Why We Make "Every Effort" Against Sin...

On Sunday, I mentioned how the Sermon on the Mount is best thought of NOT as a new set of laws, but as a "vision trip" to God's Kingdom, so that we can truly be "the light of the world" that Jesus says we are (Matthew 5:14).

I regret we did not explore this concept even more. I wish I had spent even more time commending the beauty of the heart that is "tuned to God".

Why? Because setting our hearts on God's "zone of authority" (or what we call the Kingdom of God) is THE motivation for choosing the path of discipleship. "Your Kingdom come; your will be done" we pray in the Lord's Prayer, and if we really, REALLY want that -- then it is THAT desire that is the right motive for why "work and love and sing and pray", as Christian singer Rich Mullins so poetically put it (the song "My One Thing").

Why oh why should we do what really HURTS and remove our "right eye" or "right hand" as Jesus tells us to in Matthew 5:29,30. Why oh WHY do such radical spiritual surgery? If we fight against lust and greed in our hearts to that painful extent it will not last if we are just trying to fill a "law" and our hearts are not in it.

But our heart has to want what God wants - because it is GOOD - because we have been compelled by a vision of God's goodness - or because we "trust and obey", knowing He is Good.

Consider Dallas Willard's words - as he finishes his explanation of the passage against lust (Matthew 5:27-30) that we looked at last Sunday:

"The goodness of the kingdom heart... is the positive love of God and of those around us that fills it and crowds out the many forms of evil. From that goodness come deeds and respect and purity that characterize a sexuality as it was meant by God to be." (The Divine Conspiracy, p. 168, HarperCollins).

More on this, this week...