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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 6, 2005 Be A Good Example |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, March 6, 2005 By Anne B.
Crawford
Matthew
23:13-22
Jesus is angry. It didn’t happen often or at least it didn’t get
reported on all that often in scripture. We would all prefer to focus on
Jesus as teacher, healer, and lover of humankind – but not in today’s
reading. Jesus is really ticked off at the Pharisees. It’s easy to
see why. In the previous chapter of Matthew, the Pharisees, religious
leaders of the time, are trying to trick Jesus and get him to say something that
will get him in trouble with their interpretation of God’s laws. Looking
at the Pharisees as the bad guys is easy and natural. They were legal
hair-splitters, purposefully twisting God’s word (and law) to meet their own
selfish needs. There’s nothing like attacking or misrepresenting a
parent to get a strong reaction from the parent’s child. Jesus does
react and fires back that God’s word doesn’t bend to the Pharisees’ will;
God is watching and will hold them to account.
Whew – glad that anger isn’t directed at us. But wait, don’t we all
get tempted sometimes to use or misuse God’s word to serve our own human
purposes? It’s so easy to point to someone else and say ‘You’re the
culprit – you’re the one distorting God’s message and leading others
astray.’ But what about ourselves?
The Pharisees got slammed because they were supposed to be teachers and examples
of the law. But honestly, aren’t we also called to be teachers and
examples by Jesus’ great commission to go out and make disciples of all
nations? What distortions, arrogance and hypocrisies have we also
perpetrated in the name of Jesus? It’s a sobering thought. If you
think Jesus’ words were directed just at the Pharisees and you’re off the
hook because you’re not a religious leader – think again. Jesus is
also warning us – that’s you and me – not to misrepresent God to ourselves
or anyone else. God is God and we are accountable for how we represent him
and his Word to others.
Prayer:
Dear God, when we are tempted to make your Word fit our will, open our eyes and
hearts to your truth and give us courage to continue to speak your truth and not
our own desires. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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