Title: Life Lessons toward Victory/Matthew 23:1~12
Contents Life lessons towards victory
Key Verse: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (verse 12).
Word: There are people who often dream of a happy future, but live without any preparation. What are you doing now to exist as a victor someday in the future?
In the text, the Lord uses a strong whip against Israel, who continued to walk the hard way despite the Lord's repeated exhortations. It also declares destruction seven times strongly. “Woe to you… .” Above all else, the Lord rebukes them for their false beliefs. Otherwise they will be rejected (verse 38). What kind of false beliefs did they have to forsake?
Artificial authority. When a person possesses more than others, it is easy to become arrogant and authoritarian. The religious leaders in the text also became proud and authoritative by knowing more about the law and serving the temple and pretending to be Moses (verse 2). It is a mismatch of words and actions (verses 3 to 4). “They talk and do not do” People with false beliefs are noisy. They do not serve or dedicate themselves, but rather speak. However, the Lord prayed first and then taught to ‘pray’, served first, then said “serve,” and after evangelizing first, he sent out the disciples (John 13:15). It is his glory (verses 5-7). “You shall not be called rabbis” (verse 8). I mean, don't be ostentatious about your expertise. You should not absolutize that knowledge just by knowing a little. When you humbly serve people with your skills, you will be respected.
On a Sunday about 20 years ago, heavy snow fell in Washington, and traffic was completely cut off. At that time, a woman with her children continued to march through the snow. Finally arrived at an empty chapel. There I get down on my knees and pray. That woman is Hillary. Later, when she visited China as first lady, she revealed her faith at the Chongwenmen Church. “We are all children of God.” Thorough faith and faith in the holy water for the past 20 years made her as a first lady.
“What kind of person will we be in 20 years?” Now let go of what you throw away. Abandon artificial authority, inconsistency in words and actions, and life for your own glory, and live humbly with a firm confession of faith and the love of the Lord On the day of victory, only we can confess. “These are the words of praise when you leave this world and the words you say when you die/But my prayers are the words I love my Savior Jesus more, love more.”
Prayer: Lord, help me to become a true believer who dreams of victory in life, throws away what needs to be thrown away and prepares diligently for what needs to be prepared. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.