Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 6 today we see Jesus sermon on the mount continue to deliver so many sweet truths and principles for life…

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them” (vs 1),

“When you do give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (vs 3),

“When you pray, do not heap up repeated empty phrases as unbelievers do” (vs 7),

“Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious all by itself” (vs 34).

Q. Does anyone else feel a little overwhelmed at how often we fail at these seemingly simple, yet elusive principles for every day life?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for sending Jesus to accomplish all of these things and so much more, never failing to keep all of your commandments and precepts, and giving sinners like us His perfect righteousness as He took our transgressions upon Himself at the cross – Jesus is truly our greatest treasure…

✝️ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 5 today we see God’s counter-cultural call for us to give up our earthly rights and comforts for the sake of Christ, and to rise up against our “Eye for an eye” mentality and natural inclination of retaliation…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may show yourselves to be the children of your Father in Heaven…For if you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? And If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than the world does? Do not even unbelievers do the same? (vs 43-47).

Q. How do the following statements of Jesus pertain to His followers in the 21st-century?…

“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”

‭‭🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for the many times I have had thoughts, words, or actions of retaliation toward others, instead of taking the opportunity to honor you with humility, and be salt and light to an angry world that is desperately needy for you.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for giving up your perfectly deserved rights and comforts so that rebels and sinners like us could be rescued and redeemed by your costly sacrifice at the cross – Please help us to follow your example of humility and meekness in the face of conflict.

🙏 Holy Spirit empower us to make known the supreme value of our treasure in heaven by being so freed from the love of this world, and so satisfied with the hope of glory, that we are able to love our enemies and not return evil for evil whenever we are wronged in this life…

✝️ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:11-12

Brothers and Sisters 😊

In Matthew chapter 4 today we see the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry…

Tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin” (4:10),

Changing hearts and gathering His people to Himself (4:19), and

Healing the multitudes of every disease & affliction, and restoring all things (vs 24).

Q. Did the Psalmist not rightly proclaim that, “Jesus is our portion and our cup, our all in all, and our full lot”?

Q. In what difficult areas of your life has Jesus been your “Enough”?

Q. What areas or moments do you currently struggle in, still believing that Jesus is not enough?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much that Our Redeemer Lives! And that you have given us all that we need for life and godliness in Christ – Please help us to be about your business today because of the all-sufficient fullness and satisfaction provided by our Lord and King, the true Light of the world…

📖 “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned’…From that time on Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand’…and He went throughout all Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.”

Matthew 4:16,17,23

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 3 today John the Baptist appears on the scene with a serious message and strong warning for all who live and breathe,

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand…Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (vs 2,16).

Q. What positive benefits have you received in your life when, by God’s grace, you repented, changed your direction, and responded humbly to wise instruction?

Q. What negative consequences when you did not?

🙏 Heavenly Father I confess to you the many times I have not loved you as you deserve, and failed to love others as you desire.

🙏 Holy Spirit please mature me, and empower us all to repent quickly for our selfishness, bitterness, and stubborn pride against you.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for your willing sacrifice and great exchange for all who would follow you, taking our sin upon yourself and giving us your righteousness with all of its many blessings and endless favor from the Father, we glorify your name…

✝️ “When Jesus was baptized He went up from the water, and behold the heavens were opened to Him, and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and came to rest on Him…And behold a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 2 today we see visitors from the east representing all nations of the world, and the future diversities of people groups who would be spiritually drawn and illuminated to come and worship the King of kings…

“Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him” (vs 2).

Q. Do you ever marvel at the Gospel paradox that salvation in Christ is both universally inclusive, and perfectly exclusive at the same time?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for being a gracious and merciful God who shows no partiality or prejudice toward our racial ethnicities, social status, diverse backgrounds, or even the magnitude of our sins against you.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for your costly and atoning sacrifice, given to all peoples, tongues, tribes, and nations who would put their trust in you – Please help us never to take your kindness and compassion for granted, but instead empower us to seek you and grow in gratitude and praise, for you the Christ alone are worthy of all rejoicing and worship…

✝️ “When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.”

Matthew 2:11

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 1 today we see “The book of the Genealogy (or Genesis/Beginning) of Jesus Christ” (vs 1).

Q. Doesn’t it seem fitting that as we start the first day of the new year, we begin the Scriptures in the “New Testament Genesis Chapter” and witness Jesus (God with us) appearing in human form for the first time?

🙏 Heavenly Father we praise you today that we have the opportunity to study your awe-inspiring Word once again this year. Please help us all to be consistently in it, captivated by it, have great affections for it, and increasingly encouraged through it, as you transform us day by day with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to trust and love you more and more throughout the new year – We believe, help us overcome our unbelief…

✝️ “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins…’Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”

Matt 1:20-23