to teach, patient, gently correcting with the Word of God those who oppose themselves. … for it is the kindness, goodness, grace and mercy of God that calls a man to repentance. Jesus said, come unto me all ye who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…. for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
That we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
