I read the rest of Matthew today. When I look at how the crowd asked for a murderer and troublemaker to be released instead of Jesus, I see how easy it is to make decisions that don't make any sense when I'm not paying attention to God, or when I try to look for my own glory rather than His.
Throughout His torture and death, I see an attitude of mockery toward Jesus from soldiers, robbers, priests, teachers of the law, elders, passersby. To this day, those who need His redemption still mock Him, from those who claim to want nothing to do with Him to those who ought by all rights to know Him from what they have seen and experienced. I never want to adopt an attitude of mockery toward Jesus.
I ought to expand that intention to include His body here on earth - the church. When I see the church seemingly weak and beaten down, do I mock? Do I poke fun, or turn away in disgust? Or do I hurt for the hurting, and seek to bring healing? Why is it easier to say, "They should know better!" than, "What can I do to help?"
Anyone who is seeking God's heart (myself included) should be seeking to move toward unity, peace, and love, as well as obedience, holiness, and righteousness. Unity without obedience will always lead to following the flesh rather than the spirit, and obedience without unity is impossible. After all, when Jesus returns for His bride (the church), He is coming back for one bride, one that is spotless and passionately in love with Him. Not only do I want to be ready, I want to help the rest of the bride to be ready as well! It's all very well to say, "As long as I'm right with God, I don't need to bother other people, just let them do what they want." ....no, wait, I take that back. It's NOT all very well to say that. God's heart is for all to know Him, for all to have life, and an abundant, overflowing life. How selfish it would be for me to avoid sharing that life because it might make someone else uncomfortable, or worse yet, make me uncomfortable! How far from God's heart!
Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind..." and Psalm 33:11 says, "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." There is just one God in the Bible - the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. Does He think it's important to bring people together in unity and obedience? Let's ask Him. Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
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