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Matthew 6:5-7:6; Luke 6:37-42; Matthew 7:7-20; Luke 6:43-45; Matthew 7:21-29; Luke 6:46-49<\/strong><\/span> Matthew:<\/strong> Our readings in Matthew chapter 6 today seem to be focusing quite a bit on the interior motives of why we do things \u2013 and to do things sometimes in secret, where only God will know what we are doing.\u00a0 And by giving, praying, and fasting with pure interior motives and in secret, God will reward us!\u00a0 I think there is so much truth in this\u2026\u00a0 I think when we give anonymously or pray for others quietly or fast privately, we are really worshipping God.\u00a0 We are in essence saying, \u201cGod I am doing these things because of who You are, how great You are, and to let you know how much I love You.\u00a0 I don\u2019t need to let anyone know about this act of worship between me and You.\u00a0 \u00a0You knowing is more than enough.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 Now, I do think there are times for communal giving, praying and fasting \u2013 but I love that Jesus challenges us to make sure we find private ways to worship God and God only \u2013 and not to bring glory to ourselves by desiring public praise for our \u201creligiosity\u201d\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> Verse 24 has always always been a verse that\u2019s convicted me and still does today: \u201cNo one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 There is so much truth here in these 3 little sentences\u2026\u00a0 Who are we serving in our lives today?\u00a0 I once read that one good indicator is to take a look at your monthly budget.\u00a0 Where does the money go each month?\u00a0 Interesting way to look at this.\u00a0 Maybe another way to look at this is how you spend your time each week.\u00a0 How much time is spent at work, volunteering, being with God, being with family\/friends, taking a Sabbath, etc.\u00a0 Maybe looking at how we spend our time and money is a good way to see who or what we are worshipping?\u00a0 Do you believe that it is true that we cannot serve two masters?\u00a0 Who are you serving these days?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> Today in Matthew we continue the Sermon on the Mount!\u00a0 Chapter 6 verse 27 is solid science from Jesus: \u201cCan all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.\u201d W<\/em>ouldn\u2019t you agree that scientific studies show that severe worrying (anxiety) can actually decrease the longevity of your life?\u00a0 Jesus knew his science!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Truly\u2026\u00a0 I do think you\u2019ll continue to be amazed by the scientific validity and Truth that is exhibited in the Bible over and over and over again as we read it this year!<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 6 verse 34 (in image above) has always been one of my favorites to remember: \u201cSo don\u2019t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today\u2019s trouble is enough for today.\u201d <\/em>Great great truth here.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if anyone has ever read a Dale Carnegie book about worrying?\u00a0 It\u2019s called \u201c<\/span>How to Stop Worrying and Start Living<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s been probably 10 years ago since I read this book. But, I remember Dale writing about how he lived his life in what he called \u201cday-tight compartments\u201d.\u00a0 He used a cargo ship analogy, which I won\u2019t be able to explain here well.\u00a0 But, basically, Dale got to the point where he mentally segmented his time off into morning prep time, time with family over breakfast, morning work time, lunch time, afternoon work time, dinner time, family time, time to read, sleeping time.\u00a0 \u00a0And while he was in the present time of each of these \u201ccompartments\u201d of his day he would not worry at all about the other compartments even in that very same day!\u00a0 It\u2019s pretty interesting to think about\u2026 when you are at work, you focus on work and you don\u2019t daydream or worry about your personal life \u2013 but, once you are off work, you then don\u2019t worry about work at all.\u00a0 \u00a0I don\u2019t know\u2026\u00a0 maybe this Dale Carnegie \u201cday-tight compartments\u201d is only helpful to me\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0I recommend you listen to Jesus\u2019 advice on worrying before you listen to Dale or mine!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 But, if you do worry a lot, this Dale Carnegie book may very helpful for you as well. <\/span><\/p>\n Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 through 6 are interesting.\u00a0 Jesus clearly says to not judge others \u2013 but then in verse 6 he says: \u201cDon\u2019t give what is holy to unholy people.\u201d <\/em>So, my thought is that we are not to \u201ccondemn\u201d people judgmentally \u2013 but that we are to be aware of and perceptive of other people\u2019s character traits.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Jesus is calling for us to walk around blissfully thinking everyone is perfect\u2026 but he is saying don\u2019t \u201ccondemn\u201d others for their actions.\u00a0 God is the only true judge of anyone\u2019s actions.\u00a0 I think it is still okay for us to take note of how people act or behave.\u00a0 Remember that 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to: \u201cTest everything.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 So, I do think it is okay (and even wise) to evaluate a person\u2019s character. Let me know your thoughts on this one in the Comments section below.<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Matthew titled \u201cMaterialism\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cMisdirected Effort\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> Verse 24 is strong: \u201cAnyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Have you really listened to Jesus\u2019 teaching these past few days as you read through the Sermon on the Mount?\u00a0 And \u2013 will you now obey Jesus\u2019 teaching?\u00a0 Would this be wise?\u00a0 Would this be like building a house on solid rock?\u00a0 Will you stay out of the sands of sin?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Matthew reminded me of the Delirious song \u201cMajesty!\u201d Here\u2019s a great live version of this song:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
What a blessing to read the Lord\u2019s Prayer in today\u2019s readings!\u00a0 I have to confess, I don\u2019t say this prayer very often\u2026 and Jesus seems to indicate pretty clearly that this is a good way to pray.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 I do pray often throughout the day \u2013 but usually it\u2019s pretty immediate stuff \u2013 bless this meal, thank you for this day, bless my time at work, etc. etc.\u00a0 What a great thing it would be if I could remember to actually pray the Lord\u2019s Prayer a bit more\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0I do think it is good to pray things beyond the Lord\u2019s Prayer \u2013 in fact, just take a look at the Psalms for some ranges of prayer. You might infer from verse 7 that we should stick only to the Lord\u2019s Prayer when praying: \u201cWhen you pray, don\u2019t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>However \u2013 I read a commentary that this verse was admonishing against the polytheistic religions where people prayed to every single god\u2019s name they could think of, and would continue to repeat all of the gods names over and over, in hopes that this \u201cbabbling\u201d would work to where one of the gods would respond to their pleading.\u00a0 \u00a0So \u2013 I think God loves and enjoys hearing us pray to Him in whatever way we do so \u2013 but we should not neglect the fact that when Jesus gave us the Lord\u2019s Prayer He said (in verse 9):\u00a0 \u201cPray like this.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Matthew titled \u201cJesus on Prayer\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cWhere Is Your Treasure?\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Today in Matthew chapter 7 we wrap up the Sermon on the Mount!\u00a0 Not a bad 3 chapters of teaching from Jesus, eh?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 Verse 20 was insightful for me today: \u201cYes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0I think this verse goes back to my post yesterday about how we are still to identify or perceive the types of people we come in contact with \u2013 without judging them or condemning them.\u00a0 And one good to way to identify someone is by the type of fruit they produce \u2013 actions they demonstrate or lives they lead.\u00a0 And while it may sometimes be easier to identify other people\u2019s fruit\u2026 maybe we ought to look at our own lives too.\u00a0 What type of fruit is your life producing?\u00a0 Is it life-giving fruit for those you come in contact with?\u00a0 \u00a0And let us not forget Jesus\u2019 warning in verse 15 today about how we are to identify false teachers.\u00a0 Do you believe there are false teachers in our world today?\u00a0 What are their fruits that you will know them by?<\/span><\/p>\n
Matthew 7:25 I think is an important verse for us to meditate upon in our own lives: \u201cThough the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won\u2019t collapse, because it is built on rock.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I never paid too much attention to this verse \u2013 I always focused on verse 24 and building a strong foundation on solid rock.\u00a0 But, I had lunch with a friend recently and he shared with me that this verse 25 \u2013 and verse 27 too \u2013 should be a reminder to each of us that storms will come in our lives.\u00a0 And I think this is so true.\u00a0 Sometimes we go through wonderful seasons of blessing, and we may think that storms will never come our way \u2013 but guess what, they will.\u00a0 If we are followers of Jesus \u2013 Jesus who endured an unimaginable storm during his passion and crucifixion \u2013 storms will come our way too.\u00a0 So, then, the key becomes if we know storms will come, we really should pay attention to verse 24 and build up a strong foundation of faith during the times of calm.\u00a0 It\u2019s kind of like the idea of saving for a rainy day \u2013 the day will come when it rains.\u00a0 So let us build up our faith and love in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit today!\u00a0 So that when the storms of life come our way, we will not collapse, but will remain faithful to the beautiful end.\u00a0 My friends, the storms will come.\u00a0 But with Jesus, we do not need to fear them or collapse under them when they come!<\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our readings in Matthew chapter 7 today titled \u201cMistaken Identity\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n