A Life Worthy

It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 5:31-32).

People use these verses to formulate or justify their views on divorce and adultery and remarriage and that’s fine, because the verses address that,

but  

they’re really about so much more.

Remember, Jesus is talking to those of us who get caught up in the minutiae.  Those who want to dot the “I” and cross the “T” and thread the needle and ignore the big picture.

Jesus never ignores the big picture.

Jesus is the big picture.

Marriage is more than the relationship between husband and wife, as important as that is.  It is a picture of the relationship between Jesus and his Church. As such, it is eternal. Today’s society can be pretty flippant about marriage.  If a couple “falls out of love,” if they “grow apart,” they can get a divorce and go their separate ways. Jesus is making sure we understand that marriage is not something to casually toss in the wastebasket.  Two become one; tearing them apart is a kind of death.

Look, I know that divorce happens for a lot of reasons, and it’s not always an easy choice. Sometimes people are not given a choice. I’m not trying to minimize that, nor am I throwing blame on anyone.  We live in a world that is broken, and that brokenness shows up in relationships. When it does, it brings pain and fear and loneliness and aching emptiness.

In a way, I think those who have suffered divorce can come closest to identifying with Jesus on the Cross.  The relationship that is closer than any other has been ripped from you, often without your desire or consent.  You are left broken and exposed and very, very alone, wondering

Why have you forsaken me?

Take comfort, Beloved, in the fact that there is One who will never leave you, never forsake you, never divorce you. He chose you long ago, and he never makes mistakes or changes his mind. You are his, and he is yours, now and forever.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28).

Well, isn’t this a lovely thought to start your day?

Jesus is talking about the relationship between husband and wife, and telling us that fidelity is a matter of the heart and not just the hands.  On its own, that message is as timely today as it was in the first century. But Jesus is addressing more than the marriage relationship here. He is refocusing the philosophies that his listeners had grown up with.  The Mosaic law that the Jews followed was external–what you ate, what you touched, where you went. Jesus is saying that God requires so much more than that. Love in God’s eyes is a matter of attitude, not just action.  Jesus is continuing the process of, “Not abolishing…but fulfilling” that he began way back in verse 17. And he’s just getting warmed up.

Fasten your seat belt, Beloved.

This might get bumpy.

Happy Tuesday

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).

Oh, come on Paul.

Can’t I just pray and worship and love God without dealing with…you know…them?

Seriously, Paul, you don’t understand the situation.  You have no idea of the pain and frustration and betrayal and backbiting and desertion that went on.

If you knew what they have done…if you knew what I have done…

What’s that, Paul?

If I knew what Jesus has done…

But I do know what Jesus has done.

Oh

Beloved, it’s easy for words like apologize, and repent, and humility, and forgiveness to remain abstract concepts when we restrict them to our relationship with God.

That’s why he gave us…you know…them.

It’s in relationship that we really learn to love.

So, set down your gift

and take up your cross

and live what you profess.

Today, Beloved.

Happy Friday

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 5:20).

Well, I guess you’re not going to Heaven.

No offense–neither am I.

At least not in our own strength.

Jesus saw these people doing their utmost to follow the letter of the law.  They dotted every I, crossed every T, strained every gnat.  But it wasn’t enough. It never could be. And, they focused so hard on the minutiae that they missed the big picture–

God’s righteous.

Our wretchedness.

Beloved, are you still trying to do this on your own?  Seriously? Still hoping that if you just work a little harder or read a little closer or pray a little more intensely that you will arrive?

You know it doesn’t work that way.

You need the righteousness of Christ.  And hey, good news! He’s got enough to spare, and he’s willing to share if you’ll just ask him.

Enough righteousness to get you into Heaven.

Enough righteousness to get you through today.

So go ahead, ask him.  I’ll wait.

…

There, that’s better.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

I wrote this post a few years ago, but it sure seems to fit today. So…

You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven  (Matthew 5:14).

This little light of mine, I’m gonna…

Sorry.

You know, sometimes I don’t want to let my light shine.  It just seems so little, so dull—I can’t imagine anyone glorifying God because of it.

I’m sure you never feel that way.  Just humor me.

I am writing this from atop Zanja Peak, a wannabe mountain a few miles from my home.  It’s 11:00 PM, and I’m in the middle of a night hike. As I worked my way up here, I remembered something. Nature gets dark at night. Really dark. So dark that if Mandibles of Death, the fluffy yet vicious golden retriever, weren’t with me, I might be a tad trepidatious.

I have a headlamp, and yes I do look silly wearing it.  That’s not the point. The point is, at home the light looks pretty mild.  Wimpy, really. I sometimes have to double check to make sure it’s on. Out here, in the ohsovery darkness, it’s a different story.  As I hike along, if I hear something go bump/slither/growl/snarl in the night, I click my trusty headlamp and the world is ablaze with light.  It’s so bright that my night vision is ruined for several minutes, which can be an adventure all its own, but that is also not the point.

This world is pretty dark, spiritually speaking. That little light of yours may not be much to you.  To a lost soul, it may seem like the very glory of God.

Which, in a way, it is.

Shine for him today, Beloved.

Happy Monday.