Tonight was the first night of our 40 days of Scripture reading. Our church has started a 40 day program of the New Testament on CD. As a family we listened to Matthew chapters 1-7. It's interesting to come at the Bible from a different mode. I usually read Scripture, but tonight I listened. Having the Words of God come to me auditorily opened my heart to new meanings. Most of the time I focus on a single chapter, digging deep into each verse to find meaning. Listening to seven chapters at one sitting lifted me to a another level. Matthew 1-4 is a chronicle of the birth of Jesus and the beginnings of His ministry. Matthew 5-7 spells out The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. His teachings convicted my spirit. When I look at myself compared to the world and the people around me I feel pretty impressed with myself. I don't find that I'm much of a sinner. Oh sure, I might gossip, I might get angry at a colleague or disrespect my husband, but that's not near as bad as spreading slander, murdering someone, or committing adultery. Right? Wrong. I forget how holy God is. His holiness is like the whitest paint on the whitest wall. No speck of dirt or tint of gray. His essence is so pure that Scripture states that "No man may look on God and live." Next to him I look like a sinkful of dirty water, dark gray with swirls of grease and bits of food floating around. Now I may not be black and thick like tar, but I am definitely not a white wall. So, the moral in this tale? Get my eyes off of those around me and onto God's holiness. I am called to holiness. Matthew 5:48 says "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Honestly, when I read that Scripture, my heart seizes in panic. How can I be perfect? I can't even go one day without criticizing someone. But, this verse serves it's purpose. "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." Gal. 3:24 The Scripture about being perfect leads me to Jesus, because the only way that I can be perfected is to run, flat out run as fast as I can, to the cross and the sanctifying work of Holy Spirit. Father help me.