He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17.

I confess I had trouble reading that first verse cited that I read in Hearing God, because as I was reading our chapter, 2 Chronicles 17, it was one of the hopeful chapters in the record of the kings of Israel and of Judah: The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. v. 3-4. You can tell from the opening verses if a king did what was right or did what was evil in the eyes of God. If they did evil, strap in because it was bad.

As I thought about the difference between life in ancient times and our time today, it wasn’t hard to become bogged down because we think we are so sophisticated in this age and yet look at all the evil being committed today. Are we really any different? And we have the teachings of the New Testament! There is a difference with God and without God no matter which age we live in.

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, showed us in this life how to love our Father and how to love one another. We live in a world that is sick and only God – Father, Son, Spirit – can heal us. His love lights the way to the path that is Him. On that path things become clearer because His love cleanses us and the veil is lifted. That veil is the darkness of our sickness without Him. That’s why Jesus’ teachings of Matthew 5:21-48 seem so foreign and undoable to us. You have heard it said…but I tell you…He tells us the way out of the darkness of hate. What do we do with that when all around us people choose hate; when we ourselves choose hate? We keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2); I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8). The message is the same in both Testaments and in Life…keep your eyes on the Lord.

When we choose to walk on the path with God our perspective changes. He is Almighty God – Father, Son, Spirit – and His love lights the way to Him. Here with Him is Peace. Here with Him is Goodness. Here with Him is Love that heals every heart in its turn in His timing. Thank You, Lord, for so great a Love!