Week 43 - Matthew 21:21-22

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself in the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

NIV, Life Application Study Bible footnotes:

Many have wondered about Jesus' statement that if we have faith and don't doubt, we can move mountains.  Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that his followers use prayer as "magic" and perform capricious "mountain-moving" acts.  Instead, he was making a strong point about the disciples' (and our) lack of faith.  What kinds of mountains do you face?  Have you talked to God about them?  How strong is your faith?

This verse is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing.  God does not grant requests that would hurt us or others or that would violate his own nature or will.  Jesus' statement is not a blank check. To be fulfilled, our requests must be in harmony with the principles of God's kingdom.  The stronger our belief, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God's will, and then God will be happy to grant them.

May the Lord increase your faith this week!

Week 42 - Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."

NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

The rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them -- but only three times.  Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the "perfect" number) was enough times to forgive someone.  But Jesus answered, "Seventy-seven times," meaning that we shouldn't even keep track of how many times we forgive someone.  We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.

The following scriptures are cross-references I found interesting:

Matthew 6:14 says, "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.

That's pretty good motivation for forgiveness!

AND

Luke 17:4 says, "If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

I didn't remember repentance being tied to forgiveness in this way although I know it's a vital part of restoration.

Week 41 - Luke 12:15

Then he said to them, "Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Jesus says that the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, so be on guard against greed (desire for what we don't have).  This is the exact opposite of what society usually says.  Advertisers spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more of their products, we will be happier, more fulfilled, more comfortable.  How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy?  

Learn to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate instead on the truly good life -- living in a relationship with God and doing his work.



Have you ever known someone who was very wealthy but very unhappy?  Or how about someone who was very happy but had very little in the way of possessions?  I've seen real life examples of both.  Our world often gets it backwards -- our abundance doesn't come in the form of "stuff" but only in our relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Live ABUNDANTLY in Him today!

Week 40 - Matthew 18:10

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 

NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Our concern for children must match God's treatment of them.  Certain angels are assigned to watch over children, and they have direct access to God.  These words ring out sharply in cultures where children are taken lightly, ignored, or aborted.  If their angels have constant access to God, the least we can do is to allow children to approach us easily in spite of our far too busy schedules.