Scott Lane – Page 5 – The Everyday Prayer

Man’s Heart and God’s Glory

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 6:1–8, 16–18 (day five) Anyone else notice the possible contradiction in the preaching of Jesus? Just a few verses before, He says, “Let your light shine before men.” And yet in our Re:verse text, He says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” Why would He seemingly be saying two different things? One is commanded and the other is prohibited.

If we look more closely, we realize that Jesus is confronting the sinful tendency of the human heart. He is calling out two particular sins- cowardice (in the earlier passage- that would keep our light from shining) and vanity (in this week’s text- that would cause us to want to be seen and get recognition). So, how do you know which is which? What is the litmus? I believe the telling issue is the Glory of God. We must answer the question that comes from both passages, “Who gets the glory?” Is it God or man? Our heart’s desire should always be that by what we do and where we do it, that God, not man, be glorified. This discerning ability demands constant communication and engagement with the Lord- a vibrant personal relationship with Him. Perhaps a worthy resolution for the new year.

Loving with Words

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:33-48 (day five) ”But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,“
Jesus is teaching a complete perspective of what loving really is, and who our neighbors really are. Certainly loving through our deeds is a natural and understandable application. “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” Luke 6:27. Jesus modeled this for us. See Romans 5.

Jesus also preaches, we are to love with our words- our prayers. Maybe the more difficult assignment. “This is the supreme command… through the medium of prayer we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer And didn’t Jesus model that very same thing on the cross? “Father forgive them…” Oh that our words and prayers would shape our thoughts and hearts to love all of those around us.

“It is impossible to pray for someone without loving him, and impossible to go on praying for him, without discovering that our love for him grows and matures. We must not, therefore, wait before praying for an enemy until we feel some love for him in our heart. We must begin to pray for him before we are conscious of loving him, and we shall find our love break first into bud, then into blossom.”- John Stott

Greater = Deeper

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:17-32(day five) “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.“

The ticket for admission into the Kingdom of Heaven now includes a righteousness greater than the Scribes and Pharisees. Wait? What?!! Their righteousness must somehow be better than the professional rule writers and keepers. How could this be possible. Is Jesus trying to rewrite or undo the Law in order for them to have access to the Kingdom? Well, according to Jesus Himself, absolutely not. Then how can the righteousness of His disciples be greater? Jesus enlarges the focus of obedience from strictly external to also include internal. It is greater because it is deeper, moving from just behavior to also mind and motive- a “heart righteousness”. The prophets wrote and signaled this truth long before. “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it;“ Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭33‬ ”I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,“ Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭27‬ ‭

With God’s work and wisdom (His Spirit in us) we now have access and opportunity for the greater righteousness that Jesus teaches.

Place and Purpose

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:13-16 (day five)

What if you heard these words of Jesus for the first time in the context and culture of the society of Jesus days on earth?

As Jesus continues this sermon, He speaks directly to His followers. You are salt. You are light. I doubt they had ever been told they could be of any use in religious matters. Weren’t smart enough. Weren’t righteous enough. Weren’t trained or educated enough. Then all of a sudden, the message is clearly communicated. There is a place for you in the Kingdom of God. There is a purpose for you in the Kingdom of God. There is potential for you in the growth and mission of the Kingdom of God. What an amazing message for them and for us!! We have the same place, potential, and purpose in the Kingdom of God right here, right now. This is who we really are. Hear the hope and opportunity for each us in Jesus words- You are salt! You are light!

Jesus’ Words

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 5:1-12 (day five)

“He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,”
Can you imagine hearing Jesus’ words found in Matthew 5-7 for the very first time? Having been recently recruited to follow Him. The intensity of the growing onlookers- continuous healing, teaching, and preaching. Being with Jesus as He retreated from the large crowds. Him sitting down and encouraging/challenging them- reshaping and clarifying the perspective and possibilities of a life that is pleasing to God. It was revolutionary!! There’s hope in these words. There’s opportunity in these words. There’s wisdom in these words. There’s life in these words.

Let’s look and listen intently for the next 13 weeks at these words. May we come to the same conclusion that Peter did, “Lord… you have words of eternal life.”May we find hope, wisdom, and life from the “Sermon on the Mount”.

Free but Not Cheap

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:11-18 (day five)

“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

I suspect (like me) your email, texts, and all other forms of communication have been prepping you to be ready for today- Black Friday. The busiest shopping day of the year. Bargains. Discounts. Sales. “Cheapest prices all year”.

Paul makes it abundantly clear that this perspective and marketing does not apply to salvation. Salvation is the most costly gift- the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. Free gift (to us) but not cheap. Paid in full by Jesus. And if it cost Christ, it will and should also cost us. “Take up your cross and follow me”. Jesus offered no discount to us. No sale or partial pricing offered in obedience. All your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30). The cost of salvation is never lessened or lightened- on His end or our end. Yet, is it the only way to find life. Real and joyful life. Just like His.

Load

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 6:1-10 (day five)

“For each one will bear his own load.” Paul is eliminating the “comparison game”. The word for load (kind of a backpack) is different than the word for burden (heavy weight). Paul is teaching that each of us is given a load to bear by God- difficulties, opportunities, weaknesses, gifts. If they are given by God, we are accountable to Him for the way in which we bear the load. The expectation, His expectation, is our obedience in bearing our individual loads. Is there community, fellowship, sharing? Of course, yes. But, with the emphasis on obedience, our focus moves from ourselves (conceit, selfishness) and from others (envy, jealousy) to the Lord. We seek and strive to please Him. Then as we look at our own progress in that light, we can be both humble (not comparing) and generous (knowing others have a load they must bear).

“Our task is to carry our individual load… in a way that pleases God.”- Tim Keller

In Step

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 5:16-26 (day five)

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 The scripture teaches that there is rhythm and movement of the Holy Spirit- steps (forward progress). The challenge from Paul to these believers is remarkable. The God of the Universe, through His Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to walk WITH Him. There are “steps”- pace, cadence, stamina, required to be in stride with the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is both possible and beneficial. The prerequisite is that we live by the Spirit (“If we live by the Spirit”).

Being in step with the Holy Spirit is not dependent on spiritual highs or lows, or good or bad circumstances, but rather faithful obedience in our daily lives. Throughout scripture, importance is placed on walking with God on a daily basis. We must discover and practice rhythms that will keep us in step with the Spirit- prayer, worship, reading and meditating in scripture, just to name a few.

Urgent Anger

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 5:1-15 (day five)

“I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.” Paul’s words in our Re:verse captured my attention this week. Did you sense the continued urgency of His message for freedom in Christ expressed through loving obedience? But in these verses add another emotion- anger. Anger at the one (ones) distracting, disrupting, discouraging these newer believers in their faith (race). His words sound really harsh. What would cause Paul to be this urgent and this angry? I believe it is love. A Holy regard and affection for the Word of God and the People of God. There is no doubt of Paul’s love for the scriptures and the church (God’s people). Maybe a teachable moment for us as we examine our own faith and hearts. Do we have this kind of protective love for the Word of God and the People of God? How do we communicate it and live it? How do we (should we) teach and model that to our children, grandchildren, and others? The stakes are high and the consequences are eternal!! We must love God’s Word and God’s People.

Faith Focus

Re:Verse passage – Galatians 4:21-31 (day five)

But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

It’s one of the things I love about the scriptures. Honesty and integrity when telling the narratives of the Bible Heroes. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows. Abraham (the father of God’s promised nation) acted out of fear and impatience. He didn’t wait and/or completely trust the Lord to fulfill His promise of a son to him (Abraham) and Sarah. So, he finds his own solution to fulfill God’s promise. Abraham acted in faith- faith in himself and his own efforts. Wasn’t that he forgot the promise. He lacked patience and complete trust. Sounds like… me (us) sometimes. We do well to be reminded and remember God’s promises to us (in the scriptures). We must also trust God to fulfill His promises in His timing and His through His supernatural grace and power. It is difficult and exhausting at times. Paul says “Work out your salvation with fear and rambling”. Requires energy and dedication. Our faith must be focused on Him not in our own abilities.