Mar. 23 - Thursday
Luke 11:14-23Readings
Have you ever thought about Jesus as a “strong man” who enters the fortified house of our lives and takes away our armor so he can rule? Of course, that brings up the question: “What is my ‘armor,’ and why would Jesus want to take it away?”
Today’s first reading gives us some insight. God’s command through his prophet seems simple: If we listen to his voice, we will be his people and know his blessings. We just need to walk in the ways he requires. But how often we turn faithfulness to God’s commands into legalistic observance of rules! We rely on our own actions to make us God’s people, forgetting our deep need to listen to the voice of the Lord.
Then, when Jesus comes to the house of our hearts, he finds it well fortified with all the regulations we have set up to prove ourselves. This is the “armor” he wants to take away so that we can be free to relate to him in love, not as if we were simply following the rules of a contract. For at the heart of all God’s commands is his desire to have a relationship with us.
God does not want us to be a bunch of robots following some precise set of rules. He wants to be our own God, not just some divine scorekeeper up in heaven. He wants us to learn how to hear his voice when we hear his commands. He wants us to learn how to see his face in the brother or sister we are “commanded” to love. So when we hear his voice today, let’s not harden our hearts by trying to fit his ways into our expectations. Let’s try to listen with love instead, so that we will be inspired to follow and obey.
Jesus truly is the strongman. He really does want to remove the armor that keeps him at a distance. His love will not let him rest until we can be “with him,” not “scattering” the blessings of the relationship he holds out to us (Luke 11:23).
“Lord Jesus, remove the armor in which I clothe myself. I want a relationship with you. I want to be truly yours. Help me let go of my legalism so I can walk with you in love!”
posted by Thomas Cagurangan @ 8:56 PM
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