Matthew 5

N Matthew5:13-6,Jesus says that we r 2 b “salt”&”light” 2 those around us.N addition 2 bing a condiment,salt has at least 2 primary properties! It can make us thirsty,& it can been used as a preservative/protector!Jesus’ words here make me ask myself questions!What is my life making the people around me thirsty for?And,what r the words of my mouth and my life “preserving/protecting” 4 those around me?This cannot b;”what do the words I speak make people thirsty for”?,without my life giving authenticity to my words.That is what Jesus refers 2 as salt losing its saltiness!The reverse is true as well;the words out of my mouth being very different from the “religious”things I do!Both cause the salt of my life 2 lose its saltiness.The saltiness Jesus is describing is that which is meant 2 PRESERVE/Protect the evidence of God’s Mercy&Grace&Truth n the lives of those who know HIM/trust HIM.And THIS is what Jesus is saying that our lives&words should b making people around us “thirst for”,& what our lives&words should b “preserving/protecting”4 those around us!The light Jesus refers 2 is from the LAMP(Matt5:15)that is lit n us when we trust Christ as our Savior;the Holy Spirit that HE places n our heart & lights w HIS Love/Mercy/Grace.The “oil/fuel” that keeps the LAMP glowing is God’s Word,&what fans the glowing flame is our obedience 2 God’s Word.When I am not regularly “filling up w OIL”,nor seeking His care/instructions 4 this LAMP,HIS LIGHT n my life fades.Just as a Lighthouse Keeper is responsible 2 keep a lighthouse cared for & effectively lit,so those needing it’s guidance will have it,we r 2 b a “Holy Spirit Keeper” 4 those around us.Dear Jesus,Your words here remind me of the times I have made others thirsty 4 the wrong things,& how my life has not been a means of preserving/protecting the Awesome Mercies&Grace that You have given me.Additionally,many times,& seasons n my life,I have not been a “Holy Spirit Keeper”! Forgive me,& remind me of what You r calling me 2 n these verses!May my life b Salted&Fueled by Your Word & Glowing from Your Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4

Jesus had gone n2 the wilderness 2 face every temptation that Satan could throw at him(Matt4:1-11).N God’s great wisdom HE tells us of only 3 temptations.These 3 might represent Satan’s most effective “weapons/temptations” n his battle 4 our hearts/lives.Each one of these temptations has an “IF” that challenges what we think/believe about the God of the Bible/God of Creation,the ONE TRUE GOD!It might b that during the previous 39 days,Satan threw all the temptations at Jesus that r common 2 all people,then after Jesus had fasted a full 40 days Satan tempts Jesus w the most effective “weapons” he also uses on “believers”.N each of these 3 temptations of Christ,Satan uses an “IF” that challenges God’s Promises,God’s Word,God’s Character,&God’s Sovereignty!N the 2nd temptation Satan even “atTEMPTS” 2 misuse God’s Word by taking scripture out of context.During each of these 3 temptations,Jesus confronts the “IF” w God’s Word-“it is written...”!N our lives,when stressed,hungry,envious,tired,etc.,we who desire 2 follow Christ r “prime targets” 4 Satan 2 use these same tactics on us!Satan has done his “reconnaissance” of our lives,& knows when&how 2 most effectively attack our faith,&our walk w Christ.Satan will make us question God &His Word by throwing “IF’s” at us when we r “fatigued”;”hungry”;or “battle warn”.All of these “IF’s” will boil down 2 our hearts&minds asking,”does God really say?”!When we don’t address these “IF’s” w the RIGHT answers,we begin down a slippery slope that leads away from God’s True Expressions of Love,& HIS desires 4 our lives(desires for our GOOD).This is why it is critically & “strategically” important for us 2 be regularly digging n 2 know God’s Word,so we can TRULY know HIS HEART,&HIS instructions 4 our GOOD!So we can definitively know what God would really say about a circumstance or situation n our lives!Satan’s great desire is 2 lure us away from what God Truly Says,so he can also lure us away from God’s Heart & what only God knows r the best plans 4 our lives(Jeremiah 29:11,”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”).We must dig n2 God’s Word so we will know HIS Voice/What HE says about all things.Then,when we “know”,we must “do” as HE “leads”(James1:22-25,”Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror,and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do”).Satan does NOT want us 2 b blessed n any good way(The Ways of God!).We must always b prepared 4 the sneaky clever ways of Satan,by “digging n2 God’s Word”,& following HIS Word/His Voice n our lives.Lord,I have been misled many times bcuz of letting my heart/life b lured away by the question “did God really say”?!Please help me 2 b motivated 2 earnestly seek 2 TRULY know Your Word&Your Voice,& then by Your Grace&Power help me 2 follow only You!

Matthew 1-2

Whenever God uses a man or woman n any way,we should dig n2 their “character&heart traits” 2 discover what may separate them from others.The 1st question 2 ask is whether the person is used because of certain traits,or in spite of certain traits...or both?The book of Matthew begins w the lineage of Christ.God is totally transparent with the lineage of Christ,4 our edification.Each one of these men&women r named so we can “dig in” 2 learn about the kind of heart&character we should seek,& that which we should learn 2 turn away from.So,when God chooses Joseph 2 b the step father 4 HIS Son,it is imperative that we “dig n2” learn what “makes” this young man “different” from many others.The 1st characteristic of Joseph is that he “was a righteous man”(Matt1:19b).1 dictionary defines righteous this way-“concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles; "moral sense"; "a moral scrutiny"; "a moral lesson"; "a moral quandary"; "moral convictions"; "a moral life"”.Joseph was “concerned” about right&wrong,& seeking TRUTH!Next,when the Lord appears 2 Joseph n a dream,he knows n his heart&mind this was the Lord!Matt1:22 states that “All this took place 2 fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet...which means,”God with us””!Joseph knew the “voice of the Lord” bcuz he had been seeking TRUTH n the Holy Scriptures-the Old Testament! So when the angel refers 2 OT prophecies, GOD uses HIS Word 2 confirm HIS instructions 4 Joseph!Joseph has no doubt this was from the Lord!We know Joseph had no doubt becuz when he woke up he didn’t go 2 seek counsel 2 confirm the dream,nor did he “put off doing” so he could “think about it” 4 a while!He was so convinced that he “did” what the angel of the Lord instructed the moment he woke up!This means that Joseph KNEW the voice of the Lord!He KNEW the Old Testament so well, that these verses quoted by the angel of the Lord,& other prophecies n the OT “rolling around” n Joseph’s heart&mind,were used by God 2 seal the TRUTH n Joseph’s life decisions.Next,Joseph is no different from any young man, w dreams & aspirations that all young men,ncluding getting married & looking 4ward 2 all the gifts of marriage.But,Joseph TRUSTS God w all these dreams&aspirations,& turns them over 2 the Lord.Joseph decided 2 b obedient 2 the Lords instructions 4 his life-“immediate following/obedience”!This characteristic of “immediate following/obedience” n Joseph’s life would prove critically important,eventually saving the life of the baby Jesus from the baby slaughter of Herod.Joseph was righteous!Joseph was concerned about TRUTH,& sought TRUTH n the Holy Scriptures he had at the time-the OT!Joseph KNEW the voice of the Lord bcuz of his SEEKING TRUTH!Joseph TRUSTED the Lord w his life,demonstrated “real time”by his unwavering commitment 2 follow&obey The Lord!O Lord,make my heart so concerned about righteousness that I seek to know TRUTH fervently n Your Word so I will know Your Voice as Joseph did!Develop n me the same TRUST that Joseph had;& grant me the same commitment 2 follow/obey You as Joseph had.

Matthew 3

N Matthew3:2,John the Baptist’s(JTB)message is,”Repent,4 the kingdom of God is near.”Many came 2 see&hear JTB,&many of these were convicted of sin n their lives.When confronted w TRUTH,everyone of us will have a response of 1 kind or another.We either reject TRUTH,or we r concerned about the impact of TRUTH.Those who r concerned about the impact of TRUTH respond 2 JTB by confessing their sins & being baptized n the Jordan.When some Pharisees come,JTB’s response 2 them is not only a message 4 the Pharisees,but 4 those coming out of the Jordan that have been baptized.Everyone hears what JTB says 2 the Pharisees!JTB says,”Produce fruit n keeping w repentance...every tree that does not produce fruit will b cut down & thrown n2 the fire.”(Matt3:7-12).JTB is addressing those still wet from the Jordan as well as the Pharisees here.JTB is saying that unless the Pharisees, AND those coming up out of the Jordan,have lives that reflect a new mindset of Christ being Lord,with lives changed 2 honor Christ as Lord,they will b “cut down & thrown n2 the fire.”N addressing the Pharisees,JTB is also making those coming out of the Jordan aware that they can become just like the Pharisees if their lives do not reflect their commitment made through baptism n the Jordan-the commitment 2 turn from their old ways of thinking&living,& turning all of their “thinking&living” over 2 the ways of The Lord/His Word/His Promises/His Grace/His Love/His Mercy!Most of those concerned about the impact of TRUTH were wet from being baptized n the Jordan.JTB was now strongly encouraging them 2 “stay the course” of repentance,or they would drift back 2 their old ways & bcum just like the Pharisees!I found this when looking up REPENTANCE-“While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto salvation does result in works. It is impossible to truly change your mind without that causing a change in action. In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior. That is why John the Baptist called people to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). A person who has truly repented of his sin and exercised faith in Christ will give evidence of a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19–23; James 2:14–26).”Those concerned about TRUTH decided 2 “b religious”.JTB says they must let their “concern” take them 2 repentance reflected by a “change of life”...a change of all previous “behaviors” that did not TRUE up w God’s Word.Dear Lord,don’t let me be “just concerned” about TRUTH,but let my life be changed by TRUTH!Grant me wisdom&discernment 2 know YOUR TRUTHS,the TRUTHS that transcend all time,& YOUR STRENGTH&POWER 2 change my life from the inside out,so true repentance happens n my life.