[RE]FOCUS Day 5
Week 1: [RE]FOCUS
Day 5: Reforming everything you thought you knew
by Pastor Chad Wright
READ:
Matt 7:28–29 (ESV)28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Did you have to memorize the planets in our solar system when you went to school? Do you remember how many planets are in it? There were nine when I was a kid. Today, kids are learning that there are eight. Pluto lost its status as a planet. Today, the official make-up of our solar system includes eight planets, five dwarf planets, and a hypothetical planet (Planet X) which might be a grapefruit-sized wormhole. Why the change? Astronomers and astrophysicists have better information from decades of satellites and better computers to model the solar system. To put it simply, we know much more and much better information about our solar system. (It is pretty amazing if you go to solarsystem.nasa.gov) I have learned so much!
This type of amazement in learning is recorded by Matthew when he described the crowds who listened to Jesus teach. His teaching was different than the scribes. The scribes were the professionals. They had studied at the feet of the theologians in the religious schools of their day. They knew the Scriptures backward and forward. But their teaching was dead. It was legalism that failed to move the hearts of God’s people. When Jesus came teaching about repentance, forgiveness, and the kingdom of God, the people were astonished at His teaching. When He spoke in the synagogues and connected the prophecies of Isaiah and the other Scriptures to his fulfillment, no one challenged his authority. He had the authority to speak about the Scriptures because He was the author of them and the fulfillment of them. He reformed his people by his Word. He prepared their hearts by showing them their sins but also revealing Himself as their Savior. He still does this today wherever His Word is proclaimed. He still has authority. May we always revere His Word and study it daily and diligently and stay astonished!
PRAY:
Dear Jesus, as You astonished people during Your earthly ministry, so touch my heart each day with Your Word. Help me to read, learn, and apply it daily to my walk with You. Help me to open my mouth and share Your teaching with others who need to hear about You. Amen.
LIVE:
5 days into this, what had God done to reshape what you thought you knew about Him?