# 7. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5: Adultery. Read verses:27-30. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5:28 “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.

 What Jesus tells us here may be the most ignored precept by both men and women.  It turns the thinking of adultery upside down. Adultery is usually understood as a physical act with someone other than one’s spouse. Jesus is telling us that adultery begins in our thoughts turning both women and men into objects, something less then fully human. 

It is difficult to reconcile Jesus’ precept with the reality of modern life, not that this kind of thinking about people in that way is a new thing. Since the fall, the beauty of sexuality is an adulteration of God’s original intention for sex given to Adam and Eve, it is part of the order of creation found in Gen 2: 24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Sex is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated in the context of marriage, one man and one women! Male and female is part of the image of God giving couples the privilege of participating along with God to create new life and are given the awesome responsibility of raising children to know and love Jesus.

Today, God’s precept is politically incorrect and borders on hate language. For some Christians today, Jesus’ words do not hold true any longer sexually, everything is accepted, sex is considered a right. For followers of Jesus sex is a privilege and there is no way around that precept. Paul raises the stakes for believers and condemnation for unbelievers in Eph. 5:31 “for we are members of his body. ³¹ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”  What Paul is saying to us is that our sexual relations, not the act but what leads up to it: complete love, absolute commitment and total surrender one to the other is what mirrors the love of Christ for His people. Raising our marital relations on to a spiritual level that is difficult to understand (“a profound mystery”) and completely lost on non believers. Add to that having children and the responsibility of raising them.

So what is the answer? Given secular society today where the emphasis is on being attractive in every way, people dress that way and act that way: entertainment, advertisements, provocative dress, we are in a sexually charged society and that is considered normal, even healthy. The answer is that we must recognize our own culpability in our thoughts about sexuality before our thinking can be corrected. We thank God for His mercy and ask Jesus to extend His grace to us. In this area every man and woman must ask God for forgiveness and to keep us close to Jesus Christ.  

Paul in Philippians 4:8-9 gives us a solution: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”. Praise be to God!

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# 6. 2017 Dev. Ps. 3. Call on God! Read all of Ps. 3. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Psalm 3:4 “I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.”

 The introduction is followed by a series of 12 Psalms of prayers. (3-14). Ps. 3 is titled “When David fled from his son Absalom”. David is in great distress; he points out his needs to God “many are my foes.” These foes are his own people and his own much beloved son. For David and for us family conflict is the most disturbing and destructive in our lives. Many others have abandoned him, only a few fled with David. We can identify.

 He cries out to God and he anticipates an answer, he continues with confirming God’s care, His blessings and protection for him over the years. He sleeps in peace knowing that God is with him. We need to be reminded of that again and again. He is not afraid even with great odds. That also is a great reminder for us. David comes down to trusting God for his life, for his kingdom and for the calling God placed on him. How easily are we overwhelmed sometimes and we allow doubt and despair to slip into our spiritual life affecting all that we do. This Psalm is an exercise in trusting God!

Verse 7 is David’s prayer proper: “Deliver me, O my God!” Here David uses a metaphor asking for physical action against his enemies (strike the jaw, and break the teeth of the wicked) but this has a spiritual meaning. God will and does deliver us in this life and prepares us for living with Jesus in the Kingdom: the salvation of our bodies and souls, God’s ultimate plan for His people. Praise be to God!

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# 5. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:23-24. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5: 23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Mt. 5:23-24 is part of the section of Jesus’ sermon labeled “Murder” (V.21-26). Murder is here redefined into a truth that may make us uncomfortable. We now cannot reject our brothers and sisters whatever the differences in conviction. What Jesus is saying is that breaking our relationships is akin to murder. I believe that Jesus is highlighting the importance of our relationships. How do we get along in our families, how do we get along in our church family, how do we get along with our neighbors and how do we see those who do not yet follow Jesus?

This has everything to do with what we think about people, particularly what we think about those who differ from us and what we think about those who do not know Jesus. Further, it has a lot to do with our actions particularly worship. Our worship is unacceptable to God if we have an unresolved conflict with someone. All of life is worship but here it is a particular part of worship, giving our gifts to God and receiving God’s gifts in worship; his Word, His blessings, communion at God’s table and fellowship with God’s people.

What we think about is important but what we do may be more important.  Jesus says: Leave your gift at home; worship, funds, praise to God, and go find that person you are in conflict with so that you repair your relationship.  Jesus adds, not to do so is akin to murder.  Tough words from Jesus but highlights the importance of our relationship to God and to each other. Thank you Jesus!

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 # 4. 2017 Dev. Ps. 2:1-12. God Laughs! The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 2:7 “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father”.

Psalm 2 comprises the rest of the introduction to the Psalms. Ps.2 is also one of the Messianic Psalms.  Reading the whole Psalm reveals to us several truths, like it or not there is evil in the world and it is not limited to a few; kings, leaders, peoples, and nations. They say: “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” They want to remove the restraints of the Holy Spirit on sin. They reject God and they reject Jesus.

But God laughs at their rebellion, God scoffs at their actions, “God terrifies them with his wrath.” The second truth is that God is in control but God’s methods are completely upside down from what those who appose God expect or understand.

God says: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” This is a reference to Jesus Christ. The love of Jesus (the love of God) is the truth that terrifies and angers those who oppose God.

The third truth is God’s decree; verse 7.  “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father”. This is a direct reference to God the Son. The book of Hebrews (Heb5:5) quotes this decree as Biblical proof that God appointed God the Son (Jesus) as the Savior of the world and through the miracle of the incarnation Jesus becomes our brother.

This is where the rubber hits the road: Believers are brothers and sister of Jesus and as such we share in His inheritance, in His resurrection and in due time, in His glory. This truth puts us under the grace of God, under the salvation of God, under the protection of God and under the blessings of God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Ro. 8:31). Praise be to God!

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# 3 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:19. “The Least and the Greatest. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5:19 “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven”.

This passage is part of a section in Jesus’ sermon called: “The Fulfillment of the Law”(Mt. 5:17-20). Further, from the verse we are looking at “therefore” points to what is written before it. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, Jesus fulfills the law as the Lamb of God, Jesus fulfills the law as was prophesied about Him, Jesus fulfills the law by His perfect life. He does what we can not do and He does it for us! Since Jesus does that for us we are released from the Old Testament demands of the law but not from the obligations of law. Jesus added the law of love (Jn.13:34) as we see it in the summary of the law (Mk. 12:30-33).

Today the law teaches us about God’s Holiness. The law teaches us about our shortcomings (sin). The law teaches us God’s will for our lives. The instruction is there for us; a guide in a broken world but the condemnation of the law is set aside in Christ.

We are righteous by faith in Him (Ro.10:4). We are justified by faith in Him (Gal 3: 23-25).  We have peace in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:13-18).

 All of the above Jesus teaches in His sermon with a promise and a warning, obeying or not obeying the law has consequences for our standing in the Kingdom of God. Those who do not pay attention to the law of God and teach others to ignore the law will be the least in the Kingdom. Yet, they still are in the kingdom, confirming the new covenant; by faith alone in Christ we are saved.

But all those who adhere to the law and teach others to do so will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Salvation and regeneration is by faith in Jesus Christ alone but Christ honors those who faithfully serve Him. Praise the Lord and keep serving Him with the gifts He has given us!

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# 2 2017 Dev. Ps. 1:1-6. “Blessed”. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”.

There is much to be said about the Psalms but most of it is beyond the scope of this devotional. Suffice it say that the Psalms are divided into 5 books of which Psalm 1 and 2 is an introduction and Psalms 146 -150 are a series of Psalms beginning with and ending with “Praise the Lord” that most likely is the conclusion to the book. The Psalms are mostly a collection of hymns consisting of prayers, petitions and praise.

We look at verse 3 but Ps. 1 is best read as a whole. This Psalm is a stark contrast of the two ways of the world; one of righteousness and one of wickedness already obvious in the first two verses. The first verse is a “negative progression”, one who does not, in that if one walks in the council of the wicked long enough you will stop in the way of sinners and if you linger long enough you will also sit down. Wickedness is like that eventually taking over one’s whole life.

In contrast is the positive way of righteousness, one who does delight in the law of the Lord, more so, one who meditates on God’s law (God’s will) day and night. This person is one who does what is right in God’s sight. Righteousness, continually practiced eventually takes over his or her whole life.

There is more, a promise of blessing. V.3 That person is like a tree planted near a clear and pure stream (God’s will). There is nothing like a healthy well watered mango tree for fruit, and for shade; a metaphor for a multitudes of blessings for those enjoying the fruit and shade. That person is blessed and a blessing to others, “whatever they do prospers”.

 This Psalm will be offensive to some I expect because there is no alternative, there is no middle way. There is the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked; not with standing our human short comings. God forgives if we desire His Grace. In God’s economy one walks in righteousness or wickedness one or the other. Do what is right, seek His Grace and be blessed!

 

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# 1 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:13-16. We want to continue with Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” this year alternating between Jesus’ Sermon and an Old Testament Passages. We trust God to bless us. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We have finished the introduction to Jesus’ sermon, The Beatitudes, they are the expectations Jesus lays out and blesses us when we practice them in His name. The sermon is about our attitudes, our actions and our ethics as people belonging to the “Kingdom of Heaven”. We move to the main body of Jesus’ message.

Jesus’ message covers three chapters, Mt. 5,6,7. His teaching is revolutionary! He turned a very legal understanding of God’s Word, probably the Septuagint, upside down! This is a guide to all the teachings of the New Testament, and the New Covenant of Jesus’ blood, His sacrifice for us, this is the way of Jesus.      

Mt. 5: 3-12 is the baseline for the message, these nine attitudes that we discussed and accompanying blessings allow us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear the Way of Jesus and follow the Way of Jesus. From Jesus’ time on earth true Christians are people of the Way.

 Therefore, Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount compels His followers to be salt and light in the world. Not only because Jesus commands it but also because His Words hold the key to the Light of God. The verses for this week: 13-16 called “Salt and Light” and teaches us that following Jesus is a complete experience, we see the light, we feel the power, and we taste the goodness. But Jesus warns us that salt affects taste, life can be sweet, spicy and good, we are the salt in society but if we lose our saltiness (our Jesus-ness) we lose our good affect on those around us.

We also “are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” A light is lit for the purpose of giving light and must not be hidden, Jesus tells us. God’s light shines through Jesus’ followers, let’s keep it high and bright. Jesus wants everyone to see our good works, (God’s Light) not for our praise but to the praise of God our Father! Shine on!

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# 52 2016 Dev. Php. 3:13-14. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Philippians 3:13-14

^13” Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

At this time of the year we need to reboot, the year ends and the New Year is upon us. Many are the New Year resolutions that people find helpful to refocus their lives. As good as that may be they fall short of what Paul is teaching followers of Jesus to think about at the New Year and whenever we need to refocus.

 Paul is under house arrest in Rome and writes a thank you letter to the church in Philippi for their “partnership in the Gospel” and his letter is meant to encourage them. Paul prays that they may abound in love, in knowledge, in purity and discernment ^“filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Php. 1:9-11).

In Ch. 3 Paul is speaking about circumcision and other Mosaic laws that some people wanted to impose on Gentile Christians. The attitudes (works) that Paul is praying about in Ch. 1 as good as these are is no benefit except for faith in Jesus. Paul is also talking about eternal life, residing with Jesus in heaven, that is guaranteed but he had not yet achieved it. Therefore, whatever accomplishments good or bad that is part of his life he now puts all behind him, they do not count instead he looks ahead, straining in faith to attain to what God had called him. Paul qualifies it by telling us that his and our calling is heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

This year go deep, start over with Jesus!  Make lots of resolutions but most of all leave last year behind, all the good and the bad and strain forward in faith to reach for what God has called us: To commit to Him in all we attain and hope to attain, to trust Jesus for a better and more productive year, by His standards, “to the glory and praise of God.” Look forward to the great things God has called us to experience in His Grace, Amen!

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# 51 2016 Dev. Lk. 2:13-14. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Luke 2:13-14

^13 “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

These verses are part of the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth and is often read at Christmas time. It is an amazing announcement: one angel appeared to a group of shepherds. I imagine them sitting around a fire wrapped in cloaks to keep warm and discussing the day of herding or perhaps discussing the censes that Caesar Augustus ordered to be taken. The heart of the announcement is Verses 10-11: “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord”.

 The first thing we notice is that this event is placed in history and at a certain time of history that had great implications for the spread of the Good News (The Gospel), it was the time we now understand as “The Roman Peace” in the known world at the time.

The second observation is more difficult to understand; why was this announced to shepherds sleeping in the open with their sheep? Why is Jesus born in a stable, (probably a cave) not a very clean or attractive place? All this sets the tone of Jesus’ ministry on earth: there is no person or place that is too low in this world for Jesus to pay attention to!

This child “will cause great joy” because He is the Messiah, the savior for “all the people”That announcement tells it all but God is not finished, the Good News is the major event in all of history. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host (100,000 at least in my opinion) appeared” singing glory to God and announcing peace and God’s favor for all people. All this to humble shepherds? Why not in Jerusalem or Rome for that matter? God works in mysterious ways but one thing is clear, God begins at the bottom or the ground level of society and Jesus’ work on earth gives us some insight into God’s ways. From our place in history we see that God’s ways, who pays attention to the humble, the hurting and the fallen, are not the ways of mankind.

We read this historical event every year. The shepherds left it all and went to see and after that they spread the Good News God had given them, all who heard it were amazed.

As we celebrate this event again this year what does it mean for us? What do followers of Jesus think about: telling others the good news, living in great joy, promoting peace on earth and proclaiming God’s favor on mankind? Yes, that is God’s gift to all the people of the world! Amen and Amen.

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# 50 2016 Dev. I Sa.16:7. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Samuel 16:7

^7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

After Saul the first king of Israel disobeyed God multiple times, God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a man to take his place.  That is the context of this verse: Samuel, when he saw the oldest son of Jesse was impressed but God reminded him otherwise. This happened seven times but God did not choose the older brothers of David.

 How often don’t we do the same thing as we look at the outward appearance or at a person’s accomplishments or non-accomplishments and ignore the signs of the heart. Samuel came to Jesse to worship but the youngest son was left out, apparently not considered worthy to worship with the family. He was out with the sheep, not exactly an upstanding occupation in David’s day. David’s humble position and attitude was preparation for what God choose him to become, a King forever. By God’s grace “he was a man after God’s own heart” not in spite of his short comings but because of his repentance and God’s choosing. By grace he became the earthly father of the Savior of the world.

 Isn’t that how things are? The humble, the meek, those thinking about others and those concerned with creation are not those the world sees as the beautiful people. One can hardly walk past the checkout counter at the grocery store and not see all the beautiful people magazines telling us how mundane we are. We thank God: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Praise be to Him!

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