I am so thankful for the grace of God. God’s grace has allowed us to be adopted as His children. God’s grace has allowed us to be clothed in righteousness in the presence of the Lord. We must not stop working on imulating Jesus. Part of remaining in Jesus is to start loving the way he loves, by being transformed into his image with the understanding that he has accounted for our short comings. As I read these verses this morning, all the “BUT I SAY” by Jesus statements stood out to me. Jesus takes everything to a higher standard
These verses are all red letter, which means Jesus was speaking.
Matthew 5:17-20 NLT
[17] “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.
[18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
🌟[19] So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
⚠️[20] “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
[22] But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
[28] But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[32] But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.
[34] But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.
🌟[37] Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
[39] But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
[42] Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
[44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
🌟[48] But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 37, 39, 42, 44, 48 NLT
God is love, and perfect love casts out fear.
[37] Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment.
[39] A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40 NL
This verse below is John speaking:
1 John 4:18 NLT
[18] Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Jesus calls us to a place of love, and his perfect love drives out all fear. His perfect love is the desire he has for us. In our transforming into his image it is to be more like him, made in perfect love.
Mary Smith Creative 