October 20 – Right Living

But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." John 7:14-18

There is no unrighteousness in Him. Jesus was speaking about Himself. He is described with this character trait also in Psalms. To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:15. It is desirable for each of us to become like Christ…and then people would say of us...They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. Psalm 119:3. What a great goal…to be like Christ. In elementary school I was taught not to use double negatives…no un-. But the use of this double negative is emphatically correct. Jesus is pure—He lived and still lives in the true right way—a righteous way that is pleasing to the Heavenly Father. That’s how I want to live. That’s why I seek to know more about Jesus, more about God, every day, reading His words—especially His red letter words.

Jesus spoke to the Jews and was teaching at the temple during the Feast of Booths. The Feast of Booths this year was celebrated on September 30^th through October 8^th. This Jewish Holiday is a celebration of joy reminding us of the miracles of God in the past, present and future focusing on the recent harvest, Noah, and the wandering of the Hebrew people through the desert as they lived in tents at the time of the Exodus. So as Jesus was teaching, the Jews were marveling—amazed at His teaching. We don’t have many stories about Jesus’ as a child, but there is one recorded in Luke about when Jesus was twelve. He went to Jerusalem with His family and when they headed home, He was still at the temple. His mother and father search for Him and…after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. Luke 2:46-47. They were amazed when He was a child and were still amazed when He was grown and teaching Jesus indeed never changes. Just as He told the Jews He is teaching the words of God, our Heavenly Father, so we should be amazed. Are you?

Today would have been my mother-in-law’s 100^th birthday. She died several years ago shortly after her 90^th birthday. She was a sweet lady, always kind and generous. She had a gentle spirit and she quietly sought to know more about Jesus. Raised Catholic, she relied on others to teach her about our Savior—but she was always attentive to church attendance and Bible Study with our friends. May God bless the memories of her with her family and dear friends.

Dear Lord, as we recall how amazing You are, we are reminded to seek your righteousness. Some people didn’t believe You although they were amazed by Your words, Your teaching. May our hearts be touched again today by Your words and may we believe even more deeply in Your grace and love.

Grandma Bess – 100 B-day

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).