Called Great

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

                                             Matthew 5:19

               Jesus has asked us to keep the commandments, to live with a higher standard than some people of the world who don’t live morally. Of course, Jesus has come and fulfilled the law, giving us freedom from the law and being a slave to it. Being a slave of working in our own strength to keep them and earn our salvation. For God knew we wouldn’t be able to keep them because of our sinful nature, but He still wants us to live by them and see in them His plan for our lives. He set forth the law knowing that doing what they say would bring us more joy than breaking them and cause us to have a more fulfilled life in Him. But as humans we turned from that and wanted to go our own way. He has now given us a way to get back to relation with Him and live a higher standard than we used to. When we become Christians He begins to convict us of those things in our life that aren’t pleasing to Him. Even after walking with Him for years He can bring convictions to your heart. For we will never be completed or perfected works of His hands until we are in heaven with Him. And He says that those who keep the commandments and teach them to others will be called great in the kingdom. Those who strive to please Him in these ways and put Him and others first will receive great reward in heaven. For God will reward us all according to what we have done or didn’t do. Keeping the law is also a manner of the heart. We may live in such a way that it looks like we are keeping His laws, but if our heart is not given over to the Lord and seeking to please Him in what we do, than our actions mean nothing. In Psalm 119 we have countless accounts of people saying how much they love His law and cherish it. They say that because they know it brings them closer to Jesus and it is what He has given us to live a pure and blameless life.

Application- strive to live out those things of which Jesus has asked of me.