Matthew 7
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 15-20, False Prophets
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns? or figs from thistles?
Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
Jesus often used horticultural illustrations, because He lived in an agrarian, farming and ranching society. But we get His drift here.
If a fruit tree is diseased or otherwise not healthy, then the fruit it produces could be poison. In any case, it's not any good for food, so the tree would only be used for fire wood.
Healthy trees produce delicious and nutritious fruits. But you can't tell what quality of fruit a tree will produce by just looking at its leaves, you must see what it produces.
So we are to be "fruit inspectors."
False prophets and teachers come "in sheep's clothing," disguising themselves as God's people; but when you look at their lives, what do you see? How are their families functioning? What do they pursue in their off-time? What is going on behind closed doors?
When we have public personnas we live in glass houses. Our lives are open to public scrutiny. And that's right. We should not have anything to hide, because we can't hide anything from God, anyway.
So we are to check out who we are listening to, do our due diligence on our resources, to see if these teachers really are faithful to God's word, or if they're really "ravening wolves" who are only out to shear the sheep.
We are vulnerable to being sucked into the attitudes of the people we listen to. So we want to hold their teachings in abeyance until we can study God's written Word to see if what they are saying really is true. Paul called the Bereans "more noble" because they didn't take even him at his word, but checked out everything he said against Scripture (Acts 17:11). We are to do the same.
If the teacher you are listening to says anything that contradicts what God has made clear, then that shows you that this is not a man of God. Don't let him or her lead you off the narrow way; don't climb the fence or break through the hedge that hems in that road to follow something that "tickles your ears."
I have done my best to hear what God says in His Word, but if you find anything in any of my opinions or conclusions, then please call me on it. Tell me where I've mistaken God's intent, and I will check it out. I want to be faithful to my Lord Jesus Christ, and lead my readers to Him, not away from Him.
O my Father, please help me to be accurate in everything I say, that You would be lifted up in Truth and Love. Father, if anyone finds anything here that disquiets their spirit, then give them the courage to speak up. And let me accept their criticism and follow up on their comments, "to see whether these things are true."
And may Your Name be lifted up, Father, and may Your reputation be maintained. You have opened the window to let us see Who You are, and we want to see an accurate picture of You.
Father, I know that what You have showed us of Yourself is like a tiny drip from the ocean; but let that glimpse be True. Help us to know You, Father, not our idea of who we want You to be.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue in every language will confess that You are the King over all kings, the Lord over all lords, and God alone, over all other gods that have ever been worshiped. You alone deserve all worship and adoration, all praise and glory and credit and honor and majesty are Yours alone.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Saturday, March 9, 2019
The Narrow Gate
Matthew 7
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 13-14, The Narrow Gate
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
So we are to look for that small gate, that opens to a narrow, hemmed-in path. This sounds like the awful, constraining lifestyle that the World disdains.
That's why most people will pass it by, and go through the wide gate. The broad way (Broadway!) is totally loose and free, and allows all kinds of damaging and destructive lifestyles. So it's very seductive and misleading, and those people will be destroyed by it.
But the people who are honestly seeking Light and Truth will find that narrow gate, and they will know that all the hedges and fences along that narrow way are there to keep them on the path. So they will be able to experience all the wonderful and glorious bounty God put on this Earth fur us to enjoy, and eternal life with God forever.
O my Father, You are so good to us, to all of us, to all that You have made. You have offered every single person You made to choose to come to You, but there are so few who do, compared to the many who do not.
You have allowed the enemy so much influence, to have Mankind build his World to be so seductive to draw us away from You. Now we are tempted by the World, and our own defective DNA, as well as our enemy. Three directions of attack aimed at each one of us.
It's no wonder that the many refuse the narrow path for Broadway and Main Street. Father, You want to give us true freedom, that liberty that allows us to choose what is right and wholesome and freeing. To bypass all the consequences of their poor choices, just as You told Your people (in Exodus 15:26),
O Father, You love us so much! You want us to have good, productive, healthy, bountiful, joyful lives here on this beautiful Earth You made for us!
So many of Your children do not understand Your ways enough to enjoy the blessings You want to lavish upon them. Some have even swallowed the enemy's lie that "alternative lifestyles" are "normal"!
Thank You, Father, for giving me the years to study Your Word, and Your Spirit of Truth to teach me Your ways. Thank You for opening my eyes to see how Your commandments and precepts and statutes protect me from so many horrible consequences! Just like a child in a fenced yard has a barrier between him and the traffic in the street on the other side of the fence. He's not restricted, he's protected.
And I am protected, and have been freed to enjoy Your wonderful blessings! O Father, show all Your children how the liberty You provide them is so much better than the license the World offers. Your freedom leads to Life eternal, but license only leads to death, eternal separation from Life.
Father, please send more workers into Your fields that are ripe and ready to be harvested. Protect those who have already gone out into the most difficult and dangerous fields; lead them to Your lost sheep who are seeking You, and protect them from the dogs and swine who are looking to destroy them.
Send me, Father, to the fields that You have prepared for me to connect with, and strengthen me to be Christ to those who are looking for Him. Show me, Father, what I need to accomplish in order to fulfill all the plans You have planned for me before You made anything.
And Your Name will be uplifted and praised, and You will be worshiped and adored, when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Your greatness and glory and honor.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 13-14, The Narrow Gate
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
So we are to look for that small gate, that opens to a narrow, hemmed-in path. This sounds like the awful, constraining lifestyle that the World disdains.
That's why most people will pass it by, and go through the wide gate. The broad way (Broadway!) is totally loose and free, and allows all kinds of damaging and destructive lifestyles. So it's very seductive and misleading, and those people will be destroyed by it.
But the people who are honestly seeking Light and Truth will find that narrow gate, and they will know that all the hedges and fences along that narrow way are there to keep them on the path. So they will be able to experience all the wonderful and glorious bounty God put on this Earth fur us to enjoy, and eternal life with God forever.
O my Father, You are so good to us, to all of us, to all that You have made. You have offered every single person You made to choose to come to You, but there are so few who do, compared to the many who do not.
You have allowed the enemy so much influence, to have Mankind build his World to be so seductive to draw us away from You. Now we are tempted by the World, and our own defective DNA, as well as our enemy. Three directions of attack aimed at each one of us.
It's no wonder that the many refuse the narrow path for Broadway and Main Street. Father, You want to give us true freedom, that liberty that allows us to choose what is right and wholesome and freeing. To bypass all the consequences of their poor choices, just as You told Your people (in Exodus 15:26),
If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I the Lord am your Healer.You wanted them to bypass all the consequences the Egyptians suffered by all their unhealthy practises. And You also want to protect us from the results of the unhealthy lifestyles that spread the diseases that are rampant in our World today.
O Father, You love us so much! You want us to have good, productive, healthy, bountiful, joyful lives here on this beautiful Earth You made for us!
So many of Your children do not understand Your ways enough to enjoy the blessings You want to lavish upon them. Some have even swallowed the enemy's lie that "alternative lifestyles" are "normal"!
Thank You, Father, for giving me the years to study Your Word, and Your Spirit of Truth to teach me Your ways. Thank You for opening my eyes to see how Your commandments and precepts and statutes protect me from so many horrible consequences! Just like a child in a fenced yard has a barrier between him and the traffic in the street on the other side of the fence. He's not restricted, he's protected.
And I am protected, and have been freed to enjoy Your wonderful blessings! O Father, show all Your children how the liberty You provide them is so much better than the license the World offers. Your freedom leads to Life eternal, but license only leads to death, eternal separation from Life.
Father, please send more workers into Your fields that are ripe and ready to be harvested. Protect those who have already gone out into the most difficult and dangerous fields; lead them to Your lost sheep who are seeking You, and protect them from the dogs and swine who are looking to destroy them.
Send me, Father, to the fields that You have prepared for me to connect with, and strengthen me to be Christ to those who are looking for Him. Show me, Father, what I need to accomplish in order to fulfill all the plans You have planned for me before You made anything.
And Your Name will be uplifted and praised, and You will be worshiped and adored, when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Your greatness and glory and honor.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, March 8, 2019
Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew 7
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 7-11, Ask, Seek, Knock
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
This is the basis of The Secret, the World's program for amassing the World's abundance. And it works, because this is how God designed the system to work.
To ask, we need to know what it is we are asking for, to be clear in our desires for what we want. Then to actually say out loud or write down what it is that we want. This clarifies the concept in our minds, and we believe it's really possible.
To seek is to go for it. Don't just sit back and expect it to come to you, go out after it.
To knock is to do the actual work that will make it happen.
Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, he won't give him a snake, will he?
If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
If we, as sinful human beings, will give our children what they need to eat and grow, and care for them; how much more will our Heavenly Father, who is perfectly good and does everything perfectly, understand what we need and what our hearts' desires are. So we can trust Him to answer our prayer.
V. 12, the Golden Rule
In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Here it is, The Golden Rule that every Nation and major religion has recommended. I've heard it expressed in several ways: to "do unto others as you would have others do unto you;" to "walk in his moccasins;" to "walk in his shoes;" to "put yourself in his place."
They all pretty much say the same thing: To love your brother as you love yourself. This is the basis of order in every society in the World. Everybody knows this concept, it's written on our hearts.
O Father, You are our good, good Father, Who gives us every good and perfect gift from Above. And You have put into this Earth all the resources to give every one of us great bounty to enjoy, no matter how many of us there are. When we do things Your way, then we reap Your rewards, both in this World and in the next.
Help me, Father, to be clear in my thinking, and faithful to pursue Your ways, and not lazy in doing the work that will bring about great feats in Your power, to bring Your Name great renown. I know that Your love for me is greater than I can imagine, and that Your gifts for me are beyond my ability to comprehend.
It's only my own lack of trusting You and asking, seeking, and knocking, that deprives me of all the fullness of Your gifting to me.
Lead me, Father, in Your paths of righteousness, that my life will be blameless before the World, drawing others to Yourself in Your mercy and grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 7-11, Ask, Seek, Knock
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
This is the basis of The Secret, the World's program for amassing the World's abundance. And it works, because this is how God designed the system to work.
To ask, we need to know what it is we are asking for, to be clear in our desires for what we want. Then to actually say out loud or write down what it is that we want. This clarifies the concept in our minds, and we believe it's really possible.
To seek is to go for it. Don't just sit back and expect it to come to you, go out after it.
To knock is to do the actual work that will make it happen.
Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, he won't give him a snake, will he?
If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
If we, as sinful human beings, will give our children what they need to eat and grow, and care for them; how much more will our Heavenly Father, who is perfectly good and does everything perfectly, understand what we need and what our hearts' desires are. So we can trust Him to answer our prayer.
V. 12, the Golden Rule
In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Here it is, The Golden Rule that every Nation and major religion has recommended. I've heard it expressed in several ways: to "do unto others as you would have others do unto you;" to "walk in his moccasins;" to "walk in his shoes;" to "put yourself in his place."
They all pretty much say the same thing: To love your brother as you love yourself. This is the basis of order in every society in the World. Everybody knows this concept, it's written on our hearts.
O Father, You are our good, good Father, Who gives us every good and perfect gift from Above. And You have put into this Earth all the resources to give every one of us great bounty to enjoy, no matter how many of us there are. When we do things Your way, then we reap Your rewards, both in this World and in the next.
Help me, Father, to be clear in my thinking, and faithful to pursue Your ways, and not lazy in doing the work that will bring about great feats in Your power, to bring Your Name great renown. I know that Your love for me is greater than I can imagine, and that Your gifts for me are beyond my ability to comprehend.
It's only my own lack of trusting You and asking, seeking, and knocking, that deprives me of all the fullness of Your gifting to me.
Lead me, Father, in Your paths of righteousness, that my life will be blameless before the World, drawing others to Yourself in Your mercy and grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Dogs and Swine
Matthew 7
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 1-2, Judging
Judge not, that you be not judged.
For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Jesus is saying that if we are judgmental, then we also will be judged with the same judgmentalism we have given out. So if we are gentle and compassionate in our judgment of others' characters, then we also will receive the same from them. He's not saying that we should not be discerning.
Vs. 3-5, Beam and mote
And why do you see the mote that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam that is in your own eye?
Or how can you say to your brother, let me take the mote out of your eye, when the beam is in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the mote out of your brother's eye.
Jesus is using humor here: can you imagine someone with a two-by-four stuck in his eye?
This is paying attention to someone else's misdemeanor while we are ignoring our own much more serious crime. It's deflecting attention from our own destructive addiction to someone else's slight mistake.
He is saying that we need to pay attention to our own walk in following Christ, and keep on that narrow path, before we will be qualified to assist someone else who needs help. We need to be where we need to be in order to help someone else.
But then we are to help our brother. It's painful to have a speck in your eye. Those who have gained the victory over their weakness will be able to share with another how they did it, and encourage them along.
V. 6, Pearls and swine
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
This sounds disasterous. We have holy pearls of wisdom to share with others, and we invite them to learn and do better in life. But we need to be discerning about what we say to who, and how we say it.
There are people out there who refuse to listen to reason, and when someone tries to help them, they are slandered and dragged through the mud for it.
Those who refuse good sense will not be open to God's wisdom, either. So when the righteous people do what is righteous, these "dogs" and "swine" will react with trying to destroy the righteousness (trample them under their feet) and those who are promoting it (turn and tear you to pieces).
That's why we have so much negative press attacking those in office who are doing what will lead our Nation back into the prosperity we enjoyed before our moral tone fell so low.
And we need also to take this personally in our living every day in the neighborhood and society and culture in which we find ourselves. We don't want to invite attacks, but we do have a responsibility to show others that better way, through Christ our Redeemer.
O my Father, please help me to be Christ to those who don't know Him yet. Help me to be open and gentle and understanding and compassionate with others whose path intersects with mine. Help me to see them with Your eyes, not my own, that I might see them as precious as You do.
Father, please protect those who are living in glass houses of power and authority, as they do what You have enabled them to do for our Nation. Protect them and their families and their staff and those who are helping them turn this Nation back to Your righteousness that produces the prosperity You have put in this Earth for us all.
Help Your children, Father, strengthen us and protect us, give us Your boldness with compassion, and enable us to accomplish the work of Your Kingdom, storming the gates of Hell, pulling Your lost sheep out of the fire.
Father, send more laborers into Your fields that are already ripe for harvest; lead us to those who are seeking You, protecting us from the dogs and swine that defy everything that is good and wholesome and right.
That all the lost sheep would be found and brought into the safety of the One Fold with One Shepherd. That every knee will bow, and every tongue in every language will profess Your glory and majesty and authority and greatness over all that You have created and made.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 1-2, Judging
Judge not, that you be not judged.
For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Jesus is saying that if we are judgmental, then we also will be judged with the same judgmentalism we have given out. So if we are gentle and compassionate in our judgment of others' characters, then we also will receive the same from them. He's not saying that we should not be discerning.
Vs. 3-5, Beam and mote
And why do you see the mote that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam that is in your own eye?
Or how can you say to your brother, let me take the mote out of your eye, when the beam is in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the mote out of your brother's eye.
Jesus is using humor here: can you imagine someone with a two-by-four stuck in his eye?
This is paying attention to someone else's misdemeanor while we are ignoring our own much more serious crime. It's deflecting attention from our own destructive addiction to someone else's slight mistake.
He is saying that we need to pay attention to our own walk in following Christ, and keep on that narrow path, before we will be qualified to assist someone else who needs help. We need to be where we need to be in order to help someone else.
But then we are to help our brother. It's painful to have a speck in your eye. Those who have gained the victory over their weakness will be able to share with another how they did it, and encourage them along.
V. 6, Pearls and swine
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
This sounds disasterous. We have holy pearls of wisdom to share with others, and we invite them to learn and do better in life. But we need to be discerning about what we say to who, and how we say it.
There are people out there who refuse to listen to reason, and when someone tries to help them, they are slandered and dragged through the mud for it.
Those who refuse good sense will not be open to God's wisdom, either. So when the righteous people do what is righteous, these "dogs" and "swine" will react with trying to destroy the righteousness (trample them under their feet) and those who are promoting it (turn and tear you to pieces).
That's why we have so much negative press attacking those in office who are doing what will lead our Nation back into the prosperity we enjoyed before our moral tone fell so low.
And we need also to take this personally in our living every day in the neighborhood and society and culture in which we find ourselves. We don't want to invite attacks, but we do have a responsibility to show others that better way, through Christ our Redeemer.
O my Father, please help me to be Christ to those who don't know Him yet. Help me to be open and gentle and understanding and compassionate with others whose path intersects with mine. Help me to see them with Your eyes, not my own, that I might see them as precious as You do.
Father, please protect those who are living in glass houses of power and authority, as they do what You have enabled them to do for our Nation. Protect them and their families and their staff and those who are helping them turn this Nation back to Your righteousness that produces the prosperity You have put in this Earth for us all.
Help Your children, Father, strengthen us and protect us, give us Your boldness with compassion, and enable us to accomplish the work of Your Kingdom, storming the gates of Hell, pulling Your lost sheep out of the fire.
Father, send more laborers into Your fields that are already ripe for harvest; lead us to those who are seeking You, protecting us from the dogs and swine that defy everything that is good and wholesome and right.
That all the lost sheep would be found and brought into the safety of the One Fold with One Shepherd. That every knee will bow, and every tongue in every language will profess Your glory and majesty and authority and greatness over all that You have created and made.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
All These Things
Matthew 6
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 19-21, Treasures
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where moth and rust corrupts and where thieves break in and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So we're not to base our security on anything we can set aside "for retirement" here in this life. If we save money, then inflation reduces its value continually; or if we put our investments in gold or silver, or in fine art, or in real estate; all of it will one day burn up. Nothing in this life lasts, it all "comes to pass."
How much more secure and long-lasting to put whatever we have toward God's Kingdom. It will last forever, and continually increase eternally.
I'm not saying to not take care of your needs while you're still here, but don't base your security on what you gather together in this World.
I don't see any of God's people in the Bible "retiring." Moses, and Abraham, and Paul, and all the other Heroes of the Faith continued to serve God and His Kingdom as long as they drew breath, no matter how old they grew. Even in old age they accomplished amazing feats in God's power.
Vs. 22-23, Light and darkness
The light of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye sees with integrity, then your whole body will be full of light (health).
But if your eye sees with evil intent, then your whole body (self) will be filled with darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is really darkness, then how great is that darkness!
Our attititude determines how we see with our eyes. We tend to see what we want to see, and we will find what we're looking for, be it good or evil, positive or negative.
The way light works is that it overpowers and chases away darkness. So if there is darkness in us that is acting like light, then the darkness will be overpowering and eradicating what light had been there--the deception will win over whatever truth had been there before. So that darkness will continually grow darker and deeper. A very sad situation.
V. 24, Two masters
No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We cannot divide our loyalties. We will depend on either God or our finances. We cannot say that we love and serve God while we're hoarding our Earthly resources. I'm speaking to myself here, too.
If I'm really depending on my Heavenly Father, then why do I still look for ways to increase my income so I can serve the Kingdom? What am I focusing on here, God's provision or my income?
Vs. 25-34
This is why I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Do not worry then, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What will we wear for clothing?
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
So don't worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.
When we take care of today's responsibilities, then tomorrow will not have any carry-over from today.
O my Father, show me the balance of my responsibility to care for myself and my trust in You to provide for me.
Teach me how to trust You without worrying about "all these things." Father, You know that I want to serve You. Show me what You would have me do to "occupy" until the return of my Lord. But don't let my primary focus be on the things of this World. Show me how to balance these priorities.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 19-21, Treasures
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where moth and rust corrupts and where thieves break in and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So we're not to base our security on anything we can set aside "for retirement" here in this life. If we save money, then inflation reduces its value continually; or if we put our investments in gold or silver, or in fine art, or in real estate; all of it will one day burn up. Nothing in this life lasts, it all "comes to pass."
How much more secure and long-lasting to put whatever we have toward God's Kingdom. It will last forever, and continually increase eternally.
I'm not saying to not take care of your needs while you're still here, but don't base your security on what you gather together in this World.
I don't see any of God's people in the Bible "retiring." Moses, and Abraham, and Paul, and all the other Heroes of the Faith continued to serve God and His Kingdom as long as they drew breath, no matter how old they grew. Even in old age they accomplished amazing feats in God's power.
Vs. 22-23, Light and darkness
The light of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye sees with integrity, then your whole body will be full of light (health).
But if your eye sees with evil intent, then your whole body (self) will be filled with darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is really darkness, then how great is that darkness!
Our attititude determines how we see with our eyes. We tend to see what we want to see, and we will find what we're looking for, be it good or evil, positive or negative.
The way light works is that it overpowers and chases away darkness. So if there is darkness in us that is acting like light, then the darkness will be overpowering and eradicating what light had been there--the deception will win over whatever truth had been there before. So that darkness will continually grow darker and deeper. A very sad situation.
V. 24, Two masters
No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We cannot divide our loyalties. We will depend on either God or our finances. We cannot say that we love and serve God while we're hoarding our Earthly resources. I'm speaking to myself here, too.
If I'm really depending on my Heavenly Father, then why do I still look for ways to increase my income so I can serve the Kingdom? What am I focusing on here, God's provision or my income?
Vs. 25-34
This is why I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Do not worry then, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What will we wear for clothing?
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
So don't worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.
When we take care of today's responsibilities, then tomorrow will not have any carry-over from today.
O my Father, show me the balance of my responsibility to care for myself and my trust in You to provide for me.
Teach me how to trust You without worrying about "all these things." Father, You know that I want to serve You. Show me what You would have me do to "occupy" until the return of my Lord. But don't let my primary focus be on the things of this World. Show me how to balance these priorities.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Prayer
Matthew 6
The Sermon on the Mount
Hypocrites
Vs. 1-4, Giving
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be seen of them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven.
So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hyocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truely I say to you, they have their reward in full.
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
"Hypocrites" comes from a Greek word that means, "actor, performer." So these religious super-stars were only acting in order to receive honor and respect from other people, to be held in high esteem by them. But their hearts weren't in it.
Jesus said that when we finance charities or put our tithe in the offering plate, we are not to make any big thing of it, but just give quietly. Our motive is not to be popular or famous, we just want to see that God's work has the resources it needs to further the Gospel.
Our attitude is the key here: the reason why we're giving our money is revealed in the manner in which we make the transaction. We will be rewarded; either by a pat on the back, or by having a bigger mansion in Heaven, able to do more for our God forever.
Vs. 5-17, Prayer
When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites; they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
And when your're praying, don't use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do (mantras?), for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
So don't be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
So we are to seek out our Father in an intimate setting, and just curl up on His lap and ask Him for what we need, as a child in Daddy's arms.
Then He gives us "The Lord's Prayer," an example, like an outline, to use in our own prayers.
Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
First acknowledge your relationship with Him and recognize His position.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Desire for His righteousness to be the standard of living here on the Earth, just as it is in His perfect Heaven; for Jesus to reign as our King.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Ask Him for whatever it is you need for this day, each day; don't try to store it up for tomorrow. The manna had to be gathered every day, it rotted overnight.
And forgive us our debts [trespasses, sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who have trespassed against us].
We are always to forgive one another and never hold a grudge, for it only hurts ourselves. Let it go.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Ask that we would follow Him away from temptation, and to strengthen us in our battle with the evil one (check out our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:11-17).
For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
End your prayer with praise.
So the pattern for prayer here is:
--Salutation (Hey, Dad, You're the best!)
--Praise and desire for His way, always
--Ask for what you need today
--Confess whatever needs to be cleaned out, and forgive whoever slighted you
--Ask for His strength in the spiritual battle we are waging today
--End with more praise.
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
This is how important forgiveness is. If we refuse to forgive others, then I would question if God has ever forgiven you. He forgives us more than we would ever need to forgive one another, and it only harms ourselves to hang on to it. Release it, let it go, give it to God. Then you can experience His peace.
If you've forgiven, but it still hurts to think about it; then forgive again. Sometimes it's hard to really let it go, and we need to continually forgive, until it doesn't hurt any more.
O my Father, Your Word is so wonderful, because You are so wonderful! Thank You for giving me understanding and insights into what You are saying to us. Thank You for Your great Love wherewith You have loved each one of us.
Thank You for loving me! You know me, You know all about me, all my weaknesses and faults and failings; and You love me anyway! You are so amazing! Thank You!
It's no wonder that every created being will bow down to You and worship You; for to see You at all is to see how awesome You are! There's no denying Who You are. It's so obvious that You alone deserve all the praise, all the honor, all the glory, all the credit for all You've done! Only You are God, no other at all.
O Father, continue to help me, strengthen me, let not my weaknesses trip me up, but hold me securely in Your hand. Though I may stumble, I will not fall, with my hand in Yours. Lead me on, Father; on that narrow path that leads to righteousness and glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Sermon on the Mount
Hypocrites
Vs. 1-4, Giving
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be seen of them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven.
So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hyocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truely I say to you, they have their reward in full.
But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
"Hypocrites" comes from a Greek word that means, "actor, performer." So these religious super-stars were only acting in order to receive honor and respect from other people, to be held in high esteem by them. But their hearts weren't in it.
Jesus said that when we finance charities or put our tithe in the offering plate, we are not to make any big thing of it, but just give quietly. Our motive is not to be popular or famous, we just want to see that God's work has the resources it needs to further the Gospel.
Our attitude is the key here: the reason why we're giving our money is revealed in the manner in which we make the transaction. We will be rewarded; either by a pat on the back, or by having a bigger mansion in Heaven, able to do more for our God forever.
Vs. 5-17, Prayer
When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites; they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
And when your're praying, don't use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do (mantras?), for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
So don't be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
So we are to seek out our Father in an intimate setting, and just curl up on His lap and ask Him for what we need, as a child in Daddy's arms.
Then He gives us "The Lord's Prayer," an example, like an outline, to use in our own prayers.
Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
First acknowledge your relationship with Him and recognize His position.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Desire for His righteousness to be the standard of living here on the Earth, just as it is in His perfect Heaven; for Jesus to reign as our King.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Ask Him for whatever it is you need for this day, each day; don't try to store it up for tomorrow. The manna had to be gathered every day, it rotted overnight.
And forgive us our debts [trespasses, sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who have trespassed against us].
We are always to forgive one another and never hold a grudge, for it only hurts ourselves. Let it go.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Ask that we would follow Him away from temptation, and to strengthen us in our battle with the evil one (check out our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:11-17).
For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
End your prayer with praise.
So the pattern for prayer here is:
--Salutation (Hey, Dad, You're the best!)
--Praise and desire for His way, always
--Ask for what you need today
--Confess whatever needs to be cleaned out, and forgive whoever slighted you
--Ask for His strength in the spiritual battle we are waging today
--End with more praise.
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
This is how important forgiveness is. If we refuse to forgive others, then I would question if God has ever forgiven you. He forgives us more than we would ever need to forgive one another, and it only harms ourselves to hang on to it. Release it, let it go, give it to God. Then you can experience His peace.
If you've forgiven, but it still hurts to think about it; then forgive again. Sometimes it's hard to really let it go, and we need to continually forgive, until it doesn't hurt any more.
O my Father, Your Word is so wonderful, because You are so wonderful! Thank You for giving me understanding and insights into what You are saying to us. Thank You for Your great Love wherewith You have loved each one of us.
Thank You for loving me! You know me, You know all about me, all my weaknesses and faults and failings; and You love me anyway! You are so amazing! Thank You!
It's no wonder that every created being will bow down to You and worship You; for to see You at all is to see how awesome You are! There's no denying Who You are. It's so obvious that You alone deserve all the praise, all the honor, all the glory, all the credit for all You've done! Only You are God, no other at all.
O Father, continue to help me, strengthen me, let not my weaknesses trip me up, but hold me securely in Your hand. Though I may stumble, I will not fall, with my hand in Yours. Lead me on, Father; on that narrow path that leads to righteousness and glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, March 4, 2019
You've Heard But I Say
Matthew 5
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 27-48
You have heard versus I say to you, concerning:
Adultery (vs. 27-28): ... Whoever looks at a woman lusting after her has already committed adultery in his heart.
Divorce (vs. 31-32): ... Whoever divorces his wife except for fornication has caused her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Vows (vs. 33-37): ... Swear not at all; neither by heaven ... nor by the Earth ... neither by Jerusalem ...neither by your head; ... But let your communication be Yes and No, for whatever more is said brings evil.
Going beyond Duty (vs. 38-42): Eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth versus turn the other cheek and Sue you for your shirt, give him your coat, too. ... Go the extra mile.
All these things show that God looks at our attitudes and thought processes, even before they produce the actions.
Our legislators have tried to play God and make "hate-laws" that are supposed to determine the perpetrator's frame of mind at the time of the crime. But only God knows what we're thinking. Our civil and criminal laws can only judge actions, not necessarily intentions.
When Jesus is our King, being God, He will know what we're thinking; and He will be able to maintain the peace by apprehending the criminals before the harm is done to the intended victims. Only He has authority to do that.
The Law of Love (vs. 43-48): You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.
That you may be the children of your Father in Heaven; for He makes His Sun to shine on both the evil and the good, and sends rain for the just and the unjust.
For if you only love those who love you back, what reward is in that? Don't even the tax collectors do that?
And if you're only friendly with your friends, what are you doing more than worldly people? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?
Therefore, be perfect, like your Father in Heaven is perfect.
Okay, this is impossible! To be as perfect as God the Father? What is He saying here?
So even if we do pray for our enemies, instead of against them, it's for us to do as individuals; we cannot nationally love our enemy nations, it's a personal thing we need to do personally.
The Government is not there to meet our daily needs, or to love our enemies for us; we are responsible for taking care of our own business of daily living, and to show our enemies the example of doing good to everybody, as God does in shining His Sun for everyone and giving His rain upon their crops and ours. God blesses everybody every day, but most people don't realize it.
So, as God's children, we are to show respect and honor for even those who disagree with us, and have made themselves our enemies and persecute us; for they also are made in God's image and likeness, even though it's a marred image. They also need God's healing.
O my Father, please heal and strengthen Your children who will enter into Your Kingdom; to learn to transform our minds to think Your thoughts, Father. When we're thinking Your thoughts, we will not be as vulnerable to the wrong thinking that leads into sin while we're still here in the flesh.
Teach us how to live out Your Law of Love in our daily lives, in our relationships with the others who people our worlds, both those we get along with and others. Father, we already love others as we love ourselves; that's why people who disrespect others show that they don't respect themselves, either. Help us to love others as You have loved us, with Your perfect, unconditional Love.
Help us live our lives in such a blameless way that no accusation will stick, no weapon formed against us will succeed. Let us remember that we live in glass houses, the World is watching us.
Use our lives, our actions, our relationships, and our words to bring to others the knowledge of You, Father, and Your Love and mercy and grace toward us all. Your invitation is extended to all, in that You are not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance in realizing that Jesus died for each one of us, and turn around our attitudes.
And every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is King over all kings and Lord over all lords, and worthy of all praise, honor, worship, adoration, and blessing.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 27-48
You have heard versus I say to you, concerning:
Adultery (vs. 27-28): ... Whoever looks at a woman lusting after her has already committed adultery in his heart.
Divorce (vs. 31-32): ... Whoever divorces his wife except for fornication has caused her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Vows (vs. 33-37): ... Swear not at all; neither by heaven ... nor by the Earth ... neither by Jerusalem ...neither by your head; ... But let your communication be Yes and No, for whatever more is said brings evil.
Going beyond Duty (vs. 38-42): Eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth versus turn the other cheek and Sue you for your shirt, give him your coat, too. ... Go the extra mile.
All these things show that God looks at our attitudes and thought processes, even before they produce the actions.
Our legislators have tried to play God and make "hate-laws" that are supposed to determine the perpetrator's frame of mind at the time of the crime. But only God knows what we're thinking. Our civil and criminal laws can only judge actions, not necessarily intentions.
When Jesus is our King, being God, He will know what we're thinking; and He will be able to maintain the peace by apprehending the criminals before the harm is done to the intended victims. Only He has authority to do that.
The Law of Love (vs. 43-48): You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.
That you may be the children of your Father in Heaven; for He makes His Sun to shine on both the evil and the good, and sends rain for the just and the unjust.
For if you only love those who love you back, what reward is in that? Don't even the tax collectors do that?
And if you're only friendly with your friends, what are you doing more than worldly people? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?
Therefore, be perfect, like your Father in Heaven is perfect.
Okay, this is impossible! To be as perfect as God the Father? What is He saying here?
So even if we do pray for our enemies, instead of against them, it's for us to do as individuals; we cannot nationally love our enemy nations, it's a personal thing we need to do personally.
The Government is not there to meet our daily needs, or to love our enemies for us; we are responsible for taking care of our own business of daily living, and to show our enemies the example of doing good to everybody, as God does in shining His Sun for everyone and giving His rain upon their crops and ours. God blesses everybody every day, but most people don't realize it.
So, as God's children, we are to show respect and honor for even those who disagree with us, and have made themselves our enemies and persecute us; for they also are made in God's image and likeness, even though it's a marred image. They also need God's healing.
O my Father, please heal and strengthen Your children who will enter into Your Kingdom; to learn to transform our minds to think Your thoughts, Father. When we're thinking Your thoughts, we will not be as vulnerable to the wrong thinking that leads into sin while we're still here in the flesh.
Teach us how to live out Your Law of Love in our daily lives, in our relationships with the others who people our worlds, both those we get along with and others. Father, we already love others as we love ourselves; that's why people who disrespect others show that they don't respect themselves, either. Help us to love others as You have loved us, with Your perfect, unconditional Love.
Help us live our lives in such a blameless way that no accusation will stick, no weapon formed against us will succeed. Let us remember that we live in glass houses, the World is watching us.
Use our lives, our actions, our relationships, and our words to bring to others the knowledge of You, Father, and Your Love and mercy and grace toward us all. Your invitation is extended to all, in that You are not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance in realizing that Jesus died for each one of us, and turn around our attitudes.
And every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is King over all kings and Lord over all lords, and worthy of all praise, honor, worship, adoration, and blessing.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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