Who do you need to avoid?
Who did Jesus warn us about?
Matthew 23:13
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” – Matthew 23:13
Does it ever make you wonder when the very people who kept the law so well in the days of Jesus were the very ones He warned us against?
If Jesus warned you about a certain group here is my suggestion when you see them – RUN in the opposite direction! Don’t hang with them – the condemnation, guilt and shame that they put on you is NOT healthy and will only add to your depression!
How were these people harming Jesus?
1) Pointed out every single thing He and His disciples did wrong.
2) Tried to discredit everything He said.
3) Tried to keep people from God by the law.
Could it be that they were His enemies because He was saying things like, “Love God and Love one another and so fulfill the law!”?
This was after all a very radical idea for His day and perhaps for ours as well. Love is the answer? WOW- what a concept!
Only when “God Is Love” is a reality to a person can they understand why the religious leaders so despised Him and wanted Him dead. Take a look at the passage above and you will find “7 woes to the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law.”
Again I am not saying that the law is bad- it brought me to Jesus but if I hang onto it for some form of righteousness then I am one of those under the “woes” and that is a pretty sucking place to be!
What I am saying here and throughout this whole series on Depression – God’s Healing – is this – If you don’t follow the plan of God you will have depression with no hope. The purpose of the law is clear “to bring you To Christ” Not to keep you there – that happens through His unending Love and mercy!
Find a time and a place where you probably won’t be disturbed. Take a few deep breaths and with every exhale relax as best you can. Then take 10 minutes of your day to breathe normally and:
Breathe in and say:
“God is Love”
Breathe out and say:
“God Loves me”
Practice like this for a few moments several times throughout the day if possible and see if your sense of purpose for the day changes a bit. It’s all about the Love!!
Great advise and message, Bob. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Mary!