Matthew__6

Scripture  Matthew 6:25-27   “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”

Observation-What does it say?  The book of Matthew sheds just a brief light on Jesus’ birth.  It then takes a rather quick jump into the ministry of Jesus.  After being tempted and fasting in the desert for forty days, Jesus gets right into the mix of his ministry.  Chapter six is right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount.  This is one of the first times we see Jesus talking about our motives for our actions, warning us not to desire the adoration of men.  He tells us to tithe and give to the poor in secret, act as if you are not fasting when you are, and don’t pray in a way as though you were putting on a show.  Jesus then tells us how we ought to pray.  Interestingly enough, he tells us how to pray before telling us how to get rid of anxiety.  There must be a direct correlation here.

Understanding-What does it mean?  I learned to hustle pretty early in life and have always been proud of the way that I have been able to “take care of myself.”  My parents didn’t always have extra money for some of the superfluous things I wanted.  So I started looking for ways to make money for myself.  I roamed the neighborhood looking for cans to recycle, asked my neighbors to mow their lawns or walk their dogs.  One of my dog walking jobs went absolutely haywire once.  I was approximately nine years old, maybe 55 pounds soaking wet, and took my neighbors Labrador, of equal weight and much greater strength, for a jaunt down the street.  All of the sudden, the lab took off chasing another dog on the opposite side of a wrought iron fence.  For about two minutes, I was in tow, being dragged through the shrubs, back and forth as these two dogs battled it out to see who could bark the loudest.  When I walked through the door with twigs in my hair and green stains all over my clothes, my mom asked what happened, to which I replied, “You don’t even want to know.”

More than once in my life, I have found myself in the hospital for longer than anyone really wants to be in the hospital.  A few of those times were as a result of my own doing, and some as a result of things outside of my control.  You get a lot of time to think when you are in the hospital.  Every time I found myself getting worried that I would no longer be able to take care of myself, that I was right on the verge of my whole life coming down around me, because of my inability to get better miraculously.  But through these times, I got a glimpse of how small my faith can be that I don’t trust the God who made the universe to take care of me and my finances.

Throughout scripture, God shows himself faithful to his people, even when they are unfaithful.  He brought Israel out of the desert, even after the stunt with the golden calf.  He used Jonah in Nineveh, even after he ran away.  Jesus reminds us in Matthew 10:29 that not even sparrows die apart from His will.  We know from Psalm 139 that we are God’s craftsmanship and He cares for us.  If God can do all these things, then he can take care of me too.

Life Application  Jesus just like the father in Mark 9 asked, help me in my unbelief.  When things get tight, help me to know there is a bigger plan.  When it seems impossible, help me to find ways to give beyond my means.  And when I feel like all the odds are stacked up against me, just let me know you are there.

-Tyler Galloway

Matthew_5

Matthew 5:14- 1614 “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.Observation - What does it say?Jesus saw the multitudes, so he decided to go over to the mountainside and give  his Sermon on the Mount which include the Beatitudes and the fulfillment of the law. He then delivered the hard stuff like loving your enemies (ouch), divorce, taking oaths, murder, and adultery.Understanding - What does it mean?Your good deeds are the light!I always thought if we were sitting on a hill, shining our light bright, we could shine on people's darkness and reveal their sin to them so they could know what they needed to fix and how Christian we are to help them, after all, they are poor sinners.Today I read the  scripture with my new Holy Spirit led eyes and I noticed it says to let your light shine before others that they may SEE your GOOD DEEDS and GLORIFY the FATHER.Ohhh...so it's not about us and how Christian we are about seeing other people's sin. (I’m so embarrassed I actually used to think like this. Father, please help me not be so full of myself!)So here are some of the good deeds he spoke about in Matthew 5. Love your enemies, don’t lust, forgive and ask forgiveness, and have integrity. He's raised the standard higher than what's already expected of both sinners and Christians alike.Your good deeds are the light! That is what makes you stand out! That is what puts you, the lamp, high on a lamp stand and when the people look up…at the light... They see our Father in heaven.Application - How can I apply this today?This is how we show our Good Deeds, that we're not like what is expected of every fallen human being… but when you have every right to be upset, every right to be a lustful,every right to show hatred... we instead decide to show love, we decide to show respect, decide to humble ourselves and extend forgiveness.Father thank you that you are not a critical God that shines light only to to condemn but that you are a God that shines light to draw us to your abounding love. Help me, help us, help DSC to be a people that will chose to walk in the opposite spirit of the darkness. Thank you Jesus for teaches us how to draw people to our Father. We want to become more like you and less of ourselves. Holy Spirit empower us to be the light and shine our good deeds on people so that they may see the Father in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen.

Deborah Lee

Matthew__4

Scripture

Matthew 4: 19-20 (NIV)

19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

 

Observation

 

Jesus is in a state of regrouping and evaluation after learning that John has been put in prison. He’s been fasting (for forty days!), He’s been tempted, He’s been preaching, He is tired. Despite this while on a stroll He is actively looking for men who are willing to follow Him.

 

Understanding

When Jesus does speak, our first response better be to obey, and to obey immediately.

Ironically, my last post was about resting in the waiting. However, God ultimately doesn’t stay silent forever. Most of the time when He speaks He requires an action out of us. We must be willing to respond with first-time obedience! Simon and Peter easily could’ve questioned Jesus and He would’ve moved on. The Message translation puts it like this:

Matthew 4:20 (MSG)

They didn’t ask any questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.

“Dropping their nets” was equivalent to dropping their livelihood, dropping everything they knew, dropping their only stability. They were willing to give it up for someone they didn’t even know. When God called, they were willing and eager to answer. We know God’s heart for us and people, we know that God has plans and futures for every one of our lives. Yet we hold onto reservations that are otherwise unfulfilling in the place of an action God has called us to. If we want to get out of the waiting we have to be willing to move. God is asking for first-time obedience, not sloppy seconds, or thrashed thirds; He wants us to respond the first time! Drop your nets, I promise you it’s better wherever Jesus is. Now more than ever God is looking for a people who will stand before the world and declare that they are fishers of people. Listen for the call, answer the call, and act on the call. He’s not going to ask us more than once. At times we know the answer because He’s already told us, yet He graciously reminds us hoping we’ll act.

 

Life Application

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Now is as good as time as any to drop our nets, and take up our cross. I want to respond obediently the first time, and I pray for strength to do this. I pray for a courage to leave everything behind for eternal life in a world beyond this one. We can do this!

-Allison Khan