Matthew 6-10

"So when you give tot he needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." -6:2

Do you live your life for the rewards and the reputation of this life or for the rewards in the next? I know that's something I struggle with.


"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." -6:14-15

Such a convicting verse...


"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up from yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." -6:19-21


A friend of mine brought up a great point one time... If a  man was going on vacation for a couple days and everything he bought there he couldn't bring back with him, it would be completely pointless for him to buy things so fleeting. Except when you compare eternity to our lives on earth, our lives are more fleeting than a couple days on vacation.


"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." -6:33-34

If you are truly living your life for Christ... He will provide.


"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." -7:12

Sound familiar?


"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." -7:24-25

If you're reading this, I'm hoping that means you're diving into the Word. But it's not enough to just dive into the Word, you have to live the Word, be the Word. Something I did at one time, I would write verses I want to concentrate on living on index cards and carry them around with me. Whenever I feel like I missed a chance to live out the verse I'd take it out and read it to myself again and say a prayer. I might pick that back up actually...


Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. -8:24-26

I love the image of Jesus here. I love imagining Jesus rubbing his eyes, just got up from a nap, looking at them like what's the matter with you guys, don't you trust me? If only we could learn to trust Him like He wants us to, our lives would be so much easier.


"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' " -9:13

Just something to think about..


Lastly, take the time to read Matthew 10 again, as if He is directly addressing you. One of my favorite passages of the Bible, gets me so fired up every time I read it.


Next read: Matthew 11 through 14

Matthew 1-5

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." -1:21
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us." -1:23

I love the perspective on Jesus that these verses give us, simple but so powerful.


As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -3:16-17

Such a beautiful image..


Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " -4:4

If don't feel satisfied with how life's treating ya right now, answer this: Have you spent enough time diving into the Word? True prosperous life is one that lives by way of the Word.


"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." -5:11

Truly living for Christ isn't easy, which is precisely why we're taught to rejoice in suffering and that we're blessed in suffering for Christ. I've got bad news, if we're not suffering, we're not doing it right.


"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -5:13-16

Is your life shining His light?


"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." -5:43-48

When I read this I remember something I read one time, Contrary to popular belief, you have to love somebody before you can like them. You might not like someone and they may rub you the wrong way, but God made them with a purpose just as He made you with a purpose. How can we not love on God's work?

My Pastor Steve put it in good perspective for me one time... Imagine someone throwing darts at a board with your kid's face on it, that's how God feels. Every time we're gossiping about someone or talking about them behind their backs.. it's like throwing darts at one of God's children.

Thank you so much for reading! Next read, Matthew 6 through 10.

CHRISTmas

And so it begins, within the next 26 days we will read all 4 of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, then John. It'll be a great way to take time in the Christmas season to remember what Christmas is supposed to be about, the birth of Jesus Christ.

I hope that you will make the commitment with me, 15 minutes out of every day until I head back to Wake. 15 minutes out of every day to get to better know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I plan on posting about at least my favorite passage or two from every section, maybe even more in the chapters I really like.

First read: Matthew chapters 1 through 5.

Don't have a Bible... here ya go :) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1&version=NIV

Can't Hear it Enough

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCunuL58odQ

I know I showed this not too long ago, but we can't hear it enough.

He loves us, let us not take it for granted.

I'll start to go through the Gospels tomorrow night, I'd love if you joined me.

1 Corinthians 29-31

so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Nothing we can do compares to our amazing God's unfailing love, so why boast in ourselves when we could be boasting in the everlasting God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are.


It's kind of crazy to think who I was before I accepted Christ into my life.... and from my experience, I'd like to reinforce what Paul is writing here. If the only thing holding you back from giving your life to Christ is thoughts you aren't worthy, you've got it all wrong.

Remember, God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Philemon 1:6

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.


After we've come to fill our own void as Christians by way of Christ's love, it's time to share the good news to others. If we've truly come to know and accept Christ's love for us, we'd be living with the greatest gift in the world; the best part about it, there's enough to go around for everyone.

Who in your life needs to hear the good news today?