High Standard

PSALM 34; MATTHEW 5

Psalm 34 describes the greatness of God and the endless benefits of following God, of pursuing God and of living a life that is glorifying to God. Matthew 5 is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. It includes the beatitudes and emphasis on the importance of living the Christian life. It also includes instruction regarding the fulfillment of the law, murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge and love for enemies.

The psalm spends a great deal of time describing how great life with God is and how terrible life without God is. It speaks of the benefits of living my life for God. It is easy say that is a great theory but how do I do that. This is where the Sermon on the Mount comes in. Jesus speaks to a large crowd and gives very detailed instructions on how to live a life for God. What Jesus says can often be viewed as harsh but it is what God commands and thus makes it worth the effort. It is not an easy path to give your life to God and to live the way he tells us to. It often can feel like we are swimming opposite from everyone else. Perhaps this is not a bad thing! If we are interested in basking in the glory that comes from God we must be willing to live the life that will bring us into that glory. This will often mean going against what the world says is right and OK and taking a stand for God the Almighty. Jesus lays out a standard for living that may appear to be unreachable. In Matthew chapter 5 verse 48 Jesus says,

"Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect."

That is not a small request. Jesus commands that if we are committing to live for him then we are committing to continually strive for perfection. Perfection in the eyes of God not necessarily perfection in the eyes of people.

I would like to accept this challenge. I realize that I am nowhere near perfect and that perfection is a goal that I will likely not reach while I am living on this earth. However, that is by no means a sufficient reason for me to not strive to be Christlike. It is my desire to live my life as much as possible in the manner in which Jesus lived his. In the manner in which God wants me to live mine. I know that I will fall short at times. And I know that God will pick me up, dust me off and set me on the path again. What harm could possibly come from living full out for my God? I desire relationship with God and he desires that I live my life in a certain way. I am fortunate enough to have access to God's instructions regarding how he wants me to live. Now I must make the decision to follow God exclusively, leaving the standards of the world behind. I do not have to live my life to impress anyone on this planet. I only need to impress God. So perhaps it is time to trust in his love and protection and direct all my energy towards meeting the standard Jesus sets.

Dear God,

I am so fortunate that you have provided me with instructions on how you desire for me to live my life. Not only have you provided instructions but you have provided examples of what I can expect when I strive to live my life completely how you want me to. It is going to be very difficult to, when necessary, ignore what the people around me are saying and to stand alone for you. To stand alone when I know that I am doing as you ask. I pray that you will give me the strength and the courage to live full out for you, to follow your instructions and to live a life that is glorifying to you. I want you to be my mentor, my Lord and my proud heavenly Father. Please guide me and direct me as I allow my life to be led by you.

Amen