Week 35 - Matthew 10:26-31

So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV footnotes:

Jesus said that God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are.  You are so valuable that God sent his only Son to die for you (John 3:16).  Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials. These can't shake God's love or dislodge his Spirit from within you.

But this doesn't mean that God will take away all your troubles.  The real test of value is how well something holds up under the wear, tear and abuse of everyday life.  Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles truly have lasting value and will receive great rewards.

Fear God, not man!

Week 34 - Matthew 9:38

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

We have a THEREFORE.....therefore we need to look at the verse or verses preceding this one. 


Matthew 9:35-37 says:  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 

I think my favorite part of this passage is "he had compassion on them."  I'm so thankful Jesus looks on me with compassion and that there's nothing in my life that he doesn't understand.  No matter what I'm going through, I can take it all to Him. 

 
Life Application Study Bible, NIV footnotes: 

Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest.  Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how.  Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers.  Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us.  Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. 

 

Pray for workers.  Pray for compassion.  Pray for ways you can show the Lord's compassion to others.



Week 33 - Matthew 7:15

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV footnotes:

False prophets were common in Old Testament times.  They prophesied only what the king and the people wanted to hear, claiming it was God's message.  False teachers are just as common today.  Jesus says to beware of those whose words sound religious but who are motivated by money, fame, or power.  You can tell who they are because in their teaching they minimize Christ and glorify themselves.

I like the rest of that passage.  It reads:

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  Matthew 7:16-20

Footnotes:

We should evaluate teachers' words by examining their lives.  Just as trees are consistent in the kind of fruit they produce, good teachers consistently exhibit good behavior and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture.  This does not mean we should have witch hunts, throwing out church school teachers, pastors, and others who are less than perfect.  Every one of us is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for ourselves.  When Jesus talks about bad trees, he means teachers who deliberately teach false doctrine.  We must examine the teachers' motives, the direction they are taking and the results they are seeking.

The thing that I would add to these footnotes would be to evaluate all teaching in light of scripture.  If we are familiar with scripture through reading, studying and meditating on God's truth, we are more apt to have open eyes to false teaching.

Week 32 - Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Footnotes:

The gate that leads to eternal life (John 10:7-9) is called "narrow."  This does not mean that it is difficult to become a Christian, but that there is only one way to live eternally with God and only a few that decide to walk that road.  Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, because he alone died for our sins and made us right before God.  Living his way may not be popular, but it is true and right.  Thank God there is one way!

JESUS IS THE GATE!!

Week 31 - Matthew 7:12

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

Wish I had a dollar for every time I've used this verse in a house full of five children :)

Life Application Study Bible, NIV Footnotes:

This is commonly known as the Golden Rule.  In many religions it is stated negatively.  "Don't do to others what you don't want done to you."  By stating it positively, Jesus made it more significant.  It is not very hard to refrain from harming others.  It is much more difficult to take the initiative in doing something good for them.  The Golden Rule as Jesus formulated it is the foundation of active goodness and mercy -- the kind of love God shows to us every day.  

Think of a good and merciful action you can take today!

Week 30 - Matthew 7:1

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

NIV Life Application Study Bible footnotes:

Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others.  The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves.  Our untamed bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others.  Do you find it easy to magnify others'  faults while excusing your own?  If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism.  Judge yourself first and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

The rest of that section reads:

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:2-5

NIV Life Application Study Bible footnotes:

Jesus' statement, "Do not judge," is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up.  It is not a blanket statement against all critical thinking, but a call to be discerning rather than negative.  Jesus said to expose false teachers (7:15-23), and Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:1,2), and trust God to be the final Judge (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).

Do you struggle with a judgmental heart?  Ask the Lord to help you in this area......He is faithful!

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!