February 2: THE POWER TO RE-CREATE
“Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” John 8:43
Jesus has a wonderful way of putting His finger directly on those things that blind people to His will for their sanctification. In this case, it was the refusal of the Pharisees to listen to Him. Their unbelief was disabling. In His absolutely pure and perfect love, Jesus points out error; but we have become experts at dodging His commands.
If someone asks why this or that instruction of the Lord is ignored, a litany of “reasons” would be recited. But if I find myself in a position of needing to explain a habit or practice of mine that is out of harmony with Scripture, then I am already guilty of unbelief. The wise—and safe—thing to do is pause and humbly acknowledge the precarious path I have been traveling. My reasoning will inevitably be seen for what it is: human ideas, conceived apart from God, that have been elevated above His word.
Because of the devil’s influence on the mindset of the Pharisees—which can also render you and me not able to listen—Jesus warned them thrice, “you will die in your sins” (vv21,24). He desires to enable us to listen that we might truly hear what He is saying and thus be saved.
Most of the Christian world singles out the longest commandment of the decalogue as the least important, the fourth commandment. All of the commandments are interconnected, like links of a chain. James reminds us: For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all (3:10). Not one of them is unimportant. Therefore, we should not designate any one of them as “least”. Jesus said, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least…” (Matthew 5:19)
A thoughtful look at the fourth commandment (see Exodus 20:8-11) reinforces His unique identity as Creator, for only He can supply the divine and sacred spark of life. Likewise, He alone can provide the divine and sacred spark that re-creates. We must know Who it is that we worship! This is about renewal and restoration of His original plan for each of us. King David prayed: Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
We are to come to Jesus just as we are. Oh, how He loves us! In a love relationship with Him, we will find that He faithfully guides us onto the paths of righteousness. This is sanctification. He who sanctifies knows that my sanctification is not just about me; it is about His name’s sake—His reputation—in the eyes of others (Psalm 23:3).
Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Ezekiel 20:12