Matthew 8:18-22 The Cost Of Discipleship

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him,” Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”

Sometimes the words of Jesus sting. He recognizes that it is easier to say that they will be his disciples when there is no hardship or trouble. He explains to them that He as their leader has no definite place even to slumber. Others seek to give him conditional support by saying, “First let me…” Jesus says to be my disciple that nothing, even the death of your loved ones can come first. The cost of salvation is free, whereas to be His disciple costs everything.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, let me be equipped by You to be a loyal follower of You. Help me to surrender all parts of my life so that I need not say I will follow you but…

In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Matthew 8:5-7 , 10-13 Great Faith

And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” Jesus said to him,” I will come and heal him.” “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.

The point Jesus was making is that Jesus serves those who come with faith and never doubting. Many of the Jews felt that because that they were among the blood line of Abraham that they were God’s choice. What they did not understand is that it is not the physical descendant that Jesus was seeking, but those who share the faith of Abraham.

Daily Prayer: Father let me not depart from the faith that you have planted in my heart. Let me seek you and never doubt you because this is the sign of a true child of God. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 8: 1-4 The Leper Is Made Clean

When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

In this event, there is more than a healing that is happening. The unclean man came to Jesus in faith and asked him if” he is willing” to make him clean. He never questioned his ability, only his willingness. Jesus was in turn willing and cleansed the man, but asked him to fulfill the Law by showing himself to the priest. It was the priest’s responsibility to verify that he was indeed clean and that he can be restored to his community. It was for the sake of reconciliation that Jesus made him whole.

Daily Prayer: Father, we are still in need of reconciliation, because sin has stained us from being intimate with you. Therefore according to your will, cleanse us from all unrighteousness to the glory of the Son so that we may have fellowship with you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 7: 24-27 Wisdom & Folly Contrasted

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

The definition of “Christian Life” is that these ones yield to the good word of the Lord and believe it’s warnings. This is also called wisdom, because it is the ability to live one’s life skillfully. On the other hand, wisdom is contrasted with folly. The fool is not able to grasp the word of God and therefore treats it lightly. This is the one who must over and over again live by the school of hard knocks, because they never learn or yield to God’s greater command. This one is considered to be spiritually dead, because God’s word is void to him.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, your coming into the world gives me an example on how to live my life. Yet the Enemy comes after those who belong to you. Raise up in me the power of the Spirit to encourage my obedience in the wake of enticement. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Matthew 7:21-23 Demonstrating your love for Jesus

“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. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Jesus is making a determination between those who testify to him and those who love him. If one were to declare that you love your wife, but never do anything to show your love for her, people would say that this one is a fraud. In the same way, if one were to declare they trust in Jesus, but never offer any public works demonstrating the love for him is also not known by Him. Jesus says that if you love me, you will keep my commandments, but if you follow after the prince of this world, then you love is indeed for this one.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, let my light so shine before men so that I demonstrate my love for you through those things that I do, and glorify my father who is in heaven. Amen.

Matthew 7: 15-20 Beware of False Teachers

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

There is a difference between being in the world and being of the world. Those who listen to the inclinations of the world are indeed prophets of Satan who is the prince of the world. The believer must be spiritually discerned whereby they can diagnose the false whims of Satan and expose them for what they are. The world continuously tries to condition us by rationalizing their wickedness. They say things like “who will know,” or you have a right to…” Instead we should be saying that God knows and we are not our own, but have been purchased by the blood of Christ for reconciliation to God and to do good works in His name. We cannot live for ourselves and be useful to the Gospel also.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that to be a follower of you, I must live for you and forsake the world. By doing this, my reward comes from you alone which is far greater than the temporal lures of the world. Keep me steadfast my walk with you. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Matthew 7: 12-14 Enter the Narrow Gate

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

If you compare the world to a lake full of fish, Satan comes in a boat and casts a large net to snare all who see the bait of the world and come near. There are some though who do not follow the crowds, but instead listen to their leader. This is the way it is in the world. Satan’s main activity is one of enticing people to come near with promises which are false with the plans to snare all who come close to the net of his promises. It was that way in the garden when Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit and it is that way now when we do not yield to the Word of God. This is why Jesus warns his disciples that the wide path, the one with the open net is the one that leads to destruction, but the narrow path of God’s word is the path that leads to life and safety. God’s offer of salvation extends to all persons, but only some will yield to him and receive life everlasting.

Daily Prayer: Holy Father, train my mind and my spirit to discern truth from the lures of the world. Let me be alert, because Satan is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. For this reason, lead me not in his way, but protect me from his schemes and enticements. Let me also warn others so that they need not be consumed by him. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 7: 7-11 Answered Prayer

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Christians are the Children of God and God is the ultimate Father figure. When a child asks their father for the desires of their heart, don’t most fathers give according to their ability to their sons and daughters’? So it is with God the Father, only instead of giving according to his ability, He gives out of His ability – He is without limit to bring the joys of our heart to those who seek Him. It pleases God to fill out heart with joy, but we must trust in Him and His willingness to comfort us in order to ask Him for our every need. Therefore ask, seek, and find! Amen.

Daily Prayer: Father, bring me to a place of full and unconditional trust in you. Let me not seek the flesh to serve the flesh, but instead seek the One who is from the beginning and will be with me until my end. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 7: 1-6 Judge Not Or You Will Also Be Judged

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

The point that Jesus is making here is that one who judges others is elevating his own self to One possessing the authority to judge. Jesus’ point is that the human race are all born into the world as sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus’ offer of salvation is based on grace not on elevated judgment of others, so his point is that unless you can forgive others, do not expect forgiveness your own self.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am dependant on You alone for my forgiveness and reconciliation. Therefore place a thankful heart in me so that I can bring the Good News to others that their sins can be washed away by you when they come to you in faith alone. Amen.

Matthew 6: 25-34 The Measure of True Faith

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things will be added unto you.” Do you believe that? If our identification is with Jesus Christ, we must not worry. I can share a secret with you. If you find yourself serving God without one thought for yourself, God will show up and bless you in ways you will never be able to repay. But if you serve God with the anticipation of God’s reward, your service will be in vein. It would be helpful if we could see God or Jesus face to face. If we could, we would instantly surrender our will to His. Where we are is that blessed is the one who sees and believes, but more blessed is the one who has not seen, yet believes.

Matthew 6: 19-24 True Treasures Satisfy

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Treasure is the hope for something that is lacking in your own life. The Apostle Paul said in the book of Titus that he awaits the “blessed hope.” He was indicating he had put his heart and expectations on the return of Jesus in his life. Jesus is his all in all for which he said all else is rubbish in comparison. When Jesus visited a Samaritan woman, it was she who laid her hope in Jesus’ promise of Living Water, water that once consumed will cause a person to never thirst again. Therefore do not lie awaiting temporal treasures or hope, but put your faith in the One who satisfies.

Daily Prayer: Father, cause me to be satisfied with the Holy Spirit who dwells in me. You have given me Eternal Life, life that will not expire or fall short in the end. So let me rejoice and be glad, because great is my reward. Amen.

Matthew 6:14-18 Be God Pleasers - Not Man Pleasers

If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Jesus is not telling men and women how to gain salvation. He is explaining how people who are saved should behave. He compares the person who knows God to the natural and unregenerate man. If a person knows God and imitates his character, he will forgive the sins of other people who have sinned against himself. In the same way, when a person desires God’s attention and seeks it through physical deprivation by fasting, if this person seeks the attention of his neighbor and God, the Lord will ignore his fast and let him satisfy himself on the attention of his neighbor. Once again, God is only interested in genuine worship, not leftovers.

Daily Prayer: Father, just like the people who you refer to in this text, I too long to satisfy you. I know that in my own flesh, I cannot satisfy you. It is my hope that faithfulness and obedience pleases you, since this is not the sign of the world, but the sign of one who loves you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 6: 9-13 Instruction for Prayer

Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

The model prayer begins with God and an acknowledgement of Him. It is then a petition not for riches or power, but for daily bread. This way we will maintain our dependence on Father God and not on our own sufficiency apart from Him. It seeks reconciliation to God through the forgiveness of sins, but is conditioned on our forgiveness of others.
Although God tempts no man, the believer requests from God that He not permit temptation by the Evil One, because it is our desire to be in the world, but not of the world. It then concludes as it began making an inclusion which again acknowledges the sovereignty of God over His creation. Amen, Let it be so.

Daily Prayer: Father, I have no better petition than what was given to me by Jesus. I do ask this: Let not my prayers be memorized words of repetition. Instead let them be words of mediation of my heart because you know my inner most thoughts, desires, and needs. Let them be according to your will. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 6:5-8 the Prayers of the True Believer

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Previously we said that Jesus told us that if we do a good work, not to do it publicly. Instead if we do it so that only God can see, we will be rewarded by Him. Now there is a warning against being openly pious. This involves one’s habits of prayer. Jesus encourages that prayer be a private matter between ones self and God and that we should resist the temptation to use flowery words that make us appear to be more religious. Instead understand the Holy Spirit intercedes for the true believer and makes his humble uttering sufficient before God Almighty. We must remember that silence is God’s preferred language, not the babbling of the hypocrite.

Daily Prayer: Father, lead me to worship you in spirit and in truth. Hear not only the words that I say at prayer time, but my every thought as I walk down the street because of my dependence on you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 6: 1-4 Hypocrisy Reproved

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Hypocrisy is the main charge from the world against the church. It is their “reason” not to worship God and His Son Jesus Christ. But as one can see, there is no hypocrisy in the life of Jesus. At the root of hypocrisy is one’s own denial of their sinful nature and the salvation found in the grace of God alone. It takes God’s credit and makes it ours. What Jesus is saying is that if you avoid self-credit, you may receive credit from God who is impartial in his judgment and recognized works that are done in his name. It is far more worthy to receive the reward of God than the reward of man.

Daily Prayer: Father, let me spend my time in humble service before your throne. Let me not look either to my right or to my left, but only toward my Savior who loves me and gave his life for me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:43-48 Be Perfect Just As God Is Perfect

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 be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

One can easily see how nobody can find any fault with Lord Jesus. His interpretation of the Law is greater than that of Moses. He does not only say to treat them as you would like to be treated, but he goes on to say that you should pray for your enemy because his father who is in heaven freely gives rain to the just and the unjust alike. You cannot earn God’s favor, but if you desire to be pleasing to him, you can imitate him by being perfect just as he is perfect.

Daily Prayer: Father, I must confess that I am not perfect as you are perfect. I can say this which is that when I am “in Christ” that is dependant on him and his work, then to you I am perfect because this is the means that you have given me so that I may come to you with my very soul. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:38-42 Greater than the Golden Rule

“You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

The Golden Rule says that we should do unto others as we would want them to do unto ourselves. This is the rule for getting along in a community. The problem is that from the time of our birth, we are inclined toward self-centeredness. So how does one overcome this propensity toward serving self to acting as one who serves others? The answer is that one ought to be born again, but this time not a birth in the flesh, but one that is born of the spirit. By taking on the Spirit of God, one loses this self centered behavior and acts out God’s behavior toward others, which is the giving of one’s self which is one-dimensional for the benefit of the other. It is greater than the Golden Rule because this selfless giving is one way, reward is not expected.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to surrender my will to you. By doing this, I will live a life under your protection and rule and I will for the first time be free from my desire of serving myself. It is far better to give than receive. Give me the power to accomplish this. In your name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:33-37 Make no promises apart from God

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOURVOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

Human beings are not capable of making promises that cannot be broken. In the Old Testament there was a strict prohibition against making false vows. When a person makes a vow, God will hold this person to it, but the persons word is not sufficient to guarantee that it will come to pass. It has to do with man’s pride believing that their own word is as valid as the word of God when it isn’t. Humans are too vulnerable and finite in their nature. It is for this reason that Jesus says such boastful vows are the work of Satan who wants people to be put at enmity with God. Jesus says let your yest be yes and your no be no. This is all that we are able to control.

Daily Prayer: Father, by your Spirit build me into a person who can say, “Yes, if my Lord permits it.” This way I am seeking you in all life’s decisions are if it be your will, it will surely be done. I depend on your power, your wisdom, and your timing for all my life’s choices. In your holy name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:27-32 Lust, Adultery and Divorce

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell. “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastely, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

In these exhortations’, Jesus continues to compare that which is written in the Law verses behavior expected in the Kingdom of Heaven. Many of the "so called" self righteous are grievous sinners when you visit the intentions of the heart. The matter of marriage, adultery, and divorce is never about the other party, but it is about you. If you expect anything apart from the unconditional one-way love as given by God and Jesus Christ, you are living apart from the example he has given. Any failure in love is brought about by self-interest, desiring something for your own self instead of what is good for God and another person. This is why Jesus said that if you sin against anyone of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

Daily Prayer: Father, let us not ask what You can do for us, but instead what wan we do for you. This is the oneself prayer for me today and let it be my heart's desire. In Your holy name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:21-26 First reconciliation, then sacrifice

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent."

This is the crux of Christ's authority concerning the Law of Moses. He knows that the Jews are zealous for the law, so Jesus opens his mouth to say, "You have heard..." In other words, your narrow understanding of the written law I am extending to mean the intention of your heart. In Jesus' realm, the intention of the heart for better or for worse is greater than the works of your hands. So those who come to Jesus with a pure heart and pure intentions will be rewarded greater than those whose intentions are less pure and works are greater. In the same way, the one who sins will be no more accountable than the one who intended such a thing, but didn't do it. This is the crux of the New Covenant - It is a law written not on tablets of stone, but on the flesh of our hearts.

Daily Prayer: Father, because of the way things are, create in us a clean heart with clean intentions so that on Judgement Day, we will be found blameless. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:17-20 the Relationship of Christ to the Law

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

In our time, Christians are not under the Law of Moses. It was intended for the covenant people of God who are the Jews. Our Savior who is Jesus Christ is also Jewish and He came into the world subject to the Law. He freed us from it by fulfilling it perfectly. Now our only law is the Law of Christ which is our unconditional love for the Father and the love of our neighbor in a greater way than love of ones own self. Jesus says love shreds the bonds of the Law, because those who show forth love need no correction.

Daily Prayer: Father, show forth love in my own life. Let me live a humble life thinking more of others than of my own self. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus Teaches About Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Jesus explains that if seasoning has no flavor, it has lost its value and is worthless. It Christians make no effort to influence the world around them, they are of little value to God. If we blend with the world we are not fulfilling our call but instead we should have a positive influence on those around us just like seasoning brings out the best flavor of the food. We are like a city on a hill - there is no where to hide it. If we live for Christ, we will be like a light that can be seen for miles. Our light dims when we are quiet when we should speak; when we go along with the crowd; when we deny the light; or when we do not explain our light to others.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, let my light so shine before others so that it draws other people to you and glorifies my Father in heaven. Amen.

Matthew 5:7-12 Sermon on the Mount PT 2

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We continue with the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes’ of Jesus. He continues to apply the values of the Kingdom of Heaven starting with the peacemakers. A peacemaker is one who sets aside his personal gain for the benefit of all. Jesus calls ones like this the sons of God. There are some in the world who suffer persecution. The world does not love the followers of Jesus, but God does. To the ones who suffer for the sake of righteousness he calls heirs of the kingdom of heaven. To those who suffer personal rejection and evil for the sake of the Lord, he says to rejoice and be glad, because their reward is far greater than the world can give you. It is as Paul says that once you know Jesus and the magnitude of his riches, you will consider what the world has to offer as rubbish in comparison to it.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to you by faith and not by sight. You hold the key to the Kingdom of Heaven and those who trust in you and your promises will by no way be disappointed. Keep me steadfast for this reason. In your name I pray Amen.