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.
Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted
There are many wonderful promises in the Bible that we should all become familiar with, but there is one promise that none of us really want to think about. Jesus promised that everyone who followed Him would be hated and persecuted by the world. While most of us have never been subjected to any kind of physical persecution, if we are truly living for righteousness, we will most certainly experience rejection, slander, and even hatred at times for our faith. This is one of the marks of a true believer. Is it evident in your life?
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