by George Runyan | Apr 4, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:48 – Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In Matthew 5:21- 47 Jesus deals with relationships on many different levels. The Law forbade murder, but Jesus said, don’t be angry with your brother. If you remember when giving your offering someone has something against you, leave your offering and go get reconciled to your brother. Read through these laws of the kingdom of God and ask the Holy Spirit to help you rise up to the life that our Lord has called us to live. The higher bar is what Jesus calls us to, even the perfection of our heavenly Father. This sounds impossible, but we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
The word perfect translates “mature.” The Lord is looking for mature sons and daughters, those that will allow the life of Christ to be released in them by yielding to the Holy Spirit. We have been led by our flesh for so long that it is strange to think about being led by the Spirit. The only way we can consider being “perfect” is as the Holy Spirit takes control of our mind and we submit to Him in everything.
My experience is that I have to take one situation at a time. This means I must pray about every relationship and submit it to God. Through the Spirit’s empowerment, choose to keep short accounts with people, forgiving quickly, not letting the sun go down on my anger. These things are not easy, but the Holy Spirit will help us if we will stop and ask for His involvement.
In 1 Corinthians 14:20 the apostle says, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature.” Paul is communicating the same view that Jesus is declaring in Matthew 5:48, “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The New Creation is all about a new way of thinking, God’s way of thinking. It is possible to be mature and live in righteousness, because we have been redeemed from our sin condition to a life of righteousness in the Holy Spirit.
Let the Holy Spirit search you heart and reveal any areas that are childish and not mature. Repent of childish views and attitudes. Then receive His infilling power to grow as a son or daughter of God.
by George Runyan | Mar 23, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
When the Scripture speaks of purity of heart, it is addressing motivations. The subject of the heart is a large topic in God’s Word. Here are some samplings. God searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:10). Unbelief comes from a hardened heart (Mark 8:17). Jesus knew what they were thinking in their hearts (Luke 9:47). The heart is where one’s treasure is (Luke 12:34). The heart is where secrets are kept (1 Corinthians 14:25). Paul prayed for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened, so that we may know what is the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18). Consider Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:12-13. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also you forgive.” The pure in heart have received forgiveness and forgiven all those who have sinned against them.
The heart is what I call “the seedbed of our emotions.” It is the deepest area in a person’s being. Some connect the heart to our human spirit. The pure in heart are those who have opened to God every secret they hold. The pure in heart have repented of unbelief. Although they do not understand everything yet, they trust completely in God. The pure in heart are becoming a treasure house of godliness. This new heart of purity must be received. Paul said to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). These qualities are not the fruits of a good idea, but of a pure heart!
Today, why not join in Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened to know the hope of His calling”. It is in that seeking of God’s will and purpose that our hearts are changed and purity begins to form. Ask the Holy Spirit for a pure heart. Allow Him to identify areas in your life in need of His cleansing power.
by George Runyan | Mar 22, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Sir Isaac Newton first presented his three laws of motion in 1686. His third law states “that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In other words, if object A exerts a force on object B, then object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on object A.
Newton was given revelation by God relating to a law of physics, but we have been given revelation by God in the spiritual realm. When you are merciful, it sets up a spiritual law of receiving mercy. This is true about all the Beatitudes. God’s life exerts a spiritual force of mercy upon us. We in turn exert a spiritual force upon others by showing mercy. They in turn become open to receiving mercy from God and give mercy back. In the law of the Spirit, the Scripture says, “Give, and it shall be given to you” (Luke 6:38). One of the evidences of the new birth in an individual is their desire to give to others.
Let us consider a few biblical statements that bear witness to this truth. Consider what the Psalmist said, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” (Ps 126:5). Brokenness over others and their condition carries the promise that God will honor your brokenness with a day when the watering from your tears will give a crop of salvation that will produce in you a joy that cannot be contained.
Again consider what Paul said, “If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you? (1 Corinthians 9:11). This is a Principle or Law in the New Testament. When God sends those who carry spiritual things that are imparted to our lives, we in turn should respond by supporting that person through financial gifts. The spiritual person gives from his heart. He does it freely. A right response in mercy is to give what we have to help others who cannot at all repay us.
Mercy is manifested in a variety of ways. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you increased avenues to give mercy. You can be confident that there will be numerous occasions when you will also receive mercy from God and others.
by George Runyan | Mar 21, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
As humans, we find ourselves in an impossible situation from a natural perspective. We are slaves to sin. The righteousness of the Law of God continually declares us to be guilty. The Scribes and Pharisees perverted the Law and brought the people under religious bondage by human means. Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses theirs, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Even the keeping of their strict application of the Law fell short of the requirements of God.
There is a void in every human, a void of the righteousness of God. This void can only be filled by the righteousness of Christ Jesus. “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). People deal with this condition in different ways. Some pervert the need to fill the void by feeding the unrighteousness with increasingly unrighteous acts. Others try to satisfy their need through religion, trying to get to God on their terms. The Scripture says, “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He taught how to satisfy this hunger and thirst. We learn that Jesus is the Way in John 14:6. Each person who has received the Lord, by giving their life to Him, knows firsthand that He alone satisfies the longing for the void to be filled. We must continually draw on the righteousness of Jesus Christ to know and experience the true satisfaction He alone can bring.
It is not by our performance that we find satisfaction, but through relationship alone. A relationship rooted in Christ Jesus fulfilling the entire requirement of the Father. A relationship filled with the acceptance of our heavenly Father. The true satisfaction comes from knowing that God loves me and in His love I am fully accepted.
Father, I ask for a deepening hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. Release the Holy Spirit to draw me closer to Jesus. I join in the writer of Hebrews’ prayer that we may fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
by George Runyan | Mar 20, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth.
Gentleness demands humility. The arrogant do not practice gentleness or meekness. One evidence of a Spirit-filled life is the fruit of gentleness (Galatians 5:22). There are many who try to move ahead in life with an arrogant attitude. Usually, this person is filled with selfishness, only thinking about their success no matter how it may affect others. This character flaw is especially seen in the business world, the entertainment industry, and the political arena. A drive for power and control is behind arrogance and selfishness. It can be observed that most of these people end up losing in life. Many times their dreams are dashed by heartbreak and loss.
The Scriptures teach, and many lives demonstrate, that gentleness is the way to success. Jesus is teaching a key to life’s success in Matthew 5:5. Humility, which demonstrates gentleness, will help bring success. Through gentleness the Holy Spirit touches the hearts of people and opens opportunities. Individuals are moved to reach out and help the gentle person. Opportunities come, doors open, and a way is made for the gentle person to be received as their reputation begins to be spread.
Some people are gentle by nature. This is a human quality which is rare and honorable. As Jesus brings into focus His Kingdom, He is anticipating those that would be filled with His Holy Spirit, demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in all of their relationships. Paul said, “All things are ours. So then let no one boast in men, for all things belong to you” (1 Corinthians 3:21). All things belong to the child of God, but we must see this corporately. As an individual, I cannot claim all things at all times, but the Lord blesses His body throughout the earth. Remember Paul’s teaching when he said, “There are many members, but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:20). As members of the body of Christ, we enter into His promised inheritance through humility and gentleness, not arrogance or pride.
Ask the Holy Spirit to increase growth in you regarding gentleness. Ask Him to show you what He has set aside in the earth as your inheritance. Father, I thank You for Your promise that the gentle shall inherit the earth.
