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Matthew 6:30

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Encouraging Words

Every one of us has basic needs that have to be taken care of to survive. Beyond those needs, everything else becomes a want. Jesus is telling us here that God knows what our needs are and He will provide for those needs. Where the challenge comes in is when my definitions of those needs are different than His definition. The more that we can align with God and how He chooses to meet our needs, the more I will be satisfied with what He is providing. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Personal Challenge

Only God can fully forgive sins. However, the degree to which we experience His grace and mercy in our lives because of His forgiveness, is truly impacted by how much we are willing to forgive those who have trespassed or sinned against us. If I hold on to their trespasses and do not free them as I am capable of doing, those acts of unforgiveness will come between God and me as He forgives me of my trespasses. We are to behave like Him if we want to be like Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Matthew 5:37

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Personal Challenge

Our modern world has become so comfortable with ambiguity. This is the kind of world that makes it easy to promulgate falsehoods as if they are the truth. This then makes it easy for people to lie and cheat because they can always find something out there that supports their sin. Jesus made it very clear to us that there is no room in the Christian life for pursuing falsehoods. We are to be true to His calling and true to those around us. We must always speak in such a way that people know that they can trust us to stand by our words and our beliefs. Anything else is from the evil one. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Matthew 5:23-24

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Personal Challenge

As I read through this expectation set by Jesus, it appears to me that He is describing reconciliation is truly a one-sided event. If there is something amiss between my brother or sister, whether they are at fault or I am at fault or we are both at fault, if I want to be able to effectively worship my God, then I must go to that person and initiate reconciliation. There is nothing said about the other person choosing to be a part of that reconciliation: It is my duty, my responsibility, to seek and pursue reconciliation. This is hard to do because our pride kicks in and tells us that the other person needs to contribute, if not be responsible for the reconciliation. Jesus never said that being a Christian was easy! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Matthew 5:17

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:3-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Encouraging Words

How is it that those who support the gospel of prosperity skip over this sermon by Jesus on the mount of Olives? There is nothing in here about being rewarded with great wealth or position by living a Christian life. To the contrary, we are told that those who are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness sake, and reviled and persecuted for Christ’s sake, are the ones who receive the blessings from God. And to top that off, the blessings have nothing to do with worldly riches. The blessings are heavenly focused blessings. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Personal Challenge

When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River there occurred a very significant event. The Trinity of God was magnificently revealed to all present. Even God spoke letting every one know that Jesus was His beloved Son. This event was immediately followed by Jesus going out into the wilderness for forty days and nights preparing for His upcoming life of ministry. After fasting for these days He was confronted by Satan with three very tempting if’s. Satisfy your hunger. Glorify your health. Claim the leadership of the world. Three Temptations that every person is faced with at one time or another in their life. Jesus, as a human being, was able to say “No” to these Temptations by knowing the word of God. We too can do this. Glory be to God!

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”