Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Difficult Choices

Jesus has been discussing persecution, not only from civil authorities, but from family members. Then he speaks these words, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mathew 10:39).

Fear grips our hearts when our family confronts us with choices between what God condemns and what God approves. We are loving people because we know the source of love. We don’t want to hurt someone else’s feelings. We want everyone to know we love them and God loves them. We use love as an excuse participating in an activity that is clearly against scripture.

The problem is excuses are like water. God sees through them.

Just before Jesus was crucified we read these words about some of the Pharisees. “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).

Jesus also warned us, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will not certainly enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20).