We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
When we grow in love, we grow toward God and with one another. In order to grow together in faith, we must know each other. Growing in loving relationships and faith requires listening. We need to be willing to replace or tweak what we’ve believed to be truth with actual truth as God guides.
We learn in layers if we’re inquisitive and receptive enough to consistently seek and process. What we thought we understood at one point leads into a deeper familiarity. Sometimes we right misunderstandings in the process but, other times, we move from a glimpse of the truth to a wider perspective of the truth.
When Jesus began to teach, he often addressed people who had been steeped in Jewish teachings. What had been promised and revealed through such men as Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Jeremiah, David, and Isaiah had been passed along. People clung to the teachings of rules, carefully applying them into their lives and trying to assure others applied them as well. Legalism easily followed, because the rules could quickly become more important than the relationship God desired and intended through the standards.
Jesus began to uproot legalism of rules and reveal the truth of God’s grace. He weeded through what people thought to reveal the truth of God’s will. He replaced what people had heard with what is true.
“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matthew 5:21-24)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-29)
“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42)
Invite God to replace your past understandings with wisdom for today. God’s truth doesn’t change, but it will change you every time you encounter him.
Accept.
Dear God, please prune out of my life anything that is not Your truth. I want to listen to You and learn. I want to listen to others and experience You. I want to honor You as I listen. Thank You for revealing Yourself and Your truth to me.
Seek.
What understanding are you seeking?
Are you growing in your intimacy with God, or are you moving away from him?
Are you satisfied where you are, trusting what you’ve learned in the past, and closing your ears to the possibility or need of continually hearing refreshing and revealing words from God?
Know.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-47)