January 15, 2023

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

Because of our fallen nature, there is something resembling a riot inside our thinking when we are first introduced to the precepts of God. Jesus seldom acknowledges the small-minded, selfish tendencies of our fallen nature. Instead, He challenges them as He speaks of the aspects of living eternally in the kingdom of His heavenly Father.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34

To love people is really not a new commandment at all. But by the time Jesus entered the scene, the Jewish religion had so corrupted itself from within by adding rules upon rules, all man-made, that it was impossible to keep them. This corruption was accompanied by an attitude of superiority and legalism that only heightened barriers between people and confused them as to the nature of the God of love.

Jesus knew that the New Testament church would also enter into deep corruption. This is seen in the timeline of the seven letters to the seven churches. Clearly, Satan has attacked every detail of every precept laid out for our wellness, happiness, and spiritual wholeness.

An effective beginning in the challenge to overcome my personal “riots” against Almighty God is to internalize the truth of the identity of Christ. The gentle voice of the Son of God spoken along the dusty roads of Palestine is the same voice that spoke the world into existence and thundered the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. It is a lifelong challenge to comprehend His incredible humility and tender mercy in bending down to walk this earth and speak with us face to face.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15