Thou Shall Not Murder!

At first hearing of this commandment, it is easy to say, "All good here! I have never murdered anyone......yet!" 😉

Then Jesus had to take it to the next level..."You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.."

Sarcastic remarks......GUILTY!

Insulting remarks.......GUILTY!

Calling into question someones intelligence......GUILTY

Calling into question someones character......GUILTY

Calling into question someones heart......GUILTY

So apparently I have a lot of "un-dealt-with-anger"?........GUILTY

As I processed this weeks sermon and took inventory of relationships in my life, I discovered a profound lack of trust in the one I call Jesus.  I strongly identify with the disciples in the passage below.

Luke 9:51-56  "When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”And they went on to another village.

I often forget what Spirit lives inside of me!  So often I forget there is more to the present moment than I can know with my unaided senses.  There is more to the flow of history than I can know with my unaided intellect and emotions.

"You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.."

Things are not as they seem! Jesus' words seek to set my present moment(s) in light of the unseen realities of the future.  More importantly, Jesus' words protect and enhance my life of freedom from the unseen realities of the present!

-Reid