The Bridge RSM

There are times where the Biblical Authors were intentionally vague, stirring us to meditate on the Scriptures daily. Inviting us to read along with the Holy Spirit to uncover the depths of truth contained within and to grow in relationship with The Father and Son along the way. One thing that is perfectly clear though? Jesus Will Return. He is coming back to be King over all creation and partner with His Saints to do so. The question isn't "If?", but "When?".

Matthew 5

It's easy to pick sides. It's easy to treat others the way they do treat us, not the way we wish they would. It's easy to fight back against those who persecute us, disagree with us, speak badly about us, or attack us. Those things are not the Way of Jesus though. We finish our series through the Sermon on the Mount looking at how Jesus calls us to love. It's impossible apart from His Spirit, but praise God He gave us His Spirit to aid us and form us into the types of people who love well and love the way He does.

Matthew 5

Has anyone ever wronged you? Offended you? Even just not helped you when you needed it? The usual human response is to get that person back. Like for like. Or even amped up from how they wronged us. Jesus however, gives another way. The Way of Jesus that seeks restoration and relationship over retribution is counterintuitive. But for some reason it is the way to life. From Gandhi to Jackie Robinson to Martin Luther King Jr., seeking the good of those who harm you softens hearts, draws others to your side, and most importantly points people to the One who empowers such a radical response; Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5

How seriously do you take your commitments? Can people believe you when you tell them something? The Way of Jesus is one of integrity. It means to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no". As His follower, are you fully honest with everyone around you or do you deal in half truths. It's easy to say something that is technically true, but designed to deceive. The Way of Jesus doesn't do that. It's easy to craft our language to provide ways out or loop holes in what we said or committed to. The Way of Jesus doesn't do that. The Good News is this: a community of honesty and integrity is safe, secure, and flourishing; and Jesus provides His Spirit to help guide us to look and act more and more like the God we follow every single day.

Matthew 5

There are things we esteem above others. You prize a certain pair of shoes above your others, a certain watch, a family heirloom, a piece of tech. When you prize something like that you give it honor and you treat it differently. In short, you treat it as though it MATTERS. This is how we're called to treat marriages. Whether you're in one or not, marriages deserve your honor. Maybe that looks like taking a step toward loving your spouse in the ways that they most receive love. Maybe that looks like allowing for space for your married friends to invest into their marriages. As you pray, how do you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to honor marriage today?