“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Matthew 5:27,31-34,38-39,43-44

Dear God, I wonder how many “You have heard…, but I say…” statements Jesus would have for us today. I won’t try to come up with my own list because I’m too tainted by errant teaching, but I’m sure influence throughout politics would be in there somewhere.

I was talking with someone yesterday, and I asked him if there was anything he had been learning spiritually. I thought maybe he’d say something along the lines of your perspective on this, that, or the other part of life, but he said he was learning to be present in the moment with you because the present moment is where you are. Yes, that is a pretty evolved stage of spiritual development and it makes sense that that is where he is. He’s been walking with you for over 40 years, and his discipleship seems to have reached a level where he is beyond the normal dos and don’ts teachings of Christianity. He is just trying to dig deeper and deeper into communion with you.

Father, I aspire to get to that level, but it’s a process and a journey. If I live as long as he has, maybe I’ll get there, but if I don’t, at least I’ll know that I’m closer to you and knowing what you say more than I was yesterday, and I’ll have the hope of being even closer to you tomorrow. Please help me on this journey.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen