Category: Matthew
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What’s the Context?
Matthew 18:19 “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Have you ever been taken out of context regarding something you’ve said? Have you ever had a snippet of what you’ve actually said used in a negative way…
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Glorious Prologue
Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” When you pray, how often do you begin your prayers in the way Jesus told us to? Are the first words out of your mouth about your problems, your needs, and the problems and needs of others, or is it about the greatness of our God? …
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The Struggle of Prayer
Colossians 4:12 “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.” Is prayer a struggle for…
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The “God Things”
Matthew 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Some years ago, I was having a conversation with a friend whose view was that although God may have been involved…
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Prayer: Active vs Passive Voice
Matthew 6:9-10 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!” Do you know the difference between passive and active voice? In passive voice, the subject is being acted upon…
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Careless Words
Matthew 12:36-37 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” I heard a good Will Rogers quote the other day: “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” Sounds…
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First Things
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” How careful we should be to pay close attention to the individual words of the Bible. They aren’t there for filler. God, in His infinite wisdom, has said the things He has said to us in the…
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Depression
Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” The one emotional condition that, above all, is the opposite of what God would have for His followers is depression. It’s closely…
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The Easy Yoke?
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” How easily we can misinterpret the Scriptures if we fail…
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Four Glorious Words
Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven” These few words from the lips of Jesus are a wonderful revelation of the wisdom, power, and glory of our great God. To think that Jesus, the Son of God, could both reveal both His glorious condescension and lift our minds to the highest plane in just four words…
To Encourage You 