The Devil Really is in the Details

S - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. … Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:17-19, 33-37 NIV)

O - The problem with the religion of Jesus' day was not in its content but in the application/interpretation of it. The religious culture was using the Scriptures to strain out gnats and swallow camels according to Jesus (Matthew 23:24). The result? Their traditions opposed the God they claimed to serve and the source of their worldview and practices was "from the evil one." This is also the problem with the religion of the 21st century. Jesus calls no one to a cause or to convert to a religion. He calls all people to himself and to accept ongoing transformation in their thinking, speaking, loving and living.

A - Heaven doesn’t want me/us to become religious but real. It is not hoping I'll adopt certain religious practices but an ongoing relationship. We are not being called to a worldview but to a person -- and ultimately he will transform everything starting with me/us.

P - Lord,

I say yes to you and to your call to yourself. I don't want to strain out gnats only to swallow camels. Thank you that you're not asking me to change myself but to welcome you and you'll do the changing. I'll follow, you lead.

Yes in Jesus name,

Steve