Walk with open eyes to see the least of these.
Luke's description of Jesus is absolutely compelling. He writes of the most under the radar accounts of Jesus caring for and spending time with those society had removed or ignored. He knelt down to the hurting, sat with the dieing and cared for the elderly. It is even more than the physical healing that took place it was the spiritual healing, the forgiveness of sins.
Walk with open eyes to see the least of these.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Matthew 6:25-34 Do not be Anxious
Matthew 6:25-34 Do not be Anxious:
We live with worry and anxiety about everything. Will I get a prom dress is there enough milk for my cereal, is the milk too expired. It is simply amazing how many and how long we will be worrisome and anxious.
The problem with worry and anxiousness is unbelief. Having to much and not enough is the samething: both are not trusting in the fact that God will provide. Unbelief.
We live in a place where we do not struggle with food, clothes and shelter. But be worry about all sorts of things that do not matter to life. Think about how simple the concept Jesus is referring to. Life issues are basics not the complications you make. Work hard, do what is right, and trust the God provides for you. So many times we find that doing things our way makes the most sense. But that is not the way the world works best. God’s way is the way the world works best.
Here is the key to the whole issue found in V. 33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Right “USE” ness: what are we seeking? the way things will be and the best way to do them. How do we focus on what we were saved for? God has called us to so much more than we truly believe. Are we willing to live lives that reflect the goodness and righteousness of God? He has a Right “USE” ness for us, to be like Jesus and live like he wins in the end! How do you think about future importance not temporal insignificance?
If God wins we should live like it.
We live with worry and anxiety about everything. Will I get a prom dress is there enough milk for my cereal, is the milk too expired. It is simply amazing how many and how long we will be worrisome and anxious.
The problem with worry and anxiousness is unbelief. Having to much and not enough is the samething: both are not trusting in the fact that God will provide. Unbelief.
We live in a place where we do not struggle with food, clothes and shelter. But be worry about all sorts of things that do not matter to life. Think about how simple the concept Jesus is referring to. Life issues are basics not the complications you make. Work hard, do what is right, and trust the God provides for you. So many times we find that doing things our way makes the most sense. But that is not the way the world works best. God’s way is the way the world works best.
Here is the key to the whole issue found in V. 33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Right “USE” ness: what are we seeking? the way things will be and the best way to do them. How do we focus on what we were saved for? God has called us to so much more than we truly believe. Are we willing to live lives that reflect the goodness and righteousness of God? He has a Right “USE” ness for us, to be like Jesus and live like he wins in the end! How do you think about future importance not temporal insignificance?
If God wins we should live like it.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Matthew 6:19-24
When I read this passage on storing up treasure I get distracted. Does that ever happen to you? You get distracted by words or ideas? Sometimes when I read the Bible esspecially the words of Jesus I get lost in pictures and illustrations. One thing that got me thinking in this passage the moment Jesus says "where your treasure is there your heart will be". What is amazing and distracting all at the same time is that this phrase is counter cultural in 2011. Treasure is not dependent on your heart. Your heart follows treasure. The world in all it's wonderful ways tells us to follow out heart let our heart be our guide and there we find happiness. It is an amazing process to think through. The fact is our heart is fickle, wishy washy it is not a good compass for life. Deciding on what your treasure is will give your heart a plan. If it is not Jesus than we have lost focus we have fallen off course. It is hard to come to grips with the fact that we have found something more beautiful than Jesus. We have proven our disbelief by our desire for something more than we desire Jesus. So fight the treasure lie, let your belief in Jesus be your treasure principle, if it is Jesus than you have heart direction. How will you seek the greatest treasure of all time?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Matthew 6:5-18 Prayer and Fasting
Prayer and Fasting in the Sermon on the Mount, deal with how not to pray and fast. Jesus is showing the disciples by teaching through bad examples on how not to pray and fast. What might help us is to think about how these will further our growth in Jesus Christ. The following are excerpts from a couple commentaries and bible dictionaries all mashed together.
This model prayer is concerned in the first instance with the glory of God. Before we ask anything for ourselves, we look for the hallowing of God’s name, the extending of God’s kingdom and the doing of God’s will. These are the issues that weed out all that is self-centered in our prayer lives. It’s not just a matter of coming with our requests: it is coming with requests for things that will give glory to God, that will be in the interests of his gospel and that will produce more obedience to him in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Then we can start asking. We can ask for our needs to be met in the present, for forgiveness for the past and for protection in the future. By asking God for ‘our daily bread’, we acknowledge that all our material possessions are his to give and his to withhold. This is the language of dependence on the giver of all good gifts. By asking him to ‘forgive us our debts’, we are acknowledging a lifetime of accumulating debts we cannot repay before a God who can forgive. And by asking that he ‘lead us not into temptation’, we are looking forward realistically, knowing that we need to be kept and protected every step of life’s way.
FASTING: Refraining from eating food. The Bible describes three main forms of fasting. The normal fast involves the total abstinence of food. Luke 4:2 reveals that Jesus “ate nothing”; afterwards “He was hungry.” Jesus abstained from food but not from water.
In Acts 9:9 we read of an absolute fast where for three days Paul “did not eat or drink” (HCSB). The abstinence from both food and water seems to have lasted no more than three days (Ezra 10:6; Esther 4:16).
The partial fast in Dan. 10:3 emphasizes the restriction of diet rather than complete abstinence. The context implies that there were physical benefits resulting from this partial fast. However, this verse indicates that there was a revelation given to Daniel as a result of this time of fasting.
Fasting is the laying aside of food for a period of time when the believer is seeking to know God in a deeper experience. It is to be done as an act before God in the privacy of one’s own pursuit of God (Exod. 34:28; 1 Sam. 7:6; 1 Kings 19:8; Matt. 6:17).
Fasting is to be done with the object of seeking to know God in a deeper experience (Isa. 58; Zech. 7:5). Fasting relates to a time of confession (Ps. 69:10). Fasting can be a time of seeking a deeper prayer experience and drawing near to God in prevailing prayer (Ezra 8:23; Joel 2:12). The early church often fasted in seeking God’s will for leadership in the local church (Acts 13:2). When the early church wanted to know the mind of God, there was a time of prayer and fasting.
What Fasting really means, therefore, is abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.
Fasting is not Discipline it is something unusual and exceptional. Discipline is something we should do all the time not something that happens once in a while.
This model prayer is concerned in the first instance with the glory of God. Before we ask anything for ourselves, we look for the hallowing of God’s name, the extending of God’s kingdom and the doing of God’s will. These are the issues that weed out all that is self-centered in our prayer lives. It’s not just a matter of coming with our requests: it is coming with requests for things that will give glory to God, that will be in the interests of his gospel and that will produce more obedience to him in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Then we can start asking. We can ask for our needs to be met in the present, for forgiveness for the past and for protection in the future. By asking God for ‘our daily bread’, we acknowledge that all our material possessions are his to give and his to withhold. This is the language of dependence on the giver of all good gifts. By asking him to ‘forgive us our debts’, we are acknowledging a lifetime of accumulating debts we cannot repay before a God who can forgive. And by asking that he ‘lead us not into temptation’, we are looking forward realistically, knowing that we need to be kept and protected every step of life’s way.
FASTING: Refraining from eating food. The Bible describes three main forms of fasting. The normal fast involves the total abstinence of food. Luke 4:2 reveals that Jesus “ate nothing”; afterwards “He was hungry.” Jesus abstained from food but not from water.
In Acts 9:9 we read of an absolute fast where for three days Paul “did not eat or drink” (HCSB). The abstinence from both food and water seems to have lasted no more than three days (Ezra 10:6; Esther 4:16).
The partial fast in Dan. 10:3 emphasizes the restriction of diet rather than complete abstinence. The context implies that there were physical benefits resulting from this partial fast. However, this verse indicates that there was a revelation given to Daniel as a result of this time of fasting.
Fasting is the laying aside of food for a period of time when the believer is seeking to know God in a deeper experience. It is to be done as an act before God in the privacy of one’s own pursuit of God (Exod. 34:28; 1 Sam. 7:6; 1 Kings 19:8; Matt. 6:17).
Fasting is to be done with the object of seeking to know God in a deeper experience (Isa. 58; Zech. 7:5). Fasting relates to a time of confession (Ps. 69:10). Fasting can be a time of seeking a deeper prayer experience and drawing near to God in prevailing prayer (Ezra 8:23; Joel 2:12). The early church often fasted in seeking God’s will for leadership in the local church (Acts 13:2). When the early church wanted to know the mind of God, there was a time of prayer and fasting.
What Fasting really means, therefore, is abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.
Fasting is not Discipline it is something unusual and exceptional. Discipline is something we should do all the time not something that happens once in a while.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Matthew 5:21-6:4 Anger, Lust, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation, love your enemies and giving to the needy.
Heart Issues: We all have them and they are where we find out who we are. The Heart Not just the center of the blood circulation though it means that. Not just the emotional part of man’s nature, but here the inner man including the intellect, the affections, the will. Jesus knows exactly what he is doing as he speaks on these very specific issues. It is no secret that he was speaking to the spirit of the law not the letter of the law. Think about this phrase from the section previous: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees.” Jesus
The people Jesus would have know that what Jesus was speaking was about to show them the truth of who they were. They would soon see that this was not about what they did not do but why they did what they did. This quotes helps me grasp this perspective: “Confess not only for the reasons you have done wrong, but also for the reasons you have done right.” T. Keller
Think about Jesus words on the heart:
Matthew 12:34-For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45- The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Here is a small perspective on the illustrations of Jesus.
Anger- Words Kill
Lust- Looking in Lust/ Thinking in Lust: “The eye and the heart are the two brokers of sin.” “Passions lodge only in him who sees.”
→
Divorce- Only for unfaithfulness
→
Oaths- Yes be Yes and No be No “not on your life”
Retaliation- turn the other cheek, give your jacket too
Love your Enemies- Even unbelievers love those who love them. pray for your enemies as well
Give to the needy- no for you but for Jesus
1 John2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Jesus did not come to deal with your actions in specific; he came to deal with the motives of your heart.
Heart Motives
- Who are you really?
- This is the stuff only you and Jesus Know.
- Most of us are Fake.
4 things your heart says about you:
1. What you Love most
2. Who you are
3. Where your deepest secrets are
4. How much you need a savior
Jesus came to change your heart, and what is amazing is that your heart tells your story.
This paragraph helps to bring understanding as Christians how we deal with our heart problems:
“The one test, which you must always apply to yourself, is this, what is my relationship to God? Do I know Him? In other words, as you examine yourself before you go to bed, you do not just ask yourself if you have committed murder or adultery, or whether you have been guilty of this or that, and if you have not thank God that all is well. No. You ask yourself rather, has God been supreme in my life today? Have I lived to the glory and honor of God? Do I know him better? Have I a zeal for his honor and glory? Has there been anything in me that has been unlike Christ- thoughts, imaginations, desires, and impulses? That is the way. In other words, you examine yourself in the light of a living person and nit merely in terms of a mechanical code of rules and regulations.” D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
I have the feeling if we asked these questions we might find heart perspective. One other thought is that we might pray through Luke 11:1-13 we will find hope and joy in the fight we are taking on inside of us.
The people Jesus would have know that what Jesus was speaking was about to show them the truth of who they were. They would soon see that this was not about what they did not do but why they did what they did. This quotes helps me grasp this perspective: “Confess not only for the reasons you have done wrong, but also for the reasons you have done right.” T. Keller
Think about Jesus words on the heart:
Matthew 12:34-For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45- The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Here is a small perspective on the illustrations of Jesus.
Anger- Words Kill
Lust- Looking in Lust/ Thinking in Lust: “The eye and the heart are the two brokers of sin.” “Passions lodge only in him who sees.”
→
Divorce- Only for unfaithfulness
→
Oaths- Yes be Yes and No be No “not on your life”
Retaliation- turn the other cheek, give your jacket too
Love your Enemies- Even unbelievers love those who love them. pray for your enemies as well
Give to the needy- no for you but for Jesus
1 John2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Jesus did not come to deal with your actions in specific; he came to deal with the motives of your heart.
Heart Motives
- Who are you really?
- This is the stuff only you and Jesus Know.
- Most of us are Fake.
4 things your heart says about you:
1. What you Love most
2. Who you are
3. Where your deepest secrets are
4. How much you need a savior
Jesus came to change your heart, and what is amazing is that your heart tells your story.
This paragraph helps to bring understanding as Christians how we deal with our heart problems:
“The one test, which you must always apply to yourself, is this, what is my relationship to God? Do I know Him? In other words, as you examine yourself before you go to bed, you do not just ask yourself if you have committed murder or adultery, or whether you have been guilty of this or that, and if you have not thank God that all is well. No. You ask yourself rather, has God been supreme in my life today? Have I lived to the glory and honor of God? Do I know him better? Have I a zeal for his honor and glory? Has there been anything in me that has been unlike Christ- thoughts, imaginations, desires, and impulses? That is the way. In other words, you examine yourself in the light of a living person and nit merely in terms of a mechanical code of rules and regulations.” D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
I have the feeling if we asked these questions we might find heart perspective. One other thought is that we might pray through Luke 11:1-13 we will find hope and joy in the fight we are taking on inside of us.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Matthew 5:17-20 Christ came to fulfill the law
"Jesus is Lord! This is the triumphant witness of the New Testament. The gospel proclaims that our Creator entered our world. It is a world enslaved to sin and opposed to him. And yet by grace he did not come to destroy it, but to redeem it — to provide a means for the forgiveness of sins, adoption into his family, and the restoration of all that he has made (John 1:1–14; cf. Romans 8:20–21). By his death, Jesus defeated God‘s enemies, and ours: sin, death, and the devil (1 Corinthians 15:25–26, 54–57; Colossians 2:14–15). His resurrection is an indisputable witness to his victory, and the sure promise that all who believe in him can share in his triumph (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). It also declares him to be the judge of all the earth (Acts 17:30–31). He has ascended as ruler of the universe, and he will return to destroy his enemies and to bring his people into the fulness of a new creation where we will live with him, face to face, forever (Revelation 21–22)."Keeping it Missional Porterbrook network.
Jesus lived what we could not "perfection" he died the death we could not die. When Jesus said he came to fulfill the law he was referencing that all that was required he came to do. The law required perfection, we know that we are not perfect. The joy in knowing that God has sent the perfect sacrifice for us brings joy and peace. I am so thankful that the law was fulfilled for me. I am so blessed that the gospel was preached to me. I could not live what the law required but Jesus lived it to the letter. In his life, death, and resurrection we are forgiven and redeemed. We are clothed in Christ righteousness and God views us as he views his son. Praise be to God who is rich in mercy and grace towards his kids.
Jesus lived what we could not "perfection" he died the death we could not die. When Jesus said he came to fulfill the law he was referencing that all that was required he came to do. The law required perfection, we know that we are not perfect. The joy in knowing that God has sent the perfect sacrifice for us brings joy and peace. I am so thankful that the law was fulfilled for me. I am so blessed that the gospel was preached to me. I could not live what the law required but Jesus lived it to the letter. In his life, death, and resurrection we are forgiven and redeemed. We are clothed in Christ righteousness and God views us as he views his son. Praise be to God who is rich in mercy and grace towards his kids.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Matthew 5:13-16 Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The power of the beatitudes have now shaped us to the point of no return. Jesus is lord and savior and in full control. Our reflection upon the beatitudes and the simple yet extraordinary happiness they provide as we are poor in spirit changes us eternally. They also change us in our present condition. Jesus says that we are salt and light. We are to very significant and important elements in the ancient world. Jesus calls us a preservative and a tool for illumination.
Salt has lots of uses to us: taste and medicinal but when Jesus called us salt he communicated specifically preservative. Why preservative? I thinking being flavor of the world might be more interesting but preservative is clearly what the world needs. The world needs something to keep the evil out when Christians are present. Jesus desire for his people is to be a neutralizing agent to keep sin from growing. Salt when acting as a preservative makes bacteria unable to grow and survive. Christian should by their very lives create a more holy living space. People should act differently when Christians are present by their lives not by what they tell others to do.
Light illuminates it exposes darkness. Jesus says that we are light, we expose the world for what it is. When Christians live the way the beatitudes call them to they will always expose the world and its hidden agenda. Listen to Jesus words in John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” So disciples must function in society as an alternative and challenging community. It is by their visible goodness that they will bring glory to the God who has made them so.
So the question I asked my self; "what impurities have I let into my life to remove my salty taste? where am I allowing "my life" to cover up the light that should point to the father?"
We are the salt and Light Jesus made no mistake in choosing those to illustrations to show us who we are.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The power of the beatitudes have now shaped us to the point of no return. Jesus is lord and savior and in full control. Our reflection upon the beatitudes and the simple yet extraordinary happiness they provide as we are poor in spirit changes us eternally. They also change us in our present condition. Jesus says that we are salt and light. We are to very significant and important elements in the ancient world. Jesus calls us a preservative and a tool for illumination.
Salt has lots of uses to us: taste and medicinal but when Jesus called us salt he communicated specifically preservative. Why preservative? I thinking being flavor of the world might be more interesting but preservative is clearly what the world needs. The world needs something to keep the evil out when Christians are present. Jesus desire for his people is to be a neutralizing agent to keep sin from growing. Salt when acting as a preservative makes bacteria unable to grow and survive. Christian should by their very lives create a more holy living space. People should act differently when Christians are present by their lives not by what they tell others to do.
Light illuminates it exposes darkness. Jesus says that we are light, we expose the world for what it is. When Christians live the way the beatitudes call them to they will always expose the world and its hidden agenda. Listen to Jesus words in John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” So disciples must function in society as an alternative and challenging community. It is by their visible goodness that they will bring glory to the God who has made them so.
So the question I asked my self; "what impurities have I let into my life to remove my salty taste? where am I allowing "my life" to cover up the light that should point to the father?"
We are the salt and Light Jesus made no mistake in choosing those to illustrations to show us who we are.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Persecution is when people want to get rid of you for what you believe. Jesus says we are blessed when we are persecuted, not for what we believe but for righteousness sake. Jesus said earlier that righteousness was: the person who hungers and thirst for righteousness is the man who sees that sin and rebellion have separated him from God. He/she longs to get into right relationship of righteousness in the presence of God. When you are persecuted because you are becoming more like Christ, you will be happy.
The only way that you and I can be happy when we are persecuted is if we remember all that Jesus has said in the Beatitudes before this.
-Poor in spirit
-Mourn
-Meek
-Hunger and thirst for righteousness
-Merciful
-Pure in heart
-Peacemakers
-Persecuted for righteousness
All of these are building blocks for what God has done in us. Remember, the Beatitudes are not things you can just decide to do or be. God is the one who does the changing. These changes happen because of the Holy Spirit in us.
The result of being persecuted for righteousness sake is just like the first Beatitude. It ends with being with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. When we realize that we need Him and become poor in spirit, He will change us. When He changes us we will be like Him, and when we are like Him, we will be persecuted because God is righteousness.
Persecution is when people want to get rid of you for what you believe. Jesus says we are blessed when we are persecuted, not for what we believe but for righteousness sake. Jesus said earlier that righteousness was: the person who hungers and thirst for righteousness is the man who sees that sin and rebellion have separated him from God. He/she longs to get into right relationship of righteousness in the presence of God. When you are persecuted because you are becoming more like Christ, you will be happy.
The only way that you and I can be happy when we are persecuted is if we remember all that Jesus has said in the Beatitudes before this.
-Poor in spirit
-Mourn
-Meek
-Hunger and thirst for righteousness
-Merciful
-Pure in heart
-Peacemakers
-Persecuted for righteousness
All of these are building blocks for what God has done in us. Remember, the Beatitudes are not things you can just decide to do or be. God is the one who does the changing. These changes happen because of the Holy Spirit in us.
The result of being persecuted for righteousness sake is just like the first Beatitude. It ends with being with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. When we realize that we need Him and become poor in spirit, He will change us. When He changes us we will be like Him, and when we are like Him, we will be persecuted because God is righteousness.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
What does it mean to be a peacemaker? What would it look like to bring people back together that were at odds with one another? Being a peacemaker is to act out the character of God. God is a Peacemaker. He sent His Son to make peace with sinners though His blood. When we act as a peacemaker, we are acting like God. This is what children do. They act like their parents. Think about how many times your mom or dad says that you are just like your father or mother.
A peacemaker is someone who does not look at how things will affect them. They are looking at how they can bring two people back together. They do not worry about their own feelings but the feelings of the other people. Peacemakers do not only want people to be back in relationship with each other. Greater than that, they want to see people in right relationship with God.
A peacemaker is also someone who knows how to control his or her tongue. They do not gossip or slander people. They never talk behind someone’s back or make jokes about others that will hurt them. Being a peacemaker shows that you think about others more than you think about yourself. Peacemakers are not trying to make others like them, but trying to honor God by acting like a child of the King.
This is what it means when Jesus says “They will be sons of God.” When you are a peacemaker you are acting like your heavenly father. Great happiness comes when you are acting like the One who loves you most. Sublime happiness comes when you are living the way God intended you to live.
What does it mean to be a peacemaker? What would it look like to bring people back together that were at odds with one another? Being a peacemaker is to act out the character of God. God is a Peacemaker. He sent His Son to make peace with sinners though His blood. When we act as a peacemaker, we are acting like God. This is what children do. They act like their parents. Think about how many times your mom or dad says that you are just like your father or mother.
A peacemaker is someone who does not look at how things will affect them. They are looking at how they can bring two people back together. They do not worry about their own feelings but the feelings of the other people. Peacemakers do not only want people to be back in relationship with each other. Greater than that, they want to see people in right relationship with God.
A peacemaker is also someone who knows how to control his or her tongue. They do not gossip or slander people. They never talk behind someone’s back or make jokes about others that will hurt them. Being a peacemaker shows that you think about others more than you think about yourself. Peacemakers are not trying to make others like them, but trying to honor God by acting like a child of the King.
This is what it means when Jesus says “They will be sons of God.” When you are a peacemaker you are acting like your heavenly father. Great happiness comes when you are acting like the One who loves you most. Sublime happiness comes when you are living the way God intended you to live.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Can you imagine what it will be like to see God? Jesus tells here that we can see God if we are pure in heart. So what does this mean? Why does a pure heart also bring happiness? Why would “seeing God” be so far down the list in the Beatitudes? Remember what Jesus has been doing while teaching us. We need to realize that it is all about what He is doing in us to make us more like Himself.
Being pure in heart can simply be put as a single-minded love for God. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 22:37 what the greatest commandment is: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Jesus wants all of us to be chasing Him to bring Him glory. Think about what pure means: free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind. When Jesus has our hearts and we live for him, all the things of this world are gone. Jesus knows that He has to be what we live for in order to see God.
Jesus knows our hearts very well. He knows that our hearts are divided. He wants us to have a heart that is united. Our hearts will normally want lots of things, and not just one thing. Jesus knows we will see God when we have one thing that we want; Jesus.
So, seeing God for sure will come in heaven, when we are with him forever. But how do we see God now? When all we want is to love God and be with Him we can see God in all the places of every day. God is active. He is always working for His people. We need to be focused on having our hearts in a single, passionate pursuit of Jesus with our eyes ready to see all that God is doing.
Can you imagine what it will be like to see God? Jesus tells here that we can see God if we are pure in heart. So what does this mean? Why does a pure heart also bring happiness? Why would “seeing God” be so far down the list in the Beatitudes? Remember what Jesus has been doing while teaching us. We need to realize that it is all about what He is doing in us to make us more like Himself.
Being pure in heart can simply be put as a single-minded love for God. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 22:37 what the greatest commandment is: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Jesus wants all of us to be chasing Him to bring Him glory. Think about what pure means: free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind. When Jesus has our hearts and we live for him, all the things of this world are gone. Jesus knows that He has to be what we live for in order to see God.
Jesus knows our hearts very well. He knows that our hearts are divided. He wants us to have a heart that is united. Our hearts will normally want lots of things, and not just one thing. Jesus knows we will see God when we have one thing that we want; Jesus.
So, seeing God for sure will come in heaven, when we are with him forever. But how do we see God now? When all we want is to love God and be with Him we can see God in all the places of every day. God is active. He is always working for His people. We need to be focused on having our hearts in a single, passionate pursuit of Jesus with our eyes ready to see all that God is doing.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
As we go through the Beatitudes we need to remind ourselves that all of these phrases build on each other. They are not meant to be taken as individual phrases, but as a whole. When Jesus taught these, He knew what He was doing. He taught so that we might understand the Christian life better. Remember, Jesus is showing us the way to sublime happiness. Don’t forget, this is about what God is doing in us not what we are doing to ourselves.
The fifth Beatitude shows us that we been given mercy. God has given us something we do not deserve. He had pity on us. What did we deserve? We deserved punishment for our sin but He gave us mercy in punishing His Son instead of us. God showed us mercy when we did not deserve it.
When we look at all that God has done for us through Jesus, we begin to have a new point of view on life. We are no longer living for ourselves but for God. We now have a new way to respond when someone sins against us. We now have the ability to think like Christ. How did Jesus show mercy to sinners? How will you show mercy to them?
Being merciful doesn’t mean to be easygoing or to let sin go by. Being merciful is showing forgiveness and loving someone even when they do not do what is right. Jesus continually told people the truth about their sin and gave them mercy. Mercy is not weakness. It is power. We are not letting people off the hook for their sin, but are pointing them to Jesus.
When you have experienced mercy you show mercy. Read Matthew 18:21-35. This parable shows us what happens to our hearts when we really do not understand how much mercy and grace God has shown us. We begin to be hard and unmerciful to those who sin against us. Jesus says there is happiness in showing the mercy we have been shown.
As we go through the Beatitudes we need to remind ourselves that all of these phrases build on each other. They are not meant to be taken as individual phrases, but as a whole. When Jesus taught these, He knew what He was doing. He taught so that we might understand the Christian life better. Remember, Jesus is showing us the way to sublime happiness. Don’t forget, this is about what God is doing in us not what we are doing to ourselves.
The fifth Beatitude shows us that we been given mercy. God has given us something we do not deserve. He had pity on us. What did we deserve? We deserved punishment for our sin but He gave us mercy in punishing His Son instead of us. God showed us mercy when we did not deserve it.
When we look at all that God has done for us through Jesus, we begin to have a new point of view on life. We are no longer living for ourselves but for God. We now have a new way to respond when someone sins against us. We now have the ability to think like Christ. How did Jesus show mercy to sinners? How will you show mercy to them?
Being merciful doesn’t mean to be easygoing or to let sin go by. Being merciful is showing forgiveness and loving someone even when they do not do what is right. Jesus continually told people the truth about their sin and gave them mercy. Mercy is not weakness. It is power. We are not letting people off the hook for their sin, but are pointing them to Jesus.
When you have experienced mercy you show mercy. Read Matthew 18:21-35. This parable shows us what happens to our hearts when we really do not understand how much mercy and grace God has shown us. We begin to be hard and unmerciful to those who sin against us. Jesus says there is happiness in showing the mercy we have been shown.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
What do you hunger and thirst for? I don’t mean food. What are the things you want to see in this world or in your life? When you think about the commercials you watch on tv what are they selling you? In almost every advertisement you hear or read they are trying to sell you happiness. Our world wants you to hunger and thirst for happiness. They want you to be filled with stuff and things. The truth is, happiness is not something to seek after. Things will not satisfy you. Look at this verse again: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
When Jesus was speaking and teaching He knew what the human heart wants. Jesus knew He needed to say that happiness is not what we are hungry for, but what we get when we are filled.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? It does not mean that you want to see justice in the world or people obeying. Those are both good things but this is a personal call to you as an individual, not to the world. Here is a great definition: the person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness is the man who sees that sin and rebellion have separated him from God. That person longs to get into right relationship of righteousness in the presence of God. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who want to be with Jesus. If Jesus is perfect and holy and righteousness, then being with Him and like Him is something to hunger and thirst for.
So what are you filled with to get happiness? Did you get this happiness on your own? Where did this righteousness come from? The thing we will notice about all of the Beatitudes is that they are a gift from God. They were nothing you could do on your own. What a joy to know that God knows how to fix us. We hunger and thirst for all sorts of things, but when we hunger and thirst for Him we can be filled. This is possible because of what He did in us through Jesus’ death on the cross, not something we did to ourselves.
What do you hunger and thirst for? I don’t mean food. What are the things you want to see in this world or in your life? When you think about the commercials you watch on tv what are they selling you? In almost every advertisement you hear or read they are trying to sell you happiness. Our world wants you to hunger and thirst for happiness. They want you to be filled with stuff and things. The truth is, happiness is not something to seek after. Things will not satisfy you. Look at this verse again: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
When Jesus was speaking and teaching He knew what the human heart wants. Jesus knew He needed to say that happiness is not what we are hungry for, but what we get when we are filled.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? It does not mean that you want to see justice in the world or people obeying. Those are both good things but this is a personal call to you as an individual, not to the world. Here is a great definition: the person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness is the man who sees that sin and rebellion have separated him from God. That person longs to get into right relationship of righteousness in the presence of God. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who want to be with Jesus. If Jesus is perfect and holy and righteousness, then being with Him and like Him is something to hunger and thirst for.
So what are you filled with to get happiness? Did you get this happiness on your own? Where did this righteousness come from? The thing we will notice about all of the Beatitudes is that they are a gift from God. They were nothing you could do on your own. What a joy to know that God knows how to fix us. We hunger and thirst for all sorts of things, but when we hunger and thirst for Him we can be filled. This is possible because of what He did in us through Jesus’ death on the cross, not something we did to ourselves.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek,
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
What are some of the words that come to mind when you think of meekness? Some might be: weak, soft, gentle, quiet, reserved etc. You see, our modern view of meekness is very different than what Jesus was teaching in the third Beatitude. True meekness as described by Jesus is not natural. This is not something you are born with or that develops. It can only come from God. We need to understand and remember that all of the Beatitudes are not things we can do on our own but are a product or result of Jesus changing us from sinner to saint.
Meekness is power under control. Meekness is being able to control ourselves no matter if we are right and wrong. True meekness shows itself in how we deal with people and circumstances in our lives by not allowing them to take control of us. Meekness shows itself when we know that we have nothing to defend in ourselves but Christ. When we are meek, we know that we have everything we need in Jesus and will not be frustrated by the things of the world. Contentment is found in knowing that God loves you and that is always good enough for this life.
Meekness has its root in the desire to be Christ-like in all areas of life. When you desire to be Christ-like, you quickly see that you do not need anything. This is why Jesus says the meek shall inherit the earth. When you are meek, you seek nothing for yourself and when you seek nothing for yourself, that’s when God gives you all things. We can look at this and think that God is going to give us whatever we want , that is wrong thinking. God is going to give us everything that we need. If God is our father and He controls all things, then He can give His kids whatever He wants, even the earth.
What are some of the words that come to mind when you think of meekness? Some might be: weak, soft, gentle, quiet, reserved etc. You see, our modern view of meekness is very different than what Jesus was teaching in the third Beatitude. True meekness as described by Jesus is not natural. This is not something you are born with or that develops. It can only come from God. We need to understand and remember that all of the Beatitudes are not things we can do on our own but are a product or result of Jesus changing us from sinner to saint.
Meekness is power under control. Meekness is being able to control ourselves no matter if we are right and wrong. True meekness shows itself in how we deal with people and circumstances in our lives by not allowing them to take control of us. Meekness shows itself when we know that we have nothing to defend in ourselves but Christ. When we are meek, we know that we have everything we need in Jesus and will not be frustrated by the things of the world. Contentment is found in knowing that God loves you and that is always good enough for this life.
Meekness has its root in the desire to be Christ-like in all areas of life. When you desire to be Christ-like, you quickly see that you do not need anything. This is why Jesus says the meek shall inherit the earth. When you are meek, you seek nothing for yourself and when you seek nothing for yourself, that’s when God gives you all things. We can look at this and think that God is going to give us whatever we want , that is wrong thinking. God is going to give us everything that we need. If God is our father and He controls all things, then He can give His kids whatever He wants, even the earth.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Jesus knows that sublime happiness is worth mourning or being poor in spirit. Try to describe in your best words what mourning is? How do you think people feel when they mourn? Jesus says that we will be blessed or happy when we mourn and that we will be comforted.
The mourning Jesus is talking about is an understanding of your sin. Jesus wants us to know that our sin is not a good thing. When we realize what sin is and why Jesus had to come and die, it will give us a reason to mourn. So why is there happiness in mourning over sin? We can be happy in this mourning because we know we need a savior. If you did not know you were sick and then ended up in the hospital unexpectedly, wouldn’t that bother you? But, if you knew you were sick before it got really bad and found out there was a remedy, you would be happy you could be healed.
When we realize we are sinners and then find the remedy, which is Jesus, we can be happy that our sin can be forgiven. Jesus says we can be comforted in our mourning because this life of sin will not last forever. If you look back at the very first Beatitude you will see the reward, which is the Kingdom of God. How exciting to know that our greatest comfort is being with God forever.
Jesus knows that sublime happiness is worth mourning or being poor in spirit. Try to describe in your best words what mourning is? How do you think people feel when they mourn? Jesus says that we will be blessed or happy when we mourn and that we will be comforted.
The mourning Jesus is talking about is an understanding of your sin. Jesus wants us to know that our sin is not a good thing. When we realize what sin is and why Jesus had to come and die, it will give us a reason to mourn. So why is there happiness in mourning over sin? We can be happy in this mourning because we know we need a savior. If you did not know you were sick and then ended up in the hospital unexpectedly, wouldn’t that bother you? But, if you knew you were sick before it got really bad and found out there was a remedy, you would be happy you could be healed.
When we realize we are sinners and then find the remedy, which is Jesus, we can be happy that our sin can be forgiven. Jesus says we can be comforted in our mourning because this life of sin will not last forever. If you look back at the very first Beatitude you will see the reward, which is the Kingdom of God. How exciting to know that our greatest comfort is being with God forever.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Matthew 5:3 Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are the poor in spirit. Our world today does not teach that happiness and being poor can be connected. The world says that we should be looking ahead and to not be content with where we are. Jesus knows best, so we should see what it is He is telling us. Jesus’ teaching is showing us the way life is best lived. Life is best lived in obedience to God. So, when Jesus says that this life brings happiness we should desire to live it out.
Think about what your parents know about you. Who, other than God, knows you as well as they do? If they tell you something and show you that it will help you or make life better, you should listen up. So the God of the universe has a way for you to live. It should make us stop and listen to that way of life.
How do I live “poor in spirit” and find happiness there? Jesus is telling us that we need to empty ourselves of “us.” This means we need to look at our life and get rid of the places we think we know better than God. Jesus knows that we are proud people, that we have pride in our hearts about life. Jesus wants us to see that when we are empty of “us” He can fill us with Himself. There is no better way to live than by being filled with God’s Spirit. Think about the mistakes you make trying to do things your own way. God knows this about His creation. Jesus came so that we can be changed. He came as Servant to give His life, that we would have new life. Being poor in spirit allows God to fill us with His own self, and happiness is knowing that you can’t fix life all by yourself.
The Kingdom of God is getting God all the time. We are in His family. We can see him do amazing things now and forever. To get the Kingdom you have to give up your own kingdom and find yourself poor in spirit.
Happy are the poor in spirit. Our world today does not teach that happiness and being poor can be connected. The world says that we should be looking ahead and to not be content with where we are. Jesus knows best, so we should see what it is He is telling us. Jesus’ teaching is showing us the way life is best lived. Life is best lived in obedience to God. So, when Jesus says that this life brings happiness we should desire to live it out.
Think about what your parents know about you. Who, other than God, knows you as well as they do? If they tell you something and show you that it will help you or make life better, you should listen up. So the God of the universe has a way for you to live. It should make us stop and listen to that way of life.
How do I live “poor in spirit” and find happiness there? Jesus is telling us that we need to empty ourselves of “us.” This means we need to look at our life and get rid of the places we think we know better than God. Jesus knows that we are proud people, that we have pride in our hearts about life. Jesus wants us to see that when we are empty of “us” He can fill us with Himself. There is no better way to live than by being filled with God’s Spirit. Think about the mistakes you make trying to do things your own way. God knows this about His creation. Jesus came so that we can be changed. He came as Servant to give His life, that we would have new life. Being poor in spirit allows God to fill us with His own self, and happiness is knowing that you can’t fix life all by yourself.
The Kingdom of God is getting God all the time. We are in His family. We can see him do amazing things now and forever. To get the Kingdom you have to give up your own kingdom and find yourself poor in spirit.
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