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INSTRUCTIONS

I'm not much of an instructions person.

It doesn't matter much what it is - electronics, furniture, device - after opening the new item I set out to putting together and making work whatever it is without the instructions.

This process usually ends with me actually pulling out the instructions because I couldn't figure something about it out.

I waste a lot of time and make my life unnecessarily difficult by not just reading and following the instructions on the front end.

There is something similar going on here as Jesus is talking about divorce.

MATTHEW 19:11

Jesus has just said the only reason folks are getting divorced is because of their hardness of hearts and that they shouldn't be getting divorced.

The disciples respond with:

10 “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

Jesus replied with:

11 “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

Here's one of the ideas here.

The teachings of Jesus can be hard because it runs contrary to what society or our disposition tells us, but not taking his word will make your life unnecessarily hard.

It's like those instructions, we expose ourselves to unnecessary hurts, habits, and hangups by going at it ourselves instead listening to the instructions of Jesus on the front end.

SCRIPTURE AND TEACHING

This is one of the reasons why scripture and teaching are so central to life.

It gives us instructions and a glimpse into the God-life that has been designed for us so that we can avoid unnecessary difficulty.

Life is already hard enough - no reason to make it more complicated and more difficult than it already is.

Read the instructions. Follow Jesus. It will help simplify and bring more joy to life.