When you fast

When you fast

Scripture: When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

Observation: Continuing along the Sermon of the Mount, our Lord now teaches on the area of fasting. Firstly, the Lord says “when you fast” not “if you fast”, indicating that He expects His disciples to fast. For many of us, fasting is a very difficult thing, as no one likes to be hungry. However, if we are to be obedient to the Lord, we must inculcate regular fasting as part of our Christian lives as the Spirit leads us.

Then, our Lord goes on to instruct that fasting is not for other people to see. If you disfigure your face with the intention of showing others how holy you are, the whole purpose is defeated. Fasting instead is a deeply personal and private thing, between a person and God. We are fasting unto our Father in Heaven, to seek His will, His blessing, and His favor.

Thirdly, fasting comes with a reward from our Heavenly Father. We do not know the precise nature of how our Father will reward us, but we can trust that He always honors His Word, and His rewards are always good and perfect. It could be a fresh revelation, a breakthrough in our walk with God, a sudden blessing in the workplace. Our part is to fast, and leave it to our Abba Father to reward as He sees fit.

Application: Resolve to set aside a specific time to fast unto our Father in Heaven. It could be a meal a week, a full-day fast, or a consecutive fast for several days. Pray and let the Lord lead us to the right fast. Thank God for the reward that He has promised us. Then fast, and see what our Heavenly Father may speak to us or show us.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Teach me O Lord, to fast according to Your will for this pleases You. Teach me to incline my ear and heart, even as I fast, to hear Your will and purpose even for this time and season. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the generous rewards that You give us, which are always good and perfect! Blessed be Your holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.

The power of forgiveness

The power of forgiveness

Scripture:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

Observation:

Straight after the Lord’s prayer, our Lord specially emphasizes the principle of forgiving to be forgiven. The teaching is clear and easily understood. If we forgive others for their sins against us, God our Father will also forgive us. If we don’t forgive, God also won’t forgive.

How do we reconcile this with the fundamental teaching on salvation in Scripture where all our sins are forgiven when we believe on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior? What if a born again Christian still refuses to forgive another who sinned against him? Is he still forgiven? Or if he is unforgiven due to unforgiveness, is he then still saved?

In the letters of the Apostle Paul, he does not mention this principle of conditional forgiveness taught by our Lord here, although he does command the church in the book of Colossians to “forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13.

Later, the Lord explains further on this concept in the parable of the unmerciful servant, which enlightens us how small our sins against each other are compared to our great sin against our holy and mighty God.

Application:

Theologically, there is much to ponder concerning the issue of conditional forgiveness. However, on a practical level, we can conclude that as a Christian, we need to obey our Lord, and since our Lord emphasized the importance of forgiving others, that should be our goal, no matter how heinous or terrible the sins committed against us. On a human level, forgiveness may be impossible, but with God, all things are possible, and as we lean on Him, we realize that He gives us the power to forgive. In forgiving, we release not only our wrongdoers, but more importantly, we release ourselves from the jailhouse of unforgiveness. Only in forgiving can we be truly set free.

Prayer:

Bless this, Abba Father in Heaven, for Your great love for us. We acknowledge Lord that to forgive is Your will for us, and You certainly know what is best for us. Give me the strength to forgive O Lord, every single one who has hurt me, and did harm to me. Without You, O Lord, I have nothing, but in You, I have all I need. I forgive everyone who has hurt me in Jesus name. I release them in Jesus name. I pray for their salvation and restoration in Jesus name. I receive Your release O Lord, even in my mind, my soul and spirit. I am free because Your truth has set me free! I am free to forgive because You set me free. May Your name be praised forever, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Providence, forgiveness, leading and deliverance

Providence, forgiveness, leading and deliverance

Scripture:

Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:11-13

Observation:

The next part of the Lord’s prayer then looks at 4 personal aspects of God supplying our needs in different areas. Firstly, there is God’s provision of our needs. The self-made man thinks that everything he has is by his own sweat and blood, and believes he deserves all the possessions and glory he gets. However, in praying to God to give us our daily bread, we are acknowledging that it is God who gives us the power and ability to acquire wealth, to put the bread on the table, to maintain our home and provide for our children.

Secondly, there is God’s forgiveness of our sins. In praying to God to forgive us our sins, it is to acknowledge our shortcomings before God, that we fall short of His perfect glory and that it is only His mercy that sustains us, and grants us undeserved salvation. A precondition of God forgiving us is specifically put into the prayer for us to remember that we must forgive others as God has forgiven us, no matter how difficult it may be.

Thirdly, there is God’s leading us away from temptation. In James, it is written that God doesn’t tempt anyone, so it is not so much about God tempting us, but rather God leading us away from the temptations that assail us daily from the world. When we pray as such, we are also showing our mindset that we wish to live lives that are pure before God and not indulge in the sins that the world calls us commit.

Fourthly, there is God’s protection. The Psalmist’s image of the Shepherd taking care of the sheep and protecting them from wild animals and danger comes readily to mind. Unless God watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Ultimately, whatever we do, it is still God’s protection that is most important to deliver us from evil, and it is in God that we must hope for the safety of ourselves and our families.

Application:

Even as we think about the Lord’s prayer, let us look to God in expectation for provision of all our daily needs. Let us ask for His forgiveness humbly, knowing the fallen state we are in pending the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us hope in God to lead us away from temptations that we may not fall into the snares of the world, and let us trust in God for His divine protection in an unsafe world, believing that He sends His mighty angels to encamp around us and guard us.

Prayer:

Praise thee Father in Heaven, for You are Jehovaj Jireh, who provides all our needs. You give us generously all things that we need, and enable us to provide for ourselves and our families. Forgive our sins O Lord, even as we release and forgive those who sin against us. Lead us along paths of purity O Lord, away from the temptations of the world calling unto us. Grant us Your divine protection always O Lord, for us and our families. Only in You will we trust as our Great Protector and Deliverer. In Jesus name, Amen.

God’s kingdom, God’s will

God’s kingdom, God’s will

Scripture: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Observation: After teaching us to address God as our Abba Father who is in Heaven, our Lord moves on to teach us the first priority of prayer. It is not our own needs and wants but rather God’s kingdom, God’s will.

What does it mean when we pray “Your kingdom come?” What is God’s kingdom? In the spiritual sense, God’s kingdom is extended as more and more people believe in Jesus Christ and join the church as God’s family. It doesn’t matter whether we are Presbyterian or Baptist or Anglican or Charismatic. It’s still God’s kingdom, God’s church advancing in the world to snatch lost souls from the gates of hell. Too often, we are concerned with our own needs, own blessings, own wants. However, Jesus is telling us, first the kingdom! Later in the chapter, Jesus confirms this by saying “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness

Another important point we should note is that the kingdom is not just found in the four walls of the church, but also in the marketplace. In recent years, God has raised up Christian marketplace leaders like Ed Silvosio, and the Full Gospel Businessmen and B&P ministries around the world who bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the marketplace, offices, restaurants, even discos and coffee shops. God is God of the cities, and the God of business too, and His heart is for the masses therein.

Secondly, after the priority of God’s kingdom is the priority of God’s will! His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. So what is the wisdom of our will compared to His? He knows what is best for us. So why do we not let Him lead us? He holds all future in His hands when we do not even know when our next hair will drop from our heads. “What is Your will, O God?” should be a regular question in our prayer lives.

In heaven, God’s will is executed perfectly. All His angels are perfectly obedient to Him. However, on earth, man, whom God has given free will, has the choice to follow God or follow his own sinful desires. In the end, man will reap what he sows, but we who have found this wisdom should know and submit ourselves to God’s will, entrusting Him totally with our lives as our Lord and Master.

Application:

Ask God to show you the kingdom in your heart. Ask the Lord for a fresh perspective on the importance of His kingdom, and a strong desire to serve Him and extend His kingdom whatever ways we can. Pause and remember when was the last time you asked the Lord “What is Your will O Lord?” Inculcate this practice on a daily basis, in moments of solitude, even in moments of waiting – traffic jam, bus stop, train station. Ask the Lord in your heart “What is Your will, Lord?”

Prayer:

Bless You, Father in Heaven, for the glory of Your name and power! Give me a kingdom heart O Lord, that seeks to love and save the lost. Open my eyes to see how I may help extend Your kingdom. Give me wisdom to know how I can act to draw others into Your perfect kingdom. Help me dear Lord! What is Your will O Lord? Even as I seek You, reveal Your will to me, for my life, for the life of my family. Lead me Lord to live with You, guided by Your Holy Spirit, according to Your will. Let me learn to live like Lord Jesus did, who did nothing by Himself, but only what He saw You doing! Blessed be Your holy name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Our Abba Father

Our Abba Father

Scripture:

 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven ……” Matthew 6:9

Observation:

Following His teaching on prayer, our Lord now gives us the great Lord’s prayer, which has been prayed and recited by millions of Christians through the ages. However, it is not beneficial to just keep praying this prayer by memory, without appreciation of what the prayer really means as many do. In saying “in this manner, pray”, or “this is how you should pray”, our Lord was showing us key areas and priorities in prayer that we would do very well to take note of, even as we pray.

Firstly, the Lord teaches us to pray “Our”. With this mentality, we are to pray not only for ourselves, for no man is an island. Instead, we should pray with the mindset that we are one as part of God’s great family, with fellow brothers and sisters who likewise call God Father.

In praying Father, or Abba, we are reminded of that close personal relationship we have with our Heavenly God, and that He has called us to be His children. The emotion and posture when we call God Abba has great bearing on the effectiveness and faith in our prayer. We have a wonderful, loving Daddy in Heaven! How marvelous indeed!

Then, we are reminded that God our Father is in Heaven, and even as we reflect on that, we remember that Heaven is our true home. We are but sojourners and travelers on this temporary earth. To be with our Father in Heaven, is where we want to be and where we are destined to be one day.

Application:

Meditate on the words Our Father, who art in Heaven. In “Our”, remember that we are not alone, but we are part of God’s great big family and we have many brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. We are to remember them, to bless them as we pray, for we are all in the same family. In thinking of “Father”, “Abba”, imagine the most wonderful father you have ever seen with his son or daughter and know that our Abba in Heaven loves us much, much more. Thank our Abba Father for His great love. In thinking of Heaven, thank God that He has prepared a wonderful, heavenly home for us.

Prayer:

Bless thee, dear Father in Heaven, for Your great and perfect love for us. We thank You, Father, that you called us to be Your sons, Your daughters. Teach me to love my fellow brothers and sisters, from every tribe and tongue and nation. Teach me to know You more and more. Bless You, Father, for You have freely given us all things, and taught us wisdom and peace. We thank you, Father, for the great, heavenly place You have prepared for us. Lead us, Lord, we pray, in the way everlasting. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

   

The rewards of prayer

The rewards of prayer

Scripture:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8

Observation:

Continuing along the sermon of the Mount, our Lord now focuses on the all important issue of prayer, our communication with God. He first tells us how not to pray, which is not to follow the hypocrites who purposely try to stand out to be seen in prayer. Prayer is mainly about us and God personally. There is no point in praying so to be seen by others. There is great value in praying in private, communicating with our Father in Heaven one to one.

Another important point we must take note of is that our Father in Heaven rewards us when we pray in secret. What is the nature of this reward? In itself, that precious communication with God is already great reward in itself. The peace and knowledge of knowing we have such a great Heavenly Father who hears us, who cares for us, who looks out for us is already so wonderful in itself. As we grow in prayer, there are many other great rewards that the Lord unfolds, including breakthrough, deeper intimacy, miracles, answers to prayer, divine guidance and leading.

Furthermore, we are told not to babble like pagans and think that many words cause us to be heard by God. Instead, when we approach God, we should already know that He knows everything, what we need, what we have gone through, even what will happen to us in time to come. In coming to God, we are to come instead humbly and honestly, bringing to Him the deepest concerns of our heart, and our innermost longings. It is in coming to communicate with our Father in the most intimate way, that we can truly begin to realize the marvelous value of prayer.

Application:

Seek to set aside a time to pray to God one to one, behind closed doors. In prayer, seek to pray most honestly, from deep within our heart. Believe that we have a God who rewards those who pray to Him. Leave the nature of the rewards to Him who knows what we need better than we do ourselves.

Prayer:

Praise You, Father in Heaven, for Your great love for us. We praise You Lord that You desire to commune with us, though we are small. Give us a new heart that truly seeks Your face O Lord, that we may learn to really pray. Teach us, Father, to be honest before You, to seek You in reverence and delight. Grant us Your divine rewards, dear Father, even as we pray to You. Draw us in the most intimate way. Help us Lord, truly grow in prayer. Bless Your holy name, Lord Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

That your giving may be in secret

That your giving may be in secret

Scripture:

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4

Observation:

In this passage, we now see our Lord Jesus teach on the motive of our righteousness. At first, it seems strange how a few verses ago, our Lord taught that we should let our good deeds shine like light before men so that men would praise our Father in Heaven while in this verse, Jesus tells us not to practice our righteousness in front of others. The difference lies in the context. In the earlier reference, Jesus had just talked about the Beatitudes, teaching us to be meek, to be merciful, to have a pure heart before God, to be peacemakers, to be willing to undergo persecution for righteousness. Deeds such as these cannot help but shine out. However, in the latter context, Jesus is talking about specific acts of righteousness done with the intention to earn the praise of men. The motive here is not for God’s glory, but for selfish adulation of one’s own self.

Again, the words of Jesus cut right through the crux of the matter, straight to the heart. What is our motive in our actions? Our going to church, our serving, our giving to the poor. How strong is our desire to be honored by others, to be glorified and praised individually? Paul later calls on us to do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit but in humility, consider others better than ourselves. Our old man cries out for attention and recognition, but the new man is submissive and gives glory to God through His Spirit. It is not easy to crucify our old man. It takes faith to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God!

Application:

Examine our heart and the things that we do. Are we doing it with the right motive, out of a pure heart? Or do we have secret desires for recognition? Quite often, these desires are the result of one’s own insecurity. In a quiet place, close our eyes, and think of the Lord, praising Him that He accept and loves us just as we are, faults, warts and all. It is in this security in knowing how loved we are, that we no longer need the praise of men

Prayer:

Praise You, Father in Heaven, for the glory of Your name. Thank You, Father, for watching over me, for calling me and accepting me, just as I am. Praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your great love. In You O Lord I put my trust. Teach me to walk in Your ways. Lead me in paths of righteousness, but let me not chase after the praises of men. Bless thee O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Love your enemies

Love your enemies

Scripture:-

           

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Observation:

Continuing with His very radical teaching, our Lord now goes on to declare that loving those who love you is easy enough, but we who follow Him are to do still even better, to even love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Human nature naturally wants to retaliate and hit back at those who hurt us. Even the law “an eye for an eye” is already a law of mercy for naturally, we want to hurt our antagonists even more than they have hurt us. However, our Lord Jesus teaches us to do the very opposite, to love our enemies, to pray for them. The Lord explains that since our Father in Heaven shows favor on both the evil and the good, granting mankind sunshine and rain whether they deserve it or not, we too should do likewise

Corrie Ten Boom was faced with great practical difficulty when the prison guard who had tortured her and her family came to her to ask for forgiveness. She found it very hard to so, but eventually yielded to the Lord and forgave with tears her one time tormentor. Forgiving and loving your enemy is not easy, even impossible from a human point of view. However, with God all things are possible, and it is for us to let go, and let God do His work in us.

How can we be perfect? Only when we let our old selves recede and let Jesus come alive in us!

Application:

Even now, many of us have enemies we find very hard to forgive, what more to love. Let us bring our feelings of anger and bitterness to the Lord concerning those individuals that have hurt us. Ask God to teach us how to let go, and let Him heal our pains. Only in forgiveness is there sweet release and freedom.

Prayer:

Praise You, Heavenly Father for the wisdom of Your teachings which You showed us through Your Son. Help me Father, for there are some I really have difficulty forgiving. I open my heart to You O Lord. Do Your work in me. I release my pain to You O Lord. I receive Your healing and Your forgiveness. I reciprocate Your forgiveness O Lord by forgiving the ones who hurt me. I release them in Jesus name. I pray for their salvation and their healing in Jesus name. I pray for reconciliation in Jesus name. Blessed be Your name O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Turning the other cheek

Turning the other cheek

Scripture:

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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:39-42

Observation:

Carrying on His very radical teaching, the Lord now teaches that even the seemingly logical law of an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth does not apply. Instead, there is the divine course of action of returning evil for good. Turning one’s cheek when slapped, giving someone your coat as well when he is suing you for your shirt, going two miles with someone who forces you to go one mile with them. At first glance, these teachings seem to defy logic.

Strangely, it took a non-Christian to show the world how truly powerful Jesus’ philosophy was. The great Gandhi brought the colonial government to its knees with simple non-violence yet with incredible patience and persistence.

Imagine if someone hit you on the cheek, and you just calmly turned your other cheek without retaliating. Or if someone sued you and you gave them more than they asked for. Indirectly, your righteous acts would put them to shame and put burning coals on their conscience as it were. In another sense, it also shows that as followers of Jesus, we should not be so taken up with the possessions of the world, or even our own pride.

Helping others who ask us for help also shows a generous heart that the Lord desires of His followers

Application:

Let us ask the Lord to show us our true heart, our selfishness and pride. Instead, ask the Lord to show us how we should follow commands such as these, impossible though they may seem to be. Pray for wisdom and guidance on how to walk by the Spirit according to these principles.

Prayer:

Praise thee Heavenly Father for You hold all things in Your hands. Bless You, Lord Jesus, for the great depth and wisdom of Your teachings, which are really divine, far above human thoughts and wisdom. Help me O Lord understand and apply Your teachings in my everyday life. Let me not become so entangled in possessions and pride that I do not honor Your name by my testimony. Bless You, dear Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Let your yes be yes

Let your yes be yes

Scripture:

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: Jerusalem And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one Matthew 5:33-37

Observation:

Having dealt with personal purity, anger, and marriage, the Lord now teaches us on the subject of swearing and making oaths. It was the existing practice for the Israelites to swear and make oaths in typical everyday life. They would swear by heaven or by earth, by the temple, by the gold of the temple or even by their own heads. However, the Lord teaches that all this is unnecessary. Simply let your yes be yes and your no be no! The Lord even warns that anything beyond that comes from the evil one.

Does this mean that all acts of taking oaths are sinful? After all, we take an oath before God in marriage, and in court, people have to take an oath before they testify. Looking at other parts of Scripture, we see how Paul called God as His witness in 2 Corinthians and when Jesus was on trial, He answered in the affirmative that He was the Son of God when the High Priest asked him to reply under oath. Therefore, we see, that there is a time and place for oaths, especially before God.

However, what Jesus was speaking against was a strange system of determining which vows were legal that the Jews had come up with in the day. In another part of Scripture, Jesus admonished the Pharisees for saying an oath by the temple was nothing while saying an oath by the gold of the temple was binding.

Application:

In practice for us today, we are not to use the words “I swear” or “I promise” flippantly. There are solemn and serious occasions when we are to make oaths but by and large, this should not be the everyday practice of our normal lives. Of greater significance however, is the strength of our character where people will believe us whether we say yes or no. Truthfulness and sincerity should be part of our character as God’s holy people.

Prayer:

Praise You, Father in Heaven, for the glory of Your name. Give me a pure heart O Lord I pray, that seeks truth and despises lies and deception. Teach me to follow the straight paths O Lord. Let my character be strong and sincere, whereby my yes will be yes, and my no will be no. Bless You, Heavenly Father. In Jesus name, Amen.

The sanctity of marriage

The sanctity of marriage

Scripture:

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

Observation:

From the Lord’s teaching about keeping the purity of our thought life, He now focuses on the great issue of marriage. Although during the time of Moses and the ten commandments divorce was permitted, the Lord now strictly teaches that no one should divorce. This commandment seems arcane in today’s society where divorce is so commonplace, and the sanctity of marriage is not respected by the world. However, the Lord’s teaching is clear that those who follow Him must not divorce.

Sadly, there are many situations today where one party is the victim of a divorce, through no fault at all of their own. However, by and large, the reasons for divorce typically are simply not acceptable. One may feel they may have made a bad choice, but once in a marriage, it is for life. Instead of being miserable, why not rather lean on the Lord and trust in Him, praying earnestly for things to change in the marriage.

Application:

Some of us may be going through a hard time in our marriage, but no matter how bad it is, with God, there is always hope. Don’t give up, but commit ourselves to God in prayer earnestly, seeking for a miracle. The Lord has promised that those who trust in Him will never be put to shame.

Prayer

Bless You, dear Lord, for You are the God of all comfort, and You know our deepest hurts and griefs. Give us hope O Lord, and strength to hold on to our marriages, believing that there is a purpose for it all, as You lead us day by day. In You O Lord we put our trust. Let us never be put to shame. In Jesus name, Amen.

If your right eye causes you to stumble

If your right eye causes you to stumble

Scripture:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, 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 go into hell. Matthew 5:27-30

Observation:

After dealing with the issues of anger, insulting and the importance of reconciliation, the Lord moves on to deal with the personal purity of the mind. The 7^th of the 10 commandments declares “Thou shall not commit adultery” referring to the actual act itself. However, the Lord in establishing God’s new requirements said that if you even look at a woman lustfully, you are already sinning and on the pathway to hell. Our Lord goes on to establish the great importance of this kind of personal purity by saying it is better to gouge out one’s eye or cut off one’s hand to stop sinning rather than to lose one’s whole body to hell.

The standard advocated here by the Lord is so high that some may give up trying to follow the Lord’s commands on the spot. Based on this verse, some have in fact given up on the whole sermon of the Mount, saying that it is simply to prove that man cannot meet God’s standard. They say “rather than focus on these teachings, why not just believe you are saved and avoid these condemning Scriptures altogether?”.

Well, it is true that on human strength, we are bound to fail, and simply cannot meet God’s standard. However, it is untrue that Jesus’ teaching here is not relevant. Rather, although we are saved and forgiven of our sins by believing in the Lord, this is the lifestyle that as Christians we must seek to have daily. Jesus’ warning that continuous sin will endanger one’s salvation must be heeded seriously. Jesus did not say He would not forgive those who repent of these sins. However, His words imply a danger of purposely continuing to sin to a point of no return. As Christians, we are not perfect. We fall time and again, but we are to pick ourselves up again and move on, always with the realization of the seriousness of sin, and trusting in God to transform us day by day as we walk with Him.

Application:

Let us remind ourselves the Lord’s teaching that sexual sin is very dangerous, be it only in the mind or actually acted out. On our own strength, we cannot overcome our sinful habits, but it is only in beholding the Lord’s presence day by day as we seek Him, that we find ourselves gradually transformed from glory to glory, sinning less and less, and finding victory over sin.

Prayer:

Praise You, Heavenly Father, for the power of Your Word, that You revealed through Your Son. Help us take heed of Your teachings Lord Jesus, and always have that awareness of the seriousness of sin. Forgive us O Lord, when we fail. Give us your grace to sustain us, to bring us back to Your light shining before us. Praise You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Peace with men, peace with God

Peace with men, peace with God

Scripture:

“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.  Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:23-26

Observation:

After teaching about the dangers of anger and insulting others, our Lord now focuses on the importance of reconciliation and keeping short accounts with those who have something against us. Earlier on, the Lord said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will called sons of God”. Part of being a peacemaker is going to make peace with those we may have offended intentionally or unintentionally. In fact, the Lord teaches us that it is not proper to offer our gifts to God without first reconciling ourselves with our brothers or sisters. In the church of God today, there are so many Christian brothers and sisters at odds with each other, unable to resolve personal differences and thus affecting the unity of the church. There is a beautiful principle there, of peace with men, peace with God.

Regarding lawsuits, our Lord advises us to settle matters quickly. Typically, because of pride and anger, many of us may want to fight all the way in court, incurring legal bills and expenses beyond reason. Again there is the principle of being peace-loving, in aiming to settle matters quickly and move on with our lives. Conflicts and unresolved disputes only create more and more stress and unhappiness in life.

Application:

Search our hearts and see if there are those close to us that we may have offended, perhaps a family member or brother and sister in Christ, even a colleague or friend. Do we have a heart that seeks reconciliation, or do we ourselves still harbor anger and unforgiveness? It is only when we make peace with ourselves that we can reach out in reconciliation towards others. What if the other party refuses to be reconciled? If in good faith, we know we have been sincere and genuinely sought reconciliation, our conscience is clear, and we can move on, still having open hands towards the other party.

If we are caught in a lawsuit, strive for a quick settlement, so matters can be resolved, and the burden lifted off our backs. Pray to God and be proactive as a seeker of peace.

Prayer:

Praise You, Father in Heaven, for the Heavenly peace that you give us. Forgive us O Lord, for the times, we have offended others. Help us have a reconciliatory spirit which seeks not to fight, but to love peace and seek peace even with those who trouble us greatly. For those of us in lawsuits, give us great wisdom and favor, that we may settle the matter quickly, and move forward with the issue behind us. Help us to always be peacemakers O Lord. Always give us Your precious peace. In Jesus name, Amen.