Matthew 5:17-20
Reflect
I went through a season in my life where I had come to believe that if I had done enough ‘right’, I would be ‘right’ with God. I would beat myself up constantly when I screwed up. This shame kept me hiding, from God and from others. During this season, while on a walk, I felt the voice of God say to me, “You already have all you need in me, you are already right with me; live from that place, not for that place.” I knew that I could trust this was from God because it was confirmed by Ephesians 1-3! This reminder really changed how I lived my life. The foundation for this reality is found is today’s short text from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is reminding the people that there is absolutely nothing they can do to be made right with God on their own. Being right with God is a gift to be received from Him so we can live rightly, it’s not the other way around. As we start this new year, I want to encourage you to be thinking about how God sees you. Do you truly believe that you are already right with God? In what ways do you try to ‘earn’ your standing before Him rather than receive it?
Pastor Daunavan
Pray
- Pray for our Lead Team Pastor, Terry Okken.
- Pray for Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Assistant.
- Pray for all our small group leaders, and our Small Group Intern Isaac Lee.
- Pray for the ministry of International Student Ministries.