41 You are doing the things your own father does."
"We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
In our verses for today Jesus points to the model of the Pharisees behavior certainly leaving them un-enamored and setting fire to their emotions by wedging a knife under their skin with the Truth of His Words. We who are donned with flesh do not often embrace the circumstance whereby the attention is drawn to our flaws. Indeed, we often become vessels of defensiveness when confronted with our shortcomings. Rather than heed the advice or at least contemplate our need of change, we lash out with all kinds of reasons to support our behavior and cause. There will always be someone to side with our poor choices and we diligently and purposely seek them out. They, quite frankly, make us feel better about ourselves. We are all about justifying what we do - being very similar to these Pharisees who only cloaked their words in righteousness yet their actions remained far from it. Oftentimes it takes someone who cares for us and loves us enough to do the hard thing by pointing us to the Truth, no matter how much it may bruise. Scripture tells us:
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Prov 27:6 (NIV)
Here Jesus brings to light a point we are all in need of pondering (if we are willing to put our toes out there to be stepped on!) – Whose or whose character is our behavior reflecting? As a child of the King we are to be imitating our Father – walking in a manner worthy of our high calling. I am afraid that we as believers have become so desensitized to God’s Word by the world and its standards that we often have no idea how very far we have strayed from it. Indeed, like chameleons, we tend to blend with our surroundings. It is no wonder statistics show very little difference between churched people and those un-churched in lifestyles and choices. This should not be. God calls His people to a transformed life of holiness and righteousness through His power as we die to self. We are in desperate need of a wakeup call to the Truth of God’s Word. Paul tells us in Ephesians:
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph 5:1-2 (NIV)
Our love requires of us self-discipline, self-denial and courage – just like our Savior. As we follow the Crucified we should not expect to escape the cross. Our self-righteous, self-centered, self-enthroned life must die as we yield our life to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul states in Galatians:
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20 (NIV)
“The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself.” Oswald Chambers
Indeed, Paul goes on to list specifics regarding improper behavior for believers to flesh out - certainly placed in Holy Writ to red flag us and draw our attention to the importance of our actions. We would do well to search our own hearts with the light of God’s Word:
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. Eph 5:3-14 (NIV)
All the while God longs to show His children compassion – He rejoices over us with singing – not over our sinful behavior or our poor choices – but over us, loving the sinner yet hating the enslaving sin. He woos us and loves us into the higher path of righteousness and peace for His Name’s sake. He forgives us not so that we will go back to our filth – like a pig wallowing in the mud or a dog in its vomit – but that we may remain unfettered and free from these sins that so readily enslave. Isaiah tells us:
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)