Week 29 - Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

NIV Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

To "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" means:

to turn to God first for help, 

to fill your thoughts with his desires, 

to take his character for your pattern, 

and to serve and obey him in everything.  

What is really important to you?  People, objects, goal, and other desires all compete for priority.  Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don't actively choose to give him first place in every area of your life.

This verse is in a section of Scripture where Jesus teaches about worry.  Be sure to read Matthew 6:25-34.

This is another helpful chart from my Bible.

SEVEN REASONS NOT TO WORRY

6:25.........The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

6:26.........Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.

6:27.........Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

6:28-30....God does not ignore those who depend on him.

6:31,32....Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.

6:33..........There are real challenges God wants us to pursue, and worrying keeps us from them.

6:34..........Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

Seek to give God first place this week!

Week 28 - Matthew 6:19-21

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 moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This verse is probably familiar to most and certainly a great verse for meditation.

This is a portion from Matthew Henry's commentary for consideration.

Worldly-mindedness is as common and as fatal a symptom of hypocrisy as any other, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a visible and passable profession of religion, than by this; and therefore Christ, having warned us against coveting the praise of men, proceeds next to warn us against coveting the wealth of the world; in this also we must take heed, lest we be as the hypocrites are, and do as they do: the fundamental error that they are guilty of is, that they choose the world for their reward; we must therefore take heed of hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness, in the choice we make of our treasure, our end, and our masters.

I. In choosing the treasure we lay up. Something or other every man has which he makes his treasure, his portion, which his heart is upon, to which he carries all he can get, and which he depends upon for futurity. It is that good, that chief good, which Solomon speaks of with such an emphasis, Eccl. 2:3. Something the soul will have, which it looks upon as the best thing, which it has a complacency and confidence in above other things. Now Christ designs not to deprive us of our treasure, but to direct us in the choice of it; and here we have,

1. A good caution against making the things that are seen, that are temporal, our best things, and placing our happiness in them. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth. Christ’s disciples had left all to follow him, let them still keep in the same good mind. A treasure is an abundance of something that is in itself, at least in our opinion, precious and valuable, and likely to stand us in stead hereafter. Now we must not lay up our treasures on earth, that is, (1.) We must not count these things the best things, nor the most valuable in themselves, nor the most serviceable to us: we must not call them glory, as Laban’s sons did, but see and own that they have no glory in comparison with the glory that excelleth. (2.) We must not covet an abundance of these things, nor be still grasping at more and more of them, and adding to them, as men do to that which is their treasure, as never knowing when we have enough. (3.) We must not confide in them for futurity, to be our security and supply in time to come; we must not say to the gold, Thou art my hope. (4.) We must not content ourselves with them, as all we need or desire: we must be content with a little for our passage, but not with all for our portion. These things must not be made our consolation (Luke 6:24), our good things, Luke 16:25. Let us consider we are laying up, not for our posterity in this world, but for ourselves in the other world. We are put to our choice, and made in a manner our own carvers; that is ours which we lay up for ourselves. It concerns thee to choose wisely, for thou art choosing for thyself, and shalt have as thou choosest. If we know and consider ourselves what we are, what we are made for, how large our capacities are, and how long our continuance, and that our souls are ourselves, we shall see it is foolish thing to lay up our treasures on earth.

2. Here is a good reason given why we should not look upon any thing on earth as our treasure, because it is liable to loss and decay: (1.) From corruption within. That which is treasure upon earth moth and rust do corrupt. If the treasure be laid up in fine clothes, the moth frets them, and they are gone and spoiled insensibly, when we thought them most securely laid up. If it be in corn or other eatables, as his was who had his barns full (Luke 12:16, 17), rust (so we read it) corrupts that:Brosis—eating, eating by men, for as goods are increased they are increased that eat them (Eccl. 5:11); eating by mice or other vermin; manna itself bred worms; or it grows mouldy and musty, is struck, or smutted, or blasted; fruits soon rot. Or, if we understand it of silver and gold, they tarnish and canker; they grow less with using, and grow worse with keeping (Jas. 5:2,3); the rust and the moth breed in the metal itself and in the garment itself. Note, Worldly riches have in themselves a principal of corruption and decay; they wither of themselves, and make themselves wings. (2.) From violence without. Thieves break through and steal. Every hand of violence will be aiming at the house where treasure is laid up; nor can any thing be laid up so safe, but we may be spoiled of it. Numquam ego fortunae credidi, etiam si videretur pacem agere; omnia illa quae in me indulgentissime conferebat, pecuniam, honores, gloriam, eo loco posui, unde posset ea, since metu meo, repetere—I never reposed confidence in fortune, even if she seemed propitious: whatever were the favours which her bounty bestowed, whether wealth, honours, or glory, I so disposed of them, that it was in her power to recall them without occasioning me any alarm. Seneca. Consol. ad Helv. It is folly to make that our treasure which we may so easily be robbed of.

3. Good counsel, to make the joys and glories of the other world, those things not seenthat are eternal, our best things, and to place our happiness in them. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Note, (1.) There aretreasures in heaven, as sure as there are on this earth; and those in heaven are the only true treasures, the riches and glories and pleasures that are at God’s right hand, which those that are sanctified truly arrive at, when they come to be sanctified perfectly. (2.) It is our wisdom to lay up ourtreasure in those treasures; to give all diligence to make sure our title to eternal life through Jesus Christ, and to depend upon that as our happiness, and look upon all things here below with a holy contempt, as not worthy to be compared with it. We must firmly believe there is such a happiness, and resolve to be content with that, and to be content with nothing short of it. If we thus make those treasures ours, they are laid up, and we may trust God to keep them safe for us; thither let us then refer all our designs, and extend all our desires; thither let us send before our best efforts and best affections. Let us not burthen ourselves with the cash of this world, which will but load and defile us, and be liable to sink us, but lay up in store good securities. The promises are bills of exchange, by which all true believers return their treasure to heaven, payable in the future state: and thus we make that sure that will be made sure. (3.) It is a great encouragement to us to lay upour treasure in heaven, that there it is safe; it will not decay of itself, no moth norrust will corrupt it; nor can we be by force or fraud deprived of it; thieves do not break through and steal. It is a happiness above and beyond the changes and chances of time, an inheritance incorruptible.

4. A good reason why we should thus choose, and an evidence that we have done so (Matt. 6:21), Where your treasure is, on earth or in heaven, there will you heart be. We are therefore concerned to be right and wise in the choice of our treasure, because the temper of our minds, and consequently the tenor of our lives, will be accordingly either carnal or spiritual, earthly or heavenly. The heart follows the treasure, as the needle follows the loadstone, or the sunflower the sun. Where the treasure is there the value and esteem are, there the love and affection are (Col. 3:2), that way the desires and pursuits go, thitherward the aims and intents are levelled, and all is done with that in view. Where the treasure is, there our cares and fears are, lest we come short of it; about that we are most solicitous; there our hope and trust are (Prov. 18:10, 11); there our joys and delights will be (Ps. 119:111); and there our thoughts will be, there the inward thought will be, the first thought, the freethought, the fixed thought, the frequent, the familiarthought. The heart is God’s due (Prov. 23:26), and that he may have it, our treasure must be laid up with him, and then our souls will be lifted up to him.

This direction about laying up our treasure, may very fitly be applied to the foregoing caution, of not doing what we do in religion to be seen of men. Our treasure is our alms, prayers, and fastings, and the reward of them; if we have done these only to gain the applause of men, we have laid up this treasure on earth, have lodged it in the hands of men, and must never expect to hear any further of it. Now it is folly to do this, for the praise of men we covet so much is liable to corruption: it will soon be rusted, and moth-eaten, and tarnished; a little folly, like a dead fly, will spoil it all, Eccl. 10:1. Slander and calumny are thieves that break through and steal it away, and so we lose all the treasure of our performances; we have run in vain, and laboured in vain, because we misplaced our intentions in doing of them. Hypocritical services lay up nothing in heaven (Isa. 58:3); the gain of them is gone, when the soul is called for, Job 27:8. But if we have prayed and fasted and given alms in truth and uprightness, with an eye to God and to his acceptance, and have approved ourselves to him therein, we have laid up that treasure in heaven; a book of remembrance is written there(Mal. 3:16), and being there recorded, they shall be there rewarded, and we shall meet them again with comfort on the other side death and the grave. Hypocrites are written in the earth (Jer. 17:13), but God’s faithful ones have their names written in heaven, Luke 10:20. Acceptance with God istreasure in heaven, which can neither be corrupted nor stolen. His well done shall stand for ever; and if we have thus laid up our treasure with him, with him our hearts will be; and where can they be better?

Enjoy your time in the Word this week!

Week 27 - Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Wow!  What a command!  Be sure to read the scriptures preceding this one so you can read in context.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

How can we be perfect?  

1.  In character.   In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible.  

2.  In holiness,.  Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values.  But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God's desires rather than our own, and carry his love and mercy into the world.  

3.  In maturity.  We can't achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness.  Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so God expects different behavior form us, depending on our stage of spiritual development.  

4.  In love.  We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. 

We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level -- perfect, yet with much room to grow.  Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ.  Christ calls all of his disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like him.  Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as Christ is perfect (1 John 3:2,3).

Week 26 - Matthew 5:44

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you....  Matthew 5:44

Life Application Study Bible, NIV:

Jesus says we are to love our enemies.  If you love your enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life.  This is possible only for those who give themselves fully to God, because only he can deliver people from natural selfishness.  We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love.

What a perfect time to demonstrate the Lord's love to people around you....friends and enemies alike!  Have you noticed how busy the stores are?  How busy the people are?  It's amazing what a smile and kind words can do.  I've noticed that it seems to soften most people you come in contact with.  Give it a try!

Mary has been on my mind this season.  These are some of my very unorganized thoughts.........

-    Mary was definitely "in God's will."  Don't we all long to be in that place?  Yet she was not without pain, heartache, suffering, trials, etc.

-    Mary was pretty "ordinary" but she opened herself up to the "extraordinary" when she made herself available to God and His plans.

-    Mary must have had to deal with quite a bit of fear from the very beginning.  What would Joseph think?  Her parents?  Her people?

-    Mary had to trust God for everything!  I just can't imagine getting on a donkey and riding 100 (or whatever it was) miles to Bethlehem while expecting.  Was she tired?  Hungry?  Cold?  Scared?  Did she wonder if she would make it before Jesus was born?  Again, she had to trust God for perfect timing.

-    Mary might have felt forgotten?  No room in the inn?!  Not even a place to give birth other than a stable?

-    My thoughts bring me back to God's will.  Every difficulty, every tear, every struggle had a purpose.

I find myself wishing I knew more about Mary but God has given us all we need to know in scripture.  Mary was a willing vessel, an obedient servant for the glory of God!  I pray that I might be the same.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Week 25 - Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Another good verse for meditation this week!  If you want to memorize, you might try verse 41, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

NIV, Life Application Study Bible footnotes:

God's purpose behind this law was an expression of mercy.  The law was given to judges and said, in effect, "Make the punishment fit the crime."  It was not a guide for personal revenge (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19,20; Deuteronomy 19:21).  These laws were given to limit vengeance and help the court administer punishment that was neither too strict nor too lenient.  Some people, however, were using this phrase to justify their vendettas against others.  People still try to excuse their acts of revenge by saying, "I was just doing to him what he did to me."

When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even.  Instead Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us!  Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive.  

This is not natural -- it is supernatural!  

Only God can give us the strength to love as he does.  Instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you.

Week 24 - Matthew 5:37

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Jesus commands us to be TRUTHFUL.  

Truthfulness v. Deception

Truthfulness -- Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.  

Ephesians 4:25 says, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

NIV Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Oaths, or vows, were common, but Jesus told his followers not to use them -- their word alone should be enough (see James 5:12).  Are you known as a person of your word?  Truthfulness seems so rare that we feel we must end our statements with "I promise."  If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to back up our words with an oath or promise.

James 5:12:  Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.

Truthfulness can seem like a rarity in our society these days.  Remember our verse from Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven"?  One of the ways we can let our lights shine is by not going along with the crowd....by being different than the world.  

We shine our lights when we are characterized by truthfulness!

Week 23 - Matthew 5:23-25

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

This command would be a little difficult to memorize but you could easily memorize its meaning.  Spend some time this week considering this principle and meditating on the Word.   

NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God.  If we have a problem or grievance with a firiend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others.  Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God (1 John 4:20).

In Jesus' day, someone who couldn't pay a debt was thrown into prison until the debt was paid.  Unless someone came to pay the debt for the prisoner, he or she would probably die there.  It is practical advice to resolve our differences with our enemies before their anger causes more trouble (Proverbs 25:8-10).  You may not get into a disagreement that takes you to court, but even small conflicts mend more easily if you try to  make peace right away.  In a broader sense, these verses advise us to get things right with our brothers and sisters before we have to stand before God.

1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.