Luke 11:27-28…
Think higher thoughts…
We are often tempted to get excited about the periphery and miss the real point. It isn’t about how wonderful and exciting our encounters and experiences are. Rather, the real point is about feeding on the Word of God and walking it out in faith. When we venerate what is less valuable, we miss the real blessing (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Jesus used both the criticism and praise of others as an opportunity to lead people to greater truth. This woman was not a scoffer or resentful like the religious leaders. She was definitely in the amazed category. But we must move higher from there, instead of venerating Mary or the Apostles, making idols of lesser things. The real blessing was not about being in the physical line of Jesus, but in the spiritual line, and that means putting the Word of God into practice.
Jesus was not trying to put the lady down; He was trying to bring her up. To bring us to the higher plane, He has to knock us off the current platform. We have a way of thinking that makes God out to be a projection of our best feelings, instead of really understanding the revelation He has given us. Many times, when we do that, God has to give us a cold correction and it knocks the warm fuzzies right out of us. However, we should receive the correction of Jesus rather than feel condemned by it. He is knocking us off our pious platform in order to bring us higher.
In Christ we are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1), but we are corrected (Hebrews 12:5-11). Correction leads us to repentance; in other words, inspired improvement. Higher thoughts about God lead to deeper worship. Think about it.
10 comments:
We have a way of thinking that makes God out to be a projection of our best feelings, instead of really understanding the revelation He has given us.
The "religious spirit" which has dragged so many into smugness and complacency.
The first thing this made me think of was Simeon Stylites.
Blessings
"When we venerate what is less valuable, we miss the real blessing"
Being on the outskirts may at times "feel" like we are in the right spot, but “this world is constantly finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity.”
Quote taken from, Mr. Incredible.
P.
but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Thank God Almighty he disciplines his children!
Good point, Anthony; we are called to be missionaries, down in the pits and prisions, taking "brands from the fire", not monks sitign high atop some pillar of self piety.
Great to hear from you, brother.
Excellent source material, Paul..
:-)
Agreed, honey; it is a mark of being a child of God.
Anthony, I would love it if you would listen to our recent sermon, "The Big Picture of Pentecost".
agreed
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