Magnetic Marks of Jesus' Followers
The Endless Pursuit of Perfection …
Week of September 23, 2007
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God’s Word for Us This Week: Matthew 5:43-48
43 "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Key Points:
The single, most important reality as we SEEK to live lives of holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit is this: The Holy Spirit transforms, changes, alters, makes us different than we were.
When Jesus called us to be perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect:
- He was joking;
- He wanted to frustrate us;
- He was calling us to be perfect.
Challenge for the Week:
I will SEEK to live a life of holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit, and I will challenge and encourage my brothers and sisters in Jesus to do the same!
Monday: What are you SEEKing first in your life right now?
Read Matthew 6:28-34 to see what Jesus tells us we are to seek first in life. What are you ACTUALLY seeking first in your life right now? What will the end result of that be in this life and in eternity?
Tuesday: What is a life of HOLINESS?
Read Luke 1:68-75, to see that Luke pairs HOLINESS with RIGHTEOUSNESS. Typically, holiness is an attribute of God in Scripture, but as His people we are called to holiness as well. To be holy is to be perfect, to be without blemish. Thus we could read in this week’s scripture: You are to be holy, even as your Father in heaven is holy. Take some time in prayer to praise God for His holiness, and to ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit that you may live in holiness!
Wednesday: Jesus told us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us!
Read Matthew 5:1-12 (commonly known as the Beatitudes.) What does the final one have to do with loving our enemies?
Thursday: Is the Holy Spirit transforming you right now?
Read Romans 12:1-3 to see one way that the Holy Spirit transforms us. What are you putting in your mind these days that will help with that transformation process?
Friday: In order to live a life of holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit, we must receive His power!
Read Ephesians 5:18-21 to see what happens when we receive the Holy Spirit’s power, then take some time to ask the Lord to FILL you with the Holy Spirit!
Saturday: Take some time NOW, to prepare for worship tomorrow!
Read: Acts 4:5-12 to prepare for tomorrow’s worship when we’ll emphasize TELLing others about what Jesus is doing in our lives!