Divine Imperatives September 26 Devotional
by David Joynt on September 26, 2023
Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
MATTHEW 5:45 | 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
In this verse, we learn the key principle for evaluating our attitudes and emotions: do they reflect the character and values of God? The Pharisee’s lives, if taken as a surrogate for God’s personality, reflected exclusivity, pride, restriction, and overwhelming concern for personal rectitude. Jesus’ greatest challenge to religious sensibilities is His picture of God as merciful and forgiving, focused on the welfare of the undeserving and lost, not simply the pious. His world and this life is a gift given, even to those who live in ignorance or defiance of His will and ways. As creator, He claims all His creatures, not just Torah followers, as His children whom He seeks and values.
Have you lived in settings where the lines between good and bad, righteous and unrighteous, were clearly drawn?
Gracious God,
Help me to be careful about drawing lines and separating the world into the worthy and the unworthy. Help my life to reflect Your values.
Amen.
