Now when Jesus had finished
saying these things, the crowds
were astounded at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having
authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount -- the end of Matthew chapters 5-7 -- what we see is wonder and awe.
In Jesus, the people saw authority. There was a truth in this teacher that transcended any other human teacher.
We know the answer as to "Why?" Jesus was (and is eternally) God. And when the crowds heard the insights that transcended the earthly, their hearts thrilled ... and they followed more closely.
Many of you have probably heard the teachings of Jesus all of your life. You know they're occasionally counter-cultural ... sure. But they seem normal to you. You've heard them all your life. And so the average American Christian mostly wonders: how can I stay (basically) true to Jesus and yet live comfortably within my everyday culture. And so we compromise. Jesus' words don't shock or thrill or transform.
It's time to end that. And Christmas is a good week to do that. My prayer for you for Christmas and for the New Year is that you don't settle for mediocrity. That you capture instead the wonder. That you hunger for God's truth, rather than the world's compromise.
In Christ's Love,
a guy who asked Santa
for truth this Christmas
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