03/21 Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. 46 If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
DIFFICULT
This is so different than the world. It is so different even than most of us have been taught. This mindset is from God-God is Love. We are transformed by Christ and called to love others as He loves us. By this you know you are living like Jesus-when you love one another.
Category - Devotionals
03/20 Matthew 5:38-42
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’ 39 But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. 40 If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
FREE
We are not bound by the way others act. They cannot choose our actions. We have the Kingdom Ethic as enunciated by Jesus and we respond to others as the Lord Jesus directs. Do good to those that mistreat you and love your enemies. Do not repay evil for evil but instead do good to those that mistreat you. Do not be overcome by evil instead overcome evil with good.
03/19 Matthew 5:33-37
“Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I say, don’t make any vows! If you say, ‘By heaven!’ it is a sacred vow because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And if you say, ‘By the earth!’ it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don’t swear, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Don’t even swear, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.
OATH
No oath. Our life is to be lived in such a way that people know that our yes is yes and our no is no. Anything needed beyond this is because evil is around. Jesus calls for honesty without the oath. Swearing is unnecessary, irreverent and ineffective. Speak and live with honesty.
03/18 Matthew 5:31-32
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.’ 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
UNDERMINE
The evils of today undermine marriage. In our society there is no difference in the divorce rate between Christians and non-Christians. This is not good because it tells us that we are letting the world guide us. Change who you follow everyday, everyday. What Jesus doesn’t control will control you.
03/17 Matthew 5:29-30
So if your eye — even if it is your good eye — causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand — even if it is your stronger hand — causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
STOP
Stop, do not let the world guide you in spiritual things. The world is dead in its trespasses and sin. You are alive in Christ Jesus. Love Jesus, read the Word of God and permit the Holy Spirit guide you in the way of life. Jesus is Lord. Bend your knee and let Him be Lord of your life.
03/16 Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
LUST
Anything that leads to lust should, must be given up. Christ calls us to an ethic of purity of thought and action. This speaks to our sensual culture which focuses on whatever feels good do it. The current openness to sexual expression and sensual achievement has led to the loss of meaning in everyday life. God has been carefully erased from life. Spiritual values emphasize selfish gratification and exploitation of others. People wonder why life is losing meaning. Jesus’ teachings oppose the social order freedoms that our society believes in today. Do not is no longer accepted as basic to our personal faith.
03/15 Matthew 5:23-26
“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. 26 I assure you that you won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
YOU
The problem with separation in humanity is so great that Jesus calls YOU to initiate reconciliation. The problem is so great that Jesus calls to even interrupt our worship if we are confronted with the need to reconcile with another. Reconciliation is more important than religious rites. People count with the Lord.
03/14 Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that the Law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
PROPHET
“You have heard” is a prophetic utterance by Jesus. It declares Him as the ultimate prophet from God, the Messiah who is prophet, priest and King. He gives the Scriptures their full meaning. Jesus declares the importance of the “HEART LIFE.” His word for us today is change. We cannot think and be like the world. We are now Kingdom Citizens. Love the Lord, love the lost and love His people.
03/13 Matthew 5:20
“But I warn you — unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
CHRIST
Christ is the righteousness of God. We need to make sure that we are not following the Pharisees footsteps as we live for Jesus. The law is used to show us our sin, to show us our sinfulness and to show and show us the great need we have for a Savior.
03/12 Matthew 5:17-19
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God’s law will remain until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
JESUS
Jesus reveals how we are to interpret His Word and actions. Do the next right thing. Listen as the Lord speaks to us in His Word. People count with Jesus therefore we should make people count in our lives. Serve the Lord with gladness. Obey God’s Word. Teach others to follow Jesus.