Today’s Reading: Matthew 7:1-6

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” – Matthew 7:1-2

There were times when Jesus was very clear in his teaching — direct and to the point. He would then use an illustration or word picture to help us understand what he was saying. Then he would go back and repeat the directions again. This is one of those passages when Jesus spoke clearly and directly. Do not judge. Do not look at someone else and cast judgment on them.

God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? – James 4:12

If scripture is this clear, then why do we judge? Why do we allow our opinions of someone else’s behavior to influence the way in which we respond to them? How often do we see the situation someone else is in and wonder why they are not doing something to get themselves out? Why is it that we come up with solutions to other people’s problems so much easier than we come up with solutions to our own?

WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE PAST THE SIN IN ORDER TO LOVE THE SINNER.

There seems to be this lack of patience for those who have not yet surrendered to the life God is calling them to live. If we are not responding to the Holy Spirit in our interactions, we can easily say something to push them farther away from God. Words are powerful and can make a huge difference in someone’s life, positive and negative. How we choose to use the power of speech can improve someone’s experience or weigh them down with discouragement.

When it is someone else who has gotten themselves into a situation, the solution seems so easy and obvious to us, yet they do not need us to yell the obvious from the sidelines. They are well aware of the situation they are in. What they need is encouragement and love; what they need is mercy.

One year our annual theme for Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center was MOMENTS OF MERCY. We made a decision at the beginning of the year to dive deep into the meaning of mercy, and allow God to teach us what it really means to respond to the needs of others with mercy. What does it look like to see beyond the mistakes someone has made in order to see the potential of who God is calling them to be? What does it look like for my actions to reflect the character of Jesus rather than my own humanity?

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your own eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5

Jesus is NOT saying that we shouldn’t help each other, or that we should only worry about ourselves. No, he is commanding us to stop judging others for the help that they need. We need to first examine our own situations. When we do this, we will most likely see that we are not perfect either. We make mistakes and get ourselves into situations we should not be in, just like others around us. And sometimes our biggest struggle is that someone else’s sin is uncomfortably reminding us of our own regret, allowing shame to once more crowd in and steal our joy. Instead of allowing our past sins to draw us towards compassion, we embrace judgment as a way of avoiding the reminder of our own unrighteousness.

WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE PAST THE LOG IN YOUR OWN EYE TO SEE THE MERCY OF GOD.

We are all sinners in need of a Savior. It is clear that Jesus is pointing out the absurdity of our judgment of others when we are not without sin ourselves. Self-righteousness says I’m better than you and I have the right to tell you what you are doing wrong, but Jesus points to this attitude and calls it hypocrisy. Self-condemnation says I can’t see past my own sin in order to see the forgiveness that is waiting for me and for others on the other side.

As we walk this faith journey, it helps to have friends in our lives who help keep us accountable; it helps to have a friend point out our bad attitude or give us advice on the decisions we are making. Sometimes we intentionally give someone permission to point out sin in our life, but that does not give us permission to point out sin in the lives of unbelievers. In fact, we shouldn’t be surprised when sinners sin. Until they choose to let God do a transforming work in their heart, they will continue to produce sin from their sinful heart.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” – Matthew 7:6

We need to reach out and help those around us, loving them the way we would want to be loved (there’s that Golden Rule again). Jesus is not saying to ignore those who are struggling with situations or temptations. Jesus wants us to reach out in love to one another, not sit in judgment of each other.

What we say to others or about other people FLOWS FROM WHAT IS IN OUR HEART (Luke 6:43-45). A good person produces good things from their heart; an evil person produces evil things. This is good to remember the next time I am in the mood to gossip or to say something critical about someone else. Let’s use our words to make a positive difference in someone else’s day.

Lord, please forgive me for the evil things that have spilled out of my mouth. Forgive me for my criticism of others. Forgive me for my gossiping tongue. Lord, my desire is to help others. Please take this log out of my own eye so that I can reach out to others with a pure heart, extending to them a moment of mercy. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 6:25-34, 7:7-11; Psalm 17

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:21

The desires of my heart are reflected in what I cherish or hold dear. So what have I placed great value on; what do I love so dearly that I make great efforts to keep it safe? If I lost everything today, what part of that loss would break my heart the most? Let’s look back at yesterday’s questions in the context of this next passage.

AM I SERVING GOD OR MYSELF?

Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food or drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” – Matthew 6:25-27

What good is worrying doing for me? What value does it add to my life to dwell on the what-ifs and the how-comes of life? Will it change the outcome if I sit and toil over it? Have I excused my worrying by redefining it as prayer, or am I authentically choosing to pray over the things of life that tempt me to worry? Is my trust in God displayed in my thought life or in my emotional health? Perhaps today is the day for me to find freedom from my habit of worry and my obsession with concern.

“And why worry about clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” – Matthew 6:28-30

WHY DO YOU HAVE SO LITTLE FAITH?

It is easy for us to start worrying about the everyday things in life — food, clothes, finances, employment, health, etc. We often let worry take over our thoughts and consume our day. Yet Jesus’ sermon is a great reminder that we serve a God who understands; we worship a God who cares and who is faithful to provide what we need. He wants us to take our focus off of these things so that we can be focused on the eternal instead of the temporary.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:31-33

AM I SERVING GOD OR MYSELF?

Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?

God calls me to give Him the desires of my heart and let Him replace them with the desires of His heart. God calls me to give Him my focus so that He can fill my eyes with His light and turn my attention to that which has eternal value. If my eyes are focused on God, if my heart is filled with His desires, if I am serving God and not myself, than these next verses will be true in my life:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8

Before I bring my requests to God, I need to get my eyes focused on the Kingdom of God. I need to pray for the Lord to empty my heart of any desire that does not reflect the beautiful heart of God. Once I have done that, I am ready to pray for the things that matter to God. Then I am ready to ask, seek and knock. I am ready to pray from a faith that believes my Heavenly Father wants to pour out His blessings on us as He bends down to listen to our prayers (Psalm 17:6).

“You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?” – Matthew 7:9-11

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:34

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Today’s Reading: Matthew 6:19-24; Psalm 119:33-40

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8

Have you ever read these verses and responded, “So what’s the catch?” We have all asked for something we did not receive, so what must we do to gain understanding of this promise spoken by Jesus? Let’s go back to what Jesus said in his sermon right before he said this.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:33

Again, Jesus speaks of righteous living, this time in the context of focusing on the Kingdom of God as compared to focusing on our own needs. Jesus challenges His listeners to consider their focus, and so I choose to take that challenge this morning as well.

AM I SERVING GOD OR MYSELF?

Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21

What does my heart desire? Am I willing to let God fill my heart with what He desires and with what breaks His heart instead of letting my own desires for earthly gain grow? Am I so caught up in the temporary pleasure of acquiring the newest “toy” that I miss God’s prompting to serve Him with my money? Do I protect my possessions or have I made them available for God to use for His glory?

AM I SERVING GOD OR MYSELF?

Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” – Matthew 6:22-23

Consider how much life would change if we were to lose our sight. Our eye is such a small part of the body and yet, without its ability to let light in, our life would be so different. Our focus in life influences our eyes — our heart determines our focus and our focus determines what our eyes see. So where am I focused? I am either seeing the light of Jesus or I am focused on the light of the world, which is really darkness disguised as light.

AM I SERVING GOD OR MYSELF?

Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24

We serve a jealous God; He does not want us to put anything or anyone ahead of Him. The first of the Ten Commandments is “You must not have any other god but me” (Exodus 20:3). “And you must love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6). Am I serving God or money? Do I value the temporary things of this earth above the eternal Maker of heaven and earth? Sounds pretty similar to the questions we have been asking:

AM I SERVING GOD OR MYSELF?

Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?

God, thank you for the reminder this morning that what you desire for my life is so much more important than what I desire. Your purpose for my life has value, and so I choose to rest in your provision and trust you to use me to advance your Kingdom in someone else’s life. Give me eyes to see the good in people, and hope to see the possibilities before me. Amen.

Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word. – Psalm 119:35-37

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 5:15-21

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5:43-45

Many of us remember these words of Jesus from our childhood Sunday School classes. When we would get upset by the bullies, our parents would remind us that Jesus wants us to love everyone. When others treated us unjustly or unkindly, we were taught to turn the other cheek or to walk away from the confrontation. As much as I remember this godly advice, I also remember how hard it was to live out.

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” – Matthew 5:46-47

Jesus not only challenged his followers to let their righteousness surpass that of the religious teachers, he went on to set a new standard: PERFECTION. We are uncomfortable with this word. We push it aside as impossible but perhaps we are defining it incorrectly. What was Jesus expecting when he gave these instructions:

“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, be mature, be whole, be completely consecrated to God. Be exactly who God created YOU to be! Be the kind of person who lives the golden rule of treating others the way you want to be treated. Go beyond the bare requirements of the law and live to the full potential of God’s purpose in your life. Don’t settle for anything less than the perfect life He designed you to live.

BE EXACTLY WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE.

I love this message of holiness but I have to constantly remind myself that this is not a message of self-righteousness. I cannot do or be any of these things consistently based on who I am – I am just not that nice of a person on my own strength. I need God’s gift of righteousness through His son Jesus Christ in order to be the “perfect” child of God He has created me to be. Consider Paul’s teaching in the fifth chapter of Romans:

But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 5:15-21

God’s grace and forgiveness do not give me permission to keep sinning, instead God makes it possible for me to stop sinning. His gift of righteousness allows us to live in triumph over sin and death through Jesus Christ. Christ did not die to give me freedom to sin but to give me freedom from sin. Today I can stand before God “perfect” by simply consecrating myself to God and submitting my own lack of righteousness to His gift of righteousness. “You have heard…but I say…” Today I can live by what He says instead of simply following the least measure of the law. Praise God!!!

BE EXACTLY WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE.

You have heard it said that nobody is perfect, we all sin every day. But I say, we don’t have to sin every day. I say, let us not become so comfortable with our imperfections that we do not accept God’s gift of righteousness and allow Him to daily make us into the person He has called us to be. Let us allow God’s grace to do more than just cover our sins but transform us into a new creation. Let’s submit to the work of the Holy Spirit and pray for the Lord to make us into the Christ follower He created us to be.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:17–42

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” – Matthew 5:17-18

The law was given to Moses for a purpose, yet over time the use of the law had changed. Rather than being a way for God’s people to follow Him with all their heart, soul and mind, it had become a burdensome task to accomplish. Instead of God being the focus of their worship, following a list of rules had become their highest priority. The teachers of the law wore their righteousness like a badge of superiority and held it high for all to see.

VISIBILITY

So imagine their anger when Jesus began to humbly interpret the scriptures in a new way; imagine their indignation when he told the people that their righteousness must surpass that of the teachers and Pharisees in order to have eternal life.

“So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. But I warn you – unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” – Matthew 5:19-20

HUMILITY

Jesus went on to present several examples of how the Jewish leaders were pridefully stressing the extremes of the law, while missing the heart of the covenant relationship. It was not enough to simply not murder another person; God’s expectation is to humbly show love and grace to one another, not anger and unforgiveness. He wants His people to serve Him by serving others — to love Him by loving others (5:21-22).

Jesus took the standard set by the law and raised it to the level God was calling them to live at. He went on to give several examples of the righteousness he was calling his people to:

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart…

“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery…

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows!…Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’…

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also…

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you… – Matthew 5:27-43

Jesus summed it up later in his sermon when He said, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

CONSISTENCY

Jesus was calling them to live a righteous life with consistency, which is the same thing he is calling us to do today. Don’t just do the bare minimum, but serve God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength — all of the time! Love other people and treat them as you would want to be treated; show grace and extend forgiveness as you want your Heavenly Father to forgive you. Live out your faith, and let God produce a new kind of righteousness in your life.

Jesus, we ask that you forgive us for the times we have made serving you a habit rather than a passion. Forgive us for the times when we did just enough to get by, or lived out the bare minimum required in order to take away our guilt. Ignite a desire in us to serve you wholeheartedly and fill us with your righteousness, so that we can live a life consistent with your calling. Let our love for you be expressed in our actions towards one another. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 6:5-18; Psalm 65

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything will reward you.” – Matthew 6:5-6

VISIBILITY

Again Jesus speaks to us about the issue of visibility in our lives. It is so easy for us to be caught up in how we are being seen by others. We want to be noticed, appreciated and held in high esteem. It is a natural human desire to be valued by others, and so we often make the mistake of seeking our value in the opinions of those around us.

This is probably an easier trap to fall into now that social media has made our lives more visible than ever. We slant the camera just right in order to get the most flattering selfie and choose our words carefully in order to draw the attention of our friends and followers. But be careful, my friend. Jesus is warning us to pray and fast (6:16) for an audience of one, and to only seek the approval of our Father in Heaven.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” – Matthew 6:7-8

HUMILITY

Yesterday we studied the relationship between visibility, humility and consistency, and we see the same thread woven through today’s passage. The issue behind the visibility trap is pride and how it complicates the living out of our faith. So let’s keep prayer what it is supposed to be — a conversation between us and our Maker. Let’s come to Him in humility and pray as Jesus taught us to pray:

“Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” – Matthew 6:9-13

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN.

If we keep our eyes focused on the holiness of our God, we won’t get caught up in creating a righteousness of our own. When we wait in expectation of what He is going to do next, we stop making our own plans. When we rely on Him for our physical needs, as well as our spiritual redemption, we see ourselves in need of a Savior. We humbly find grace to forgive those around us who are also growing in their faith. If we daily remind ourselves of the temptation to focus on our own visibility, we will see God giving us the strength to be who He is calling us to be.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15

CONSISTENCY

One more challenge. What if we take this last verse we looked at today and loop it around to the first verse we looked at yesterday? We are the salt of the earth, but if we refuse to forgive another person, whether we have just cause or not, how will the world taste Jesus? Unforgiveness in our lives will overpower the potential of the good flavors, creating a stench that overpowers the beautiful essence of the Spirit.

Think about this. If we create a delicious omelet full of meat, cheese and vegetables, but throw in even one rotten egg, the entire meal is spoiled. If we add expired milk to our coffee, we will miss the unique notes of the coffee beans. Let’s not spoil our impact today with a rotten attitude about anyone or anything. May our lives be consistent with our testimony, so that God will be glorified in every aspect of our day. After all, what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?

I invite you to pray this prayer out loud, making it a personal commitment to the Lord today:

Father God, I praise you this morning for you are holy. I praise you for the grace and mercy that are so evident in my life. Lord, give me a Kingdom mindset as I go into my day. May I submit to your plan for my life and for the lives of those around me. Father, I trust in you for all of my needs, for you are the God who provides; I ask for your grace to continue to mold me into who you are creating me to be, for you are the God who forgives. Fill me with your Spirit and give me the strength to persevere even in the toughest of circumstances or the strongest of temptations. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:13-16, 6:1-4; Psalm 119:1-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

“You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:13-16

VISIBILITY

Jesus describes the VISIBILITY of our lives. When we accept Him as our Savior, we become representatives of Him to all those around us. We bear His name and with that comes responsibility. We are to be a light to those around us who are in darkness. Our presence in a room, on the job, in our community, on social media, around the world, is to make a difference — to add flavor.

In the same respect, if those around us know us to be Christians and we fail in representing Christ with holy lives, the influence of our lives loses its flavor. Can it be made salty again? We are not perfect and there may be times when we mess up. If so, how can we go back and regain our “salty” impact on those we know. Will they forever consider our testimony worthless, or can we humbly admit our fault and try to regain what has been lost? HUMILITY is the key ingredient in the world regaining their taste for our testimony.

HUMILITY

May those around us see good deeds coming out of our walk with Christ so that our Heavenly Father can be praised! But wait. That sounds the opposite of what Jesus continues to say in this same sermon, which carries over to chapter six.

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do — blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity. I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:1-4

Again, VISIBILITY comes down to HUMILITY. Jesus is not contradicting himself here but instead looking for CONSISTENCY of the heart. We are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world so that God can be glorified and receive the praise. We are not to call attention to our good deeds for the sake of human applause. We are to live out our lives before men for the sake of God’s Kingdom being advanced, not for our own advancement. We are to be lights that help others find their way to the one true Light of the World.

CONSISTENCY

Lord, help us to recognize the VISIBILITY of our walk with you and choose HUMILITY in order that others will see CONSISTENCY in our life. May the flavor of our life and the visibility of our walk bring you glory today. Amen.

Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!
How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word. – Psalm 119:1-16

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:1-12; 1 Peter 1:3-9

“Humble men are very fortunate!” he told them, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. Those who mourn are fortunate for they shall be comforted. The meek and lowly are fortunate for the whole wide world belongs to them. HAPPY are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. HAPPY are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. HAPPY are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. HAPPY are those who strive for peace—they shall be called the sons of God. HAPPY are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” – Matthew 5:3-10 (TLB)

Most of us know this passage from other translations that use the word “blessed”. Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers. And this is the one that catches most of us off guard — Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because GREAT is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)

WE ARE BLESSED IN BOTH THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD.

There are times when we grieve or experience the pain that comes with life. Sometimes we go through a season when the accusations of the enemy are drowning out the voice of God. It is during these battles against doubt and hurt when we need to declare the promises of God to replace the lies of Satan. We need to remind ourselves to rejoice and be glad, even when it does not come naturally. Great is my reward IN HEAVEN — not always so great here on earth.

But there is a joy that begins right here, right now, when we walk in relationship with Jesus — a joy that finds us in those moments when we need it most. This joy comes from praising God and declaring His faithfulness when others fail us or the battle intensifies. I don’t have to conjure up joy. I don’t have to pretend to be happy. Just a whisper for help and the Spirit can produce in me fruit that is unexplainable, such as JOY in the middle of a difficult situation or PEACE in the midst of a trial. Listen to these words of wisdom from Peter:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So BE TRULY GLAD. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:3-9

SO BE TRULY GLAD. REJOICE WITH A GLORIOUS, INEXPRESSIBLE JOY.

Lord, I am happy because I am blessed by a God who protects me by His power and tells me of a wonderful joy that is ahead for me. Today I choose to embrace my God in the good and the bad. I choose to be truly glad. I choose to allow the joy of the Spirit to fill me and the peace that goes beyond my understanding to wash over me. Lord, fill me with a glorious, inexpressible joy, and may that joy be evident for those around me to see. Help me to trust in you through seasons of doubt and hurt. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 5

It was not about the PHYSICAL, but about the SPIRITUAL.
It was not about the WHEN, but about the WHO.
It was not about the TIMING, but about the SOURCE.

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people – blind, lame, or paralyzed – lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. – John 5:1-10a

There were crowds of sick people all around, yet Jesus approached one man. He knew this man; he knew his situation and his need — not only for PHYSICAL healing but for SPIRITUAL healing. Jesus’ desire was for this man’s life to change. For 38 years he had been sick but Jesus had more than just physical healing in mind to change this man’s situation. Jesus wanted to give this man eternal life!

This was a miracle of life that Jesus was offering. The physical touch was for the purpose of this man believing in Jesus and choosing obedience. Jesus told this man to do two things: “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” and “Stop sinning”. The first required a MOMENT of faith and obedience. He had to believe in Jesus enough to stand up. The second required a LIFE of faith and obedience, a healing of the heart that would change the way this man lived — holy and set apart for the One who had healed him.

The Jewish leaders tried to make this miracle about timing, but Jesus corrected them. He let them know that this was not about WHEN but about WHO – not about the physical healing but about spiritual healing. While the Jewish leaders focused on the TIMING of the miracle, Jesus tried to point out to them the SOURCE of the miracle. Jesus had come to bring life and they were missing out on this miracle that was available for them because they were too caught up in the legalism of when the miracle had taken place.

WHAT HAS US SO DISTRACTED THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON THE MIRACLE OF LIFE?

It was not about HEALING, but about CHANGE.
It was not about the BODY, but about the HEART.
It was not just about a MOMENT, but about a LIFE.

“For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants…I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice — the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son.” – John 5:21, 24-26

The miracle of life is what Jesus was offering at the pool of Bethesda and it is what He is still offering us today. This miracle comes from the love of a God who would send His one and only Son to die for our sins so that we might believe and experience eternal life. This miracle of life is available to all of us but it requires more than just a MOMENT of faith and obedience; it requires a LIFE of surrender and submission. The purpose of all of these miracles performed by Jesus was to prove that He was sent by God so that we might truly believe and experience eternal life.

“John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.” – John 5:35-38

When we come to believe in who Jesus was while he was on earth and in whom he continues to be today, our hearts begin to change. God’s message is not only heard but it settles into our hearts, and we are never the same. Studying the scriptures for the sake of knowledge has value, but salvation requires an acceptance of what Jesus offers. When we respond in faith to Jesus’ teachings and his miracles, when we accept his call to holiness and lean into his gift of righteousness, God’s love moves within us and we are forever changed.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.” – John 5:39-44

Lord, give us eyes to see what today is about; give us an understanding that looks beyond the temporary issues of today to see the eternal value of your purpose for our lives. Give us the patience to focus on the source of the love within us, instead of on the timing of answered prayers. May our minds focus today on the spiritual instead of the physical. Thank you for being a Father who is always working on our behalf. Amen.

But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” – John 5:17

Today’s Reading: Mark 2:23-3:6; Luke 6:1-11

THE PHARISEES HAD A QUESTION FOR JESUS.

QUESTION: “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” – Luke 6:2

The Pharisees watched Jesus closely, especially on the Sabbath. They wanted to catch him breaking the Jewish traditions and laws so as to have grounds to accuse him and shut down his ministry. They had his disciples under close surveillance.

The question they asked Jesus also exaggerated the truth; it made it sound like the disciples were harvesting the fields on the Sabbath. The truth was that they simply broke off some heads of grain, rubbed off the husks with their hands, and then ate the grain. In other words, they fixed themselves a quick snack as they walked by the grainfields.

ANSWER: “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.” – Luke 6:5

JESUS HAD A QUESTION FOR THE PHARISEES.

Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! – Luke 6:8-10

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there in that moment as Jesus took the time to make eye contact with each and every one of his accusers? Jesus knew their thoughts and he knew their motives. He knew that what he was about to do was going to make them very angry — angry enough to make them start plotting against him.

Jesus looks at the heart of each and every one of us — individually. He knows when we use the Sabbath as an excuse to make the day about ourselves when His intention has always been that the Sabbath would be about Him. The Sabbath is not a day for us to focus on our own needs for rest, but to slow down the busyness of our lives and focus our attention fully on Jesus.

“I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” – Matthew 12:7b & Hosea 6:6

When we are fully focused on Him and we feel His eye on us, God may move on our hearts to show mercy to someone or to do something for Him. Our response should be one of obedience. The Sabbath is a great day to worship God and a great day to hear from Him. Isn’t it also a great day to respond in obedience, no matter what He is asking us to do? Isn’t it appropriate to serve others by serving at the church?

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” – Matthew 12:11-12

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” – Mark 2:27

JESUS BECAME ANGRY WITH THE ATTITUDES OF THE PHARISEES.

Mark describes Jesus as experiencing both anger at the Pharisees’ manipulation and sadness at the hardness of their hearts. Knowing how they were about to respond, he told the man to hold out his deformed hand and he healed it. He restored that which was broken and healed that which was wounded.

At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him. – Luke 6:11

THE PHARISEES BECAME ANGRY WITH THE WORDS OF JESUS.

Knowing his actions would incite the anger of those who plotted against him, Jesus made the decision to heal the man with the deformed hand. In four simple words, the power of Jesus was displayed and the anger of his enemies was unleashed — HOLD OUT YOUR HAND. Jesus’ ministry was not for the sake of popularity but for the sake of redemption. He said what he needed to say and did what he needed to do, even when it resulted in criticism and hatred.

Let’s reach out and allow God to use our hands however and whenever He asks. Let’s care more about ministering to the needs of others than we care about ourselves. Let’s respond to Jesus by holding out our hands, empty of our own agenda and available to be used by Him today.

Lord, I sit here this morning with a full heart and empty hands. I give you this day and commit to being available to be used by you in the lives of those around me. Give me the strength to be obedient and the humility to be submissive to what you want to do through me today. Lord, I hold out my hand and ask for your healing impact on my heart, mind, body and soul so that I can be a vessel of your mercy and grace to those I come in contact with today. Amen.