“When Jesus had finished these sayings [the Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching.” – Matthew 7:28 (AMP)
The gifts and grace of God upon every man is for the purpose of edification and growth of others. And when these gifts are being used, there is excitement and joy. One of these that was rampant in Jesus’ days and in our days is during the teaching of God’s Word. The Church has always been privy to revelations of the Word whilst these teachers expound the Scriptures. The joy that the eyes is enlightened to behold wondrous things from the law overwhelms the heart.
However, many are just overwhelmed by the joy of hearing God’s Words taught afresh and with power but few are really interested in doing what the Word says. It is not the excitement during teaching sessions that changes you but the reception with open heart and application of the Word that does. You must not allow yourself to be so carried away by the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit that you fail to realize the reason for the use of those gifts.
The crowd here in this passage were excited and overwhelmed by the depth of Christ’s revelation of the Word and His ability to communicate it, but, not many of them obeyed the teachings. What makes you a disciple is not the bewildered excitement you have when God’s Word is being expounded but how committed you are to living the Word. There are lots of excited responses during teachings but little of doings, hence the lack of fruit as evidence of a transformed life. Ponder well on this. Blessings.
Practical Application: You’ve had a long time of exposition of the Sermon on the Mount for many days, what are the lessons you’ve been able to harness? What decisions have you made to have a fruitful Christian life?
Confession: My life is evidently one that pleases God. I am not just excited by the teaching of the Word, but I humbly receive the engrafted word into my heart which is able to make me wise and transformed. I spend time to ponder and meditate on the Word and derive the nourishment for my spirit man therein.
Related Scripture: Matthew 7:28-29
Bible Reading: Matthew 13
