It’s tempting to measure our spiritual life by external standards like church attendance, Bible reading, avoiding major sins, and then feel good about the comparison. But Jesus dismantles this scorecard approach by revealing that the true gauge lies much deeper. He points out that we’re guilty of murder if we harbor anger towards someone, and that lust is equivalent to adultery. This means no one can achieve the perfection God requires, but the good news is that Christ has already fulfilled every requirement and offers to credit His flawless record to us! Stop trying to improve your religious resume and simply receive the righteousness that only He can provide.
A Call to Prayer
How strange would it be in any church if the pastor stopped right in the middle of the service, canceled the plans for the morning, and called the entire church to a prayer meeting right then and there? Would people feel awkward? Would they leave? Would visitors ever come back? Well that’s exactly what happened at LifePoint Church this morning, and instead of anyone leaving or being offended, the power of God moved mightily, and lives were greatly impacted. Oh that we would remember the power of prayer!
