I Was Hungry and You Fed Me…
Matthew 23; Matthew 24; Matthew 25
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Scripture
Matthew 25
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Observation
When it is all over and we stand before His Throne this is what He is going to say to us and what will be our answer? I hope and pray that He will be able to say to me,” I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” I hope and pray that He will be able to say to me, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
I am not there yet.
Application
I will look for people that are in need that I can help in Jesus name.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I don’t want to stand before You empty-handed. I want You to be able to say to me, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Don’t let me waste my life. Don’t let me not be what You want me to be here on this earth. I don’t have much time to get this right. Help me live in a way that pleases You.
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Mountain Moving Faith
Matthew 20; Matthew 21; Matthew 22
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Scripture
Matthew 21
18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.
20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Observation
I can identify with Jesus when it says that He was hungry! I seem to wake up hungry and go to bed hungry, but I doubt if I have ever been hungry like those in Biblical times. Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. He experienced every kind of emotion that you and I experience.
I think that it was interesting that Jesus didn’t use His power to produce figs on the fig tree so that He could take care of His own hunger. He could have done that but He didn’t. It says that He cursed the fig tree and it immediately (supernaturally) withered. Then He used that moment to teach His disciples about prayer.
If He would have prayed and asked His Father to provide figs it would have been like the situation where the Devil tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread. He could have done that too, but it would have been wrong.
I think of the millions of people that go hungry in this world, that do not have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. They don’t have access to the One that is the Bread of Life; they don’t have a relationship with the One Who is the Living Water.
But we do and it is our job to go and tell. He does provide for them, but not like He would if they were His children. That is why we need to go and share the Gospel with them so they can pray to God and have their prayers answered too.
Application
I will trust God and think of this verse as I pray today: “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the faith to be able to pray like Jesus is telling me to pray. The word “anything” is huge. Help me have to the faith to believe this verse. Give me mountain-moving faith because I do have some mountains that need to be moved.
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Matthew 20; Matthew 21; Matthew 22
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Scripture
Matthew 21
18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.
20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Observation
I can identify with Jesus when it says that He was hungry! I seem to wake up hungry and go to bed hungry, but I doubt if I have ever been hungry like those in Biblical times. Jesus was 100% man and 100% God. He experienced every kind of emotion that you and I experience.
I think that it was interesting that Jesus didn’t use His power to produce figs on the fig tree so that He could take care of His own hunger. He could have done that but He didn’t. It says that He cursed the fig tree and it immediately (supernaturally) withered. Then He used that moment to teach His disciples about prayer.
If He would have prayed and asked His Father to provide figs it would have been like the situation where the Devil tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread. He could have done that too, but it would have been wrong.
I think of the millions of people that go hungry in this world, that do not have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. They don’t have access to the One that is the Bread of Life; they don’t have a relationship with the One Who is the Living Water.
But we do and it is our job to go and tell. He does provide for them, but not like He would if they were His children. That is why we need to go and share the Gospel with them so they can pray to God and have their prayers answered too.
Application
I will trust God and think of this verse as I pray today: “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the faith to be able to pray like Jesus is telling me to pray. The word “anything” is huge. Help me have to the faith to believe this verse. Give me mountain-moving faith because I do have some mountains that need to be moved.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
What Will We Get? Great Question…
Matthew 17; Matthew 18; Matthew 19
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Scripture
Matthew 19
27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Observation
Sometimes honestly I have asked the same question that Peter asked in Matthew 19 and it is good to be reminded that I have made the right decisions concerning my career choice, my possessions, and my priorities in life. I look around sometimes at what others have and what others are driving or at homes that others are living in and for just a fleeting moment think …gee…I wonder if I have made the right decisions concerning “stuff”, but then this passage lets me know that I am right where God wants me to be.
Stuff has a way of becoming a “god” and stuff crowds out what God really wants us to focus on. It is always a temptation to think that the “stuff” in life is the most important thing and we need to be reminded that no the material possessions that we value so much are not important at all!
A dead person doesn’t need “stuff”. What good are houses, cars, toys etc. if someone is dead? Yesterday Jesus told us to take up our cross (if you are carrying a cross you are not going to be able to enjoy worldly stuff at the same time). I have this visual picture in my mind right now of someone trying to carry his cross and carry all of his toys too and it just doesn’t work. You can’t do both.
Application
I will concentrate on carrying my cross today and let God be concerned with the needs of my life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your Word is so powerful. It is amazing how You speak to me through Your Word everyday. I have learned so much this week about forgiveness and about dying to self. Help me put what I have learned into practice in my life and help me teach these principles to others.
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Matthew 17; Matthew 18; Matthew 19
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Scripture
Matthew 19
27 Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
Observation
Sometimes honestly I have asked the same question that Peter asked in Matthew 19 and it is good to be reminded that I have made the right decisions concerning my career choice, my possessions, and my priorities in life. I look around sometimes at what others have and what others are driving or at homes that others are living in and for just a fleeting moment think …gee…I wonder if I have made the right decisions concerning “stuff”, but then this passage lets me know that I am right where God wants me to be.
Stuff has a way of becoming a “god” and stuff crowds out what God really wants us to focus on. It is always a temptation to think that the “stuff” in life is the most important thing and we need to be reminded that no the material possessions that we value so much are not important at all!
A dead person doesn’t need “stuff”. What good are houses, cars, toys etc. if someone is dead? Yesterday Jesus told us to take up our cross (if you are carrying a cross you are not going to be able to enjoy worldly stuff at the same time). I have this visual picture in my mind right now of someone trying to carry his cross and carry all of his toys too and it just doesn’t work. You can’t do both.
Application
I will concentrate on carrying my cross today and let God be concerned with the needs of my life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your Word is so powerful. It is amazing how You speak to me through Your Word everyday. I have learned so much this week about forgiveness and about dying to self. Help me put what I have learned into practice in my life and help me teach these principles to others.
Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Take Up Your Cross, and Follow Me
Matthew 14; Matthew 15; Matthew 16
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Scripture
Matthew 16
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Observation
Dying to self is what Jesus is talking about when He says, take up your cross, and follow me. Unless we die to self, we are not following Jesus. So do you want to be a Christ-follower? Then you must learn how to die to self. Did I mention that you and I have to die to self every day? You do – everyday!
Application
I will meditate on and try to fully understand what it means for me to take up my cross and follow Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me grasp what you were telling your disciples. They understood what it meant to take up one’s cross but we don’t have crosses today that men die on so show me what this means for us today.
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Matthew 14; Matthew 15; Matthew 16
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Scripture
Matthew 16
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Observation
Dying to self is what Jesus is talking about when He says, take up your cross, and follow me. Unless we die to self, we are not following Jesus. So do you want to be a Christ-follower? Then you must learn how to die to self. Did I mention that you and I have to die to self every day? You do – everyday!
Application
I will meditate on and try to fully understand what it means for me to take up my cross and follow Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me grasp what you were telling your disciples. They understood what it meant to take up one’s cross but we don’t have crosses today that men die on so show me what this means for us today.
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
Rejection! Get Over It!
Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13
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Scripture
Matthew 13
53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.
54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”
55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Observation
If Jesus faced rejection then why should we think that it would be any different for us? We will be rejected if we are his disciples.
It is harder sharing your faith with those of your own family and it seems like it was difficult for Jesus too.
Did you pick up on their dislike of Jesus when they said, “He’s just the carpenter’s son…”
We will be put down sometimes if we are sharing our faith. We will experience persecution if we are living for Him.
Get over it. It is part of who we are as Christ-followers!
Application
I will not let persecution and ridicule stop me from sharing my faith.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me share my faith with boldness. Bring people into my life that need a personal relationship with you. I pray for those that need to make you Lord of their lives that they begin to do that today.
Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Matthew 11; Matthew 12; Matthew 13
Click Here To Read Or Listen To Today’s Daily Bible Reading
Scripture
Matthew 13
53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.
54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”
55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Observation
If Jesus faced rejection then why should we think that it would be any different for us? We will be rejected if we are his disciples.
It is harder sharing your faith with those of your own family and it seems like it was difficult for Jesus too.
Did you pick up on their dislike of Jesus when they said, “He’s just the carpenter’s son…”
We will be put down sometimes if we are sharing our faith. We will experience persecution if we are living for Him.
Get over it. It is part of who we are as Christ-followers!
Application
I will not let persecution and ridicule stop me from sharing my faith.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me share my faith with boldness. Bring people into my life that need a personal relationship with you. I pray for those that need to make you Lord of their lives that they begin to do that today.
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
Amazing Faith
Matthew 8; Matthew 9; Matthew 10
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Scripture
Matthew 8
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
Observation
This Roman soldier had amazing faith. I have searched the scriptures and there are very few things that amazed our Savior, but this man’s faith was one of them.
What kind of faith do you and I have? Is it amazing? What are we believing God for right now that would be considered amazing by Him?
Anything?
What do you think happened to this soldier’s level of faith for Jesus after he returned home and found his servant healed just like Jesus had promised? I would have liked to have been there when he returned home to see his servant alive and well. I believe both he and his servant would never be the same after that day.
Application
I will try to amaze Jesus with my faith and trust in Him today too!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to have amazing faith in You. You have always amazed me with how You have taken care of us. You have provided for our every need. There has never been a time in our life that we lacked one good thing. Help us show people that they can trust You with every detail of their lives. Give me direction today. I pray for our family, our children and our grandchildren that they would think about You today and Your plan for them. I pray for our church family today that in the business of a Saturday that they would think of You today and You would guide and protect them.
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Matthew 8; Matthew 9; Matthew 10
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Scripture
Matthew 8
5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
Observation
This Roman soldier had amazing faith. I have searched the scriptures and there are very few things that amazed our Savior, but this man’s faith was one of them.
What kind of faith do you and I have? Is it amazing? What are we believing God for right now that would be considered amazing by Him?
Anything?
What do you think happened to this soldier’s level of faith for Jesus after he returned home and found his servant healed just like Jesus had promised? I would have liked to have been there when he returned home to see his servant alive and well. I believe both he and his servant would never be the same after that day.
Application
I will try to amaze Jesus with my faith and trust in Him today too!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to have amazing faith in You. You have always amazed me with how You have taken care of us. You have provided for our every need. There has never been a time in our life that we lacked one good thing. Help us show people that they can trust You with every detail of their lives. Give me direction today. I pray for our family, our children and our grandchildren that they would think about You today and Your plan for them. I pray for our church family today that in the business of a Saturday that they would think of You today and You would guide and protect them.
Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Friday, November 20, 2009
What Does God Expect of Us?
Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7
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Scripture
Matthew 6
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Observation
Here is one of the many things that God expects of us. He encourages and even expects us to send our treasure on ahead to Heaven ... so it will be there when we get there. There is no sense storing up stuff here because when we die we are not taking any of it with us that we haven’t already sent up ahead.
If we use our resources for kingdom causes then they will be in Heaven waiting for us when we get there. If we store up everything here and don’t send anything on up ahead then we are foolish because we are going to live in Heaven forever and the last time I checked “forever” is a very long time.
It is a constant battle for me not to buy the latest and the best or to use my money for stuff that really doesn’t matter. Jesus says not to worry about our clothes or having enough food, but if He was walking around Tampa I wonder what He would say to us? …Oh my goodness! It must break God’s heart.
Application
I will examine my spending habits and my giving habits and make adjustments so I can send more up ahead to Heaven. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me how to use our money and our resources better. Show me how to use my time and my talents so they count for Your Kingdom. Don’t let me waste them on things that don’t matter.
Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Matthew 5; Matthew 6; Matthew 7
Click Here To Read Or Listen To Today’s Daily Bible Reading
Scripture
Matthew 6
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Observation
Here is one of the many things that God expects of us. He encourages and even expects us to send our treasure on ahead to Heaven ... so it will be there when we get there. There is no sense storing up stuff here because when we die we are not taking any of it with us that we haven’t already sent up ahead.
If we use our resources for kingdom causes then they will be in Heaven waiting for us when we get there. If we store up everything here and don’t send anything on up ahead then we are foolish because we are going to live in Heaven forever and the last time I checked “forever” is a very long time.
It is a constant battle for me not to buy the latest and the best or to use my money for stuff that really doesn’t matter. Jesus says not to worry about our clothes or having enough food, but if He was walking around Tampa I wonder what He would say to us? …Oh my goodness! It must break God’s heart.
Application
I will examine my spending habits and my giving habits and make adjustments so I can send more up ahead to Heaven. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me how to use our money and our resources better. Show me how to use my time and my talents so they count for Your Kingdom. Don’t let me waste them on things that don’t matter.
Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
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