Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Without Jesus Christ as our foundation of rock, we cannot weather the storm of judgment to come upon the world and all in it. If we get the justice all have coming, there is no hope - but He paid the price once for all. That is the only sure foundation we can build on. The philosophy of men, science, reasoning, and other "gods" are only shifting sand with no absolute form to hold us up. So do we do and build upon the sayings Jesus spoke of, the only way and truth and life?
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
Lord, Lord, Or Know Him?
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Do we do God's will, starting with Him drawing us, giving faith as grace to hear and respond to the gospel, not as our will or another's by a rote prayer? And having been reborn, do we then do His will by trusting and obeying out of love and thanksgiving for the unearned grace, keeping in step with His Spirit in us? We can cry His name out, but does He have our whole heart, mind, and soul as we follow with all the strength we are given? All the "great" things we do for Him mean nothing without reconciliation to Him and living for Him.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Do we do God's will, starting with Him drawing us, giving faith as grace to hear and respond to the gospel, not as our will or another's by a rote prayer? And having been reborn, do we then do His will by trusting and obeying out of love and thanksgiving for the unearned grace, keeping in step with His Spirit in us? We can cry His name out, but does He have our whole heart, mind, and soul as we follow with all the strength we are given? All the "great" things we do for Him mean nothing without reconciliation to Him and living for Him.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Sheep's Clothing or True Fruit?
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
When someone gets popular as a television evangelist or has many best selling books and DVDs, we must ask why. Often there is false teaching that tickles the ears, promising what we get from God, not what we should give Him and walk by faith with Him. What is the fruit of their work? Is it honoring to God? We will know them by heir fruits, not their suits and smooth words.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
When someone gets popular as a television evangelist or has many best selling books and DVDs, we must ask why. Often there is false teaching that tickles the ears, promising what we get from God, not what we should give Him and walk by faith with Him. What is the fruit of their work? Is it honoring to God? We will know them by heir fruits, not their suits and smooth words.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Narrow Way is Christ Alone
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
How truly narrow is the way to life; it is only in Jesus Christ, not in a prerequisite set of rules or organized church or other organizations. He is the gate as we see in John 10, and we must be enabled to hear His voice to find the gate to enter. We cannot climb over the wall or go some other way to God - it does not exist. Those attempting to go through a wide entrance outside of Jesus Christ only walk into their own destruction which they have been headed to their entire life. Few find the gate and go in and out to find pasture, feeding on all the goodness God offers.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
How truly narrow is the way to life; it is only in Jesus Christ, not in a prerequisite set of rules or organized church or other organizations. He is the gate as we see in John 10, and we must be enabled to hear His voice to find the gate to enter. We cannot climb over the wall or go some other way to God - it does not exist. Those attempting to go through a wide entrance outside of Jesus Christ only walk into their own destruction which they have been headed to their entire life. Few find the gate and go in and out to find pasture, feeding on all the goodness God offers.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Good Gifts, Golden Rule
Matthew 7:9-12
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 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 good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
In contrast to fallen sinful men, God always gives good gifts, either the right things asked for or something even better. Men will try to not give what takes too much from them, give the opposite out of spite, or not much at all. God's grace, His great unearned gift of His Son, should always be in the front of our minds to give the best to others as we would like to see them give to us. Jesus is the ultimate gift and our example.
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 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 good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
In contrast to fallen sinful men, God always gives good gifts, either the right things asked for or something even better. Men will try to not give what takes too much from them, give the opposite out of spite, or not much at all. God's grace, His great unearned gift of His Son, should always be in the front of our minds to give the best to others as we would like to see them give to us. Jesus is the ultimate gift and our example.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Ask, Seek, Knock (A.S.K.)
Matthew 7:7-8
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
We have not when we do't ask, yet we also ask selfishly and don't receive as James wrote. If we are asking for the things to glorify God, we should persevere in prayer, continuing to ask God, not giving up seeking for the right things, and knocking at His door at the throne of grace. He answers such sincere persistent prayer when we seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else. So we do not lose hope and press on in communion with our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
We have not when we do't ask, yet we also ask selfishly and don't receive as James wrote. If we are asking for the things to glorify God, we should persevere in prayer, continuing to ask God, not giving up seeking for the right things, and knocking at His door at the throne of grace. He answers such sincere persistent prayer when we seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else. So we do not lose hope and press on in communion with our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Casting Pearls or Peas?
Matthew 7:6.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
It is thought that small pearls that look like peas would attract swine to try to eat, but finding them inedible would turn in anger to attack the one deceiving them. Just like throwing holy meat from the temple sacrifice which was to be offered to God, giving what is God's to those opposed to the Gospel leads to anger by some who cannot understand. And they turn to attack. Wisdom then is being sensitive to God's Spirit when wariness is needed, and boldness in the face of attacks when they come.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
It is thought that small pearls that look like peas would attract swine to try to eat, but finding them inedible would turn in anger to attack the one deceiving them. Just like throwing holy meat from the temple sacrifice which was to be offered to God, giving what is God's to those opposed to the Gospel leads to anger by some who cannot understand. And they turn to attack. Wisdom then is being sensitive to God's Spirit when wariness is needed, and boldness in the face of attacks when they come.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Speak Truth, Don't Speck It
Matthew 7:1-5
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
If we are to speak truth in love to help our brother, then we need to first look inside to cut down the trees in us of the forest we see in another. We can see clearly in a matter when we ourselves are doing our best before God to do the same thing right ourselves. Humility must fuel our love and concern when we help, not accuse, our brother.
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
If we are to speak truth in love to help our brother, then we need to first look inside to cut down the trees in us of the forest we see in another. We can see clearly in a matter when we ourselves are doing our best before God to do the same thing right ourselves. Humility must fuel our love and concern when we help, not accuse, our brother.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Reliance not Worry
Matthew 6:31-34
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Relying on God also means that we do not run after the things we "need," but rest in knowing as we seek Him and to be conformed to Christ in daily choices, that we will have our true needs met. Worrying about if we have enough in the future will only fog our gaze into His wonderful face. As we pray "[let] Your kingdom come," let His will be done in us by being about His kingdom's work.
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Relying on God also means that we do not run after the things we "need," but rest in knowing as we seek Him and to be conformed to Christ in daily choices, that we will have our true needs met. Worrying about if we have enough in the future will only fog our gaze into His wonderful face. As we pray "[let] Your kingdom come," let His will be done in us by being about His kingdom's work.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Cannot Serve Two Masters
Matthew 6:24-25
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Do we allow our worry about finances and making a living so much that we love the money and things it buys, losing sight of the One who supplies it all? Why worry about things that do not last at the expense of those that are eternal? If we choose to rely on God's promised goodness to meet our needs (not satisfy wants which have no end), we will have the necessities, and all else is grace on top. He must get the glory from our lives, we need not try to seek our own.
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Do we allow our worry about finances and making a living so much that we love the money and things it buys, losing sight of the One who supplies it all? Why worry about things that do not last at the expense of those that are eternal? If we choose to rely on God's promised goodness to meet our needs (not satisfy wants which have no end), we will have the necessities, and all else is grace on top. He must get the glory from our lives, we need not try to seek our own.
Monday, February 16, 2015
God's Light in the Eye
Matthew 6:22-23
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
If our eye is good, focused singly on the one thing (the good that God says) and not divided in its focus, then we walk rightly and see clearly (righteously). But if the eye is set on evil, not on God and His kingdom and righteousness, then what could be illuminated is darkened completely. To not know and follow Christ is like groping around in the dark of a deep cave, not seeing the walls nor the way out. But when He calls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, how great indeed is that sight in the light!
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
If our eye is good, focused singly on the one thing (the good that God says) and not divided in its focus, then we walk rightly and see clearly (righteously). But if the eye is set on evil, not on God and His kingdom and righteousness, then what could be illuminated is darkened completely. To not know and follow Christ is like groping around in the dark of a deep cave, not seeing the walls nor the way out. But when He calls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light, how great indeed is that sight in the light!
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Do we accumulate possessions that have no eternal value? Whatever we value is what we hold onto and collect; but in the end, it crumbles away or is taken by others (in life or in death). But the eternal things do not burn up or rot away - nobody can take away these. Ultimately our heart reflects what we fill it with, whether precious things or wood, hay, and straw that is consumed in the end. Do we truly hold dear the things the Lord values, the ones that glorify, honor, and please Him?
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Do we accumulate possessions that have no eternal value? Whatever we value is what we hold onto and collect; but in the end, it crumbles away or is taken by others (in life or in death). But the eternal things do not burn up or rot away - nobody can take away these. Ultimately our heart reflects what we fill it with, whether precious things or wood, hay, and straw that is consumed in the end. Do we truly hold dear the things the Lord values, the ones that glorify, honor, and please Him?
Friday, February 13, 2015
Fasting Before God
Matthew 6:16-18
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
If we fast to draw closer to God or work through some decision or situation, it should be a matter before God and not something to impress others with. The example here is to keep up personal hygiene to not gather sympathy or to show faux holiness, keeping it an internal spiritual matter with God. He is the rewarder, and pleasing Him in humility while we do justly and love mercy is key.
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
If we fast to draw closer to God or work through some decision or situation, it should be a matter before God and not something to impress others with. The example here is to keep up personal hygiene to not gather sympathy or to show faux holiness, keeping it an internal spiritual matter with God. He is the rewarder, and pleasing Him in humility while we do justly and love mercy is key.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Forgive to be Forgiven
Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
This tells us that God fully expects us to do as He does with us. So we must love others as ourselves. There are consequences when we refuse to forgive after He has forgiven us all in Christ for our sin deserving justly to be punished. But we do not forgive others just to be forgiven because of this, but because the second greatest commandment shows the change within should be resulting in love for others, and we can only love this way knowing and experiencing His love for us. This goes against our fallen nature, but is an essential mindset for action as we walk in step with His Spirit living in us.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
This tells us that God fully expects us to do as He does with us. So we must love others as ourselves. There are consequences when we refuse to forgive after He has forgiven us all in Christ for our sin deserving justly to be punished. But we do not forgive others just to be forgiven because of this, but because the second greatest commandment shows the change within should be resulting in love for others, and we can only love this way knowing and experiencing His love for us. This goes against our fallen nature, but is an essential mindset for action as we walk in step with His Spirit living in us.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Honor and Glorify God in Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
To honor God in prayer we must begin with confessing who He is, praising His name as the one above all others. We should not ask for how we want things to change or our view of the results, but that God's planned will is brought to fruition. We ask to not go in need and to be forgiven as we continue to fall short - knowing others do so to us and forgiving them as well. We ask to be kept from the wiles of the devil and our own fallen flesh, and tell Him we bow to His absolute authority in all things. Let it be so.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
To honor God in prayer we must begin with confessing who He is, praising His name as the one above all others. We should not ask for how we want things to change or our view of the results, but that God's planned will is brought to fruition. We ask to not go in need and to be forgiven as we continue to fall short - knowing others do so to us and forgiving them as well. We ask to be kept from the wiles of the devil and our own fallen flesh, and tell Him we bow to His absolute authority in all things. Let it be so.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Hypocritical or Sincere Prayer?
Matthew 6:5-8
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
We pray to God to honor Him and seek His will, not to impress others that we pray or how "great" we do this. Prayer is primarily between us and God, and honoring Him allows Him to honor us and answer according to His will and timing. So we must not ritually pray with empty words over and over, but with trust that He is good and faithful. So is His answer, knowing our actual needs are already known.
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
We pray to God to honor Him and seek His will, not to impress others that we pray or how "great" we do this. Prayer is primarily between us and God, and honoring Him allows Him to honor us and answer according to His will and timing. So we must not ritually pray with empty words over and over, but with trust that He is good and faithful. So is His answer, knowing our actual needs are already known.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Do Good Before God Alone
Matthew 6:1-4
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
This is what Jesus taught us - to do good for others, not for ourselves. If we want others to pat us on he back, give awards, or congratulate us on the good we do for charity, that is the sum of what we earn. If we take no notice to what we do, just moved by meeting needs and not the value of the deeds, we find favor with God who died for us when we were yet sinners..
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
This is what Jesus taught us - to do good for others, not for ourselves. If we want others to pat us on he back, give awards, or congratulate us on the good we do for charity, that is the sum of what we earn. If we take no notice to what we do, just moved by meeting needs and not the value of the deeds, we find favor with God who died for us when we were yet sinners..
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Perfectly Love Enemies
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 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 spitefully use you and persecute you, ... Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Today the Scriptures show how we all fail in this, but still are compelled to go in this direction - to not hate ones who hate us, but do good instead. And to pray for those who slander (insult, slander: use despitefully, falsely accuse, harass) and persecute (pursue in a negative sense) us. This is not the easy narrow road, but the one of completeness or the end goal of growth we are called to nonetheless. We are to be like Jesus, but we are so unlike Him still; so we must not give up, but press on to that goal at the race's end as Philippians tells us.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 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 spitefully use you and persecute you, ... Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Today the Scriptures show how we all fail in this, but still are compelled to go in this direction - to not hate ones who hate us, but do good instead. And to pray for those who slander (insult, slander: use despitefully, falsely accuse, harass) and persecute (pursue in a negative sense) us. This is not the easy narrow road, but the one of completeness or the end goal of growth we are called to nonetheless. We are to be like Jesus, but we are so unlike Him still; so we must not give up, but press on to that goal at the race's end as Philippians tells us.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Not an Eye for an Eye
Matthew 5:38-42
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Vengeance is for God to handle when He passes justice's sentence on the world at its end. For us, yielding to the merciful grace of forgiveness as He forgave us is the way to live rightly. Jesus gave the examples of taking insult and stealing what we need or value. But He went further to say we should not just respond well, but also give willingly of both our treasure and time. This is not easy for us since we are born in sin, but with regeneration we find the help and strength to do so.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Vengeance is for God to handle when He passes justice's sentence on the world at its end. For us, yielding to the merciful grace of forgiveness as He forgave us is the way to live rightly. Jesus gave the examples of taking insult and stealing what we need or value. But He went further to say we should not just respond well, but also give willingly of both our treasure and time. This is not easy for us since we are born in sin, but with regeneration we find the help and strength to do so.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Do Not Swear
Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your “Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
We are not to make empty promises, nor trust in our ability to shape events or others. Instead we must say yes we will do this or no we will or cannot, that some thing is true or false. Frivolous promises, especially attaching God's name to them to add false weight when He is not behind it, these are empty and offensive to Him and do not help others. We should say, if the Lord wills we will do this or that. Empty oaths swearing to things we will not or cannot do are in our own effort; God does not promise to back us in them.
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your “Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
We are not to make empty promises, nor trust in our ability to shape events or others. Instead we must say yes we will do this or no we will or cannot, that some thing is true or false. Frivolous promises, especially attaching God's name to them to add false weight when He is not behind it, these are empty and offensive to Him and do not help others. We should say, if the Lord wills we will do this or that. Empty oaths swearing to things we will not or cannot do are in our own effort; God does not promise to back us in them.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Divorce of the Fallen
Matthew 5:31-32
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Human nature - fallen, self serving, and opposed to God's will - gravitates to sin. Here divorce became as it is now again, for convenience or some other contrived reason. Giving a piece of paper to end a covenant apart from this is sin. Jesus told us that only a breaking of that covenant could justify divorce to break it. Man and wife, a man with a woman, are to be intimate in heart and flesh. Sexually and in sexual thoughts and desires, they are only to cleave to each other. Going to another breaks that. But the holiness of purity in thought and deed is what He calls us to.
31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Human nature - fallen, self serving, and opposed to God's will - gravitates to sin. Here divorce became as it is now again, for convenience or some other contrived reason. Giving a piece of paper to end a covenant apart from this is sin. Jesus told us that only a breaking of that covenant could justify divorce to break it. Man and wife, a man with a woman, are to be intimate in heart and flesh. Sexually and in sexual thoughts and desires, they are only to cleave to each other. Going to another breaks that. But the holiness of purity in thought and deed is what He calls us to.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Sin Begins in the Heart
Matthew 5:28-30
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Sin of all kinds begins in the thoughts and intents of the heart, which is "desperately wicked," as we are told. So the extreme phrases here telling us it is best to stop sin at the source, at the eye that takes things in and makes them twisted from God's design, and at the source of the hand that reaches to take and misuse what is not ours in ways not pleasing to Him. Without reconciliation in Christ, we all justly deserve what sin earns for us. Hell. Separation from God in torment.
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Sin of all kinds begins in the thoughts and intents of the heart, which is "desperately wicked," as we are told. So the extreme phrases here telling us it is best to stop sin at the source, at the eye that takes things in and makes them twisted from God's design, and at the source of the hand that reaches to take and misuse what is not ours in ways not pleasing to Him. Without reconciliation in Christ, we all justly deserve what sin earns for us. Hell. Separation from God in torment.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Reconcile Before Worship
Matthew 5:23-26
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
When we have offended a brother and they hold it against us, whether due to our anger (as in the previous verses) or for another wrong we have done, God does not want our gifts of worship or other service. He wants the second commandment of love for our neighbor, seeking what is best for him. Once reconciled, we are welcomed by Him. This extends to being taken to court as well - settle before going to the judge, reconciling, or face what is due. Do we so seek love for God and others?
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
When we have offended a brother and they hold it against us, whether due to our anger (as in the previous verses) or for another wrong we have done, God does not want our gifts of worship or other service. He wants the second commandment of love for our neighbor, seeking what is best for him. Once reconciled, we are welcomed by Him. This extends to being taken to court as well - settle before going to the judge, reconciling, or face what is due. Do we so seek love for God and others?
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