The Everyday Prayer

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day five)

After reading Matthew 7, I think it would be healthy and helpful for each of us to answer a few questions:

1) Have I entered in God’s Kingdom through the narrow gate? (Matthew 7:13-14)

2) Is there visible change and consistent indication of God’s presence and power (fruit) in my life? (Matthew 7:17-20)

3) Am I building “my house on the rock” by being intentional and desperate to hear the words of Jesus AND by practically and generously obeying those words? (Matthew 7:24-27)

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day four)

Absolutely amazing! Jesus is completing His sermon on the mount…the most comprehensive, insightful, and vital teaching ever taught. The people are amazed. What a radical departure from the Scribes and Pharisees…Jesus speaks with authority. Jesus closes with the admonition that it is the one who not only hears His words, but actually obeys them that will be counted as wise. Verse 21 says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” The saddest scenario I can think of would be to stand before judgement, thinking I had done everything right, and hear the words, “Depart from me.” Jesus has given us the foundational teaching in this sermon that will not only result in heaven, but will cause us to stand against the flood waters of temptation and testing, anchored on a rock solid foundation.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day three)

“Knock and the door will be opened to you.” We are not anonymous blips of static echoing in an indifferent, unresponsive expanse. To the contrary, the Bible teaches us that the universe will yield to our questions. The scriptures invite us to ask, seek, knock, question, inquire, wrestle, cry out, call, pursue, search. God will be found. How serious are you about looking?

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day two)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” vs. 7

This oft-quoted verse is predicated on the understanding that nothing we do will initiate grace and faith, but it is God who seeks after us. Consider what John says in his Gospel: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” 15:16

This is very freeing to me because I often hear people quote Matthew as if it is open season  on getting what you want. If we first recognize that we are called by God to be God’s children then when we ask, seek, and knock we will do so in the light of his plan of hope and future for us. Get in God’s will, recognize his power and authority, and then seek out that which will best fulfill his purpose for your life.

 

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 7:1-27 (day one)

“Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and ONLY A FEW find it.”–v 14.

Jesus was no fan of the human race, not in a generalized “I’m OK, you’re OK” sort of way.  He loved us but also saw the fatal flaw that operates in our hearts.  Most people are, as a rule, “blind guides”.

In John 3, Jesus said, “he who does not believe is CONDEMNED ALREADY”  Not a judgement that will SOMEDAY be declared, a judgement that (apart from conversion) is ALREADY true.

Some people say that eventually everyone will be saved.  Not Jesus.  The gate is small that leads to life.  ONLY A FEW find it.

We read this week the words of Christ that tell us not to judge.  Whatever else it means, it does NOT mean that all truth is equally true or that the “majority is always right”
where God is concerned.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 6:19-34 (day seven) “If your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.”–v 23.

“As long as you think the problem is ‘out there’, that very thought is the problem.”–Stephen Covey.

Jesus is an astute observer of human behavior and psychology.  He made us.  He knows how we “tick”, the mistakes we easily make.  First on His list is the desire for wrong things, setting our eyes on them.

Just as the physical eye can focus on an object or goal, so the inner eye.  We call it ambition or desire.  “Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and besides Thee I desire nothing on earth.”–Psalm 73:25.

The problem with people is not what we HAVE.  It is what we WANT and until our vision gets clear every decision will be clouded and counterproductive.

I hope you can be in Bible Study and worship this morning.  We can talk about it.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 6:19-34 (day six)

There is a lot to say about Jesus’ teaching about money, possessions, and the Kingdom of God, and all of it becomes real personal real fast. I’m not going to talk about any of that. Phew, right?! What I would like to say is this: Jesus is far more interested in restoration than judgement. The entire Sermon on the Mount is a beautifully rich invitation into the Kingdom of God. Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus’ teaching on money, is no different. Jesus invites us to a little self-evaluation, and then says, “wouldn’t you rather live for the Kingdom of God?”

So, relax Jesus is not trying to clobber you, he is hoping to restore you! So, practice a little Holy Spirit-led self-evaluation, and ask for the grace to “seek first the Kingdom of God.”

 

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 6:19-34 (day five)

Do you feel the personal intensity of this sermon (on the Mount) as Jesus begins to make application and challenge each of His listeners? The way Jesus does this in Matthew 6, is the same way His Spirit (Holy Spirit) does it now. God will begin to speak to particular areas of our lives that are NOT “in step with the Spirit” and do not reflect the strength, trust, love, and hope found in a life with Christ. And so in our Re:Verse passage this week, Jesus speaks to particularly personal areas that are outward reflections of our inward desire to trust, love, and hope in the Lord. Jesus is not intimidated by our sin. He will continue to place tension and conviction at the place and point of our sin. The goal is for our outward conduct to match our inward desires. It was the life He lived- perfect obedience. . Jerry Bridges says, “Obedience that isn’t delighted in is not perfect obedience”

“I delight to do your will, o my God; your law is within my heart” – Psalm 40:8

 

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 6:19-34 (day four)

It was one of my Mother’s favorite verses…Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” It embodies how we should live our lives…focused upon God and His purposes. Too often we get distracted from seeking His will and instead, focus upon our own needs, directions, or desires. Whether it is food, or clothing, or possessions…we need to leave that in God’s hands. When it says ‘they will be added to us’, it does not mean we will get the fanciest car or the latest fashions in clothing or even the most sumptuous meal. When we are focused upon God and His kingdom, even our desires and our level of contentment will be changed. God will be the Lord of every part of our lives. And what a wonderful promise…each day will take care of itself. How freeing is that? We have enough to take care of today…why worry about tomorrow?

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 6:19-34 (day three)

“The eye is the lamp of the body.” We think we know what we’re looking at. But do we? Jesus says maybe not. Do you know how to tell the difference between something that will last into the age to come and something that won’t? Jesus tells us clearly that there are such things that will last and such things that will crumble. Are you learning which is which? The words Jesus speaks in this passage–and his words and actions from other passages–will teach us how to see what lasts and what doesn’t. If we will believe it, the Bible will help us learn to see the world like Jesus sees the world.