91st Week, Matthew Chapters 23-25 (Clink on the Title for a Video Introduction)

 Click on the Title for Video Intro

Monday, Matthew Chapter 23

Matthew 23

Verse 26

Jane Jones

Verse 26:  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

THOUGHT

Jesus condemned the Pharisees and religious leaders for outwardly appearing saintly and holy but inwardly remaining full of corruption and greed.  Living our Christianity merely as a show for others is like washing a cup on the outside only.  When we are clean on the inside, our cleanliness on the outside won’t be a sham.

In Luke we also read, “You foolish people!  Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?  But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”

How good are you at cleaning the inside of that cup out?  How do you use the resources God has entrusted to you?  Are you generous in meeting the needs around you?  Your generosity reveals much about the purity of your heart and of your cup.

It is time for all of us to get the inside of our cups clean.  There are times the stains are so deep that it takes a long time to get it cleaned.  Have you ever noticed after you get the inside of the cup cleaned, the outside is fine.  By cleaning and emptying out the inside, our outside cleans itself on its own.  Reach out with your heart and give a blessing to ones in need.  Your cup will look like it has been cleaned with “JOY”.

PRAYER

Father, we thank You for the chance to clean out our cups and get true with You.  We ask for forgiveness when we fail to keep our cups emptied out and clean.  May we look to You, our great teacher, and not to the hypocrites of today.  May we never become so shallow that all our energies are focused on the outside of our cups.  AMEN

 

Tuesday, Matthew Chapter 24A (Verses 1-35)

Matthew 24A

Verse 27

Jane Jones

Verse 27:  For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the son of God.

THOUGHT

As I was reading this scripture this morning during my quiet time, I was trying to envision the coming of Christ.  I was thinking, “What if He were to come right this very moment?  What would truly happen? Would I be chosen? Have I lived a life pleasing to God?  What disappointments in my life were displeasing to Him?  What else could I have done for others?  What else could I have given to others?”  WOW!!  It made me very pensive.

But the Bible tells us that we will surely know when Christ comes again. If we have to be told that the Messiah has come, then He hasn’t. Christ’s coming will be obvious to everyone.  I am so thankful that Jesus shared with us some of these things about His return.

There was one thing that stuck in my mind when reading this passage. Jesus was teaching from the Mount of Olives and is telling about the future. He told us in these verses that we will truly experience some very bad times; that we will be handed over to be put to death, and at that time some of us will turn away from our faith.

But there was one thing that Jesus addressed in verse 19. Jesus mentioned how awful it would be for pregnant women and nursing mothers.  He specifically addressed these two groups of people and that is all. He did not say, old people, handicapped people, children, professionals, nurses, and teachers. He specially said pregnant women and nursing mothers.  Jesus addressed this as ‘dreadful’ for these women.  Maybe it was because I was pregnant twice. It just hit me very hard. I’m just not sure why he addressed this, but he did. Maybe it is because these two groups of women must think of their babies first before themselves.  They must be strong and not grow weary.  I just thought it was very interesting.  We have some very young nursing mothers in the Salt Shakers and some who have just been pregnant in the last five years or so. 

PRAYER

Father, this chapter reminds us of what a wonderful gift the Christ Child was for us.  You gave Your Son to die for us so that our sins could be pardoned. Thank You, Lord, for this love that is indescribable.   AMEN

Wednesday, Matthew Chapter 24B (Verses 36-51)

Matthew 24B

Verse 42

Jane Jones

Verse 42:  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

THOUGHT

It is good that we really don’t know exactly when Christ will return. If we knew the precise date, we might be tempted to be lazy in our work for Christ. Worse yet, we might plan to keep sinning and then turn to God right at the end.  Heaven is not our only goal.  We have work to do here for Him.  And we must keep on doing it until death or until we see the unmistakable return of our Savior.

Christ’s second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining.  The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny.

Will you be ready? The only safe choice is to obey Him today.  Jesus asks us to spend the time of waiting taking care of His people and doing His work here on earth, both within the church and outside it.  This is the best way to prepare for Christ’s return.

At work, we used to always get Christmas gifts for the CEO, President and Secretary. About five years ago we decided to donate their Christmas gift money to a worthy cause. That year brought in more money than we had ever collected.  The total was around $3,000.  This year, and the past several, we have gone to Human Services and requested a list of 250 youth who would not be having Christmas gifts if it weren’t for our company.  Each employee wishing to help out with these needs could take a name of a child. I took an eleven year old boy. He has two other brothers whose names were on the list. My little man had about four things on his list. His first and favorite item was clothing and the second was a CD player, a boom box.  He wrote that he had never had one before.  Love comes down at Christmas.  There were many of us employees that reached out to these kids, and it felt good. This is just one of many examples of what we can be doing while waiting for Christ’s return. Each time one of us reaches out to our brethren, we are reaching out to Christ.  Knowing that Christ’s return will be sudden and unexpected should motivate us always to be prepared.  

 

PRAYER

Lord, Your son, Jesus, is truly a treasure.  My heart smiles as I think of the little baby’s birth. Having a grandson, Lord, that is still a baby, refreshes the idea of a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in my mind. I pray that we Salt Shakers can embrace our Lord with love, warmth, caring, reaching out to those in need, and offering to them peace that is beyond understanding.  That is the peace of having You in our hearts.  Thank You for the love of family.  AMEN 

Thursday, Matthew Chapter 25 (Verses 1-30)

Matthew 25A

Verses 23

Bart Strayer

Verse 23:  His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.”

THOUGHT

Man ooohh man, I could preach about a dozen sermons on these verses.  I would love to talk about all the ways that God has shown His truths in these verses to me, but it would take too much time.

Here are some principals illustrated in these verses that have proven themselves over and over in my walk with God. 

You want responsibility in the Kingdom?  Prove to God that you can handle the small responsibilities first!!!  Prove to Him that you will plant your seed and multiply it FOR HIM.  Prove to God that we can handle more resources without letting our hearts get bent towards overwhelming human greed and egotism.  Show God our hearts for His purposes, and He will grant you more responsibility.

What drives me nuts is to listen to people go off about how God doesn’t seem to be working in their lives, as they stand there with their ‘dollar clinched in their hand’.

OK, I’ll stop now.

PRAYER

Dear God, give us the heart of a faithful servant, willing to do anything for You.  Help us to plant our seeds on fertile ground so that they may grow and be fruitful for You.  We thank You for guiding our hearts into the right relationship with You. In Jesus Name! AMEN

Friday, Matthew, Chapter 25B (Verses 31-46)

Matthew 25B

Verse 37

Bart Strayer

Verse 37:  Then the righteous will answer him, ”Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?”

THOUGHT

This verse asks the question, “what are you investing in?”  Investments come in the form of our time and money. I stress TIME more than money because these acts that Jesus is referring to, do not depend on wealth or smarts.  He will provide those as needed.  Something as basic as submitting the use of our hands and hearts is enough of a vehicle for Jesus to use us.  He fills in so much of the weaknesses that we may have.  We must be the helping hands to those in need.  Jesus demands it!

PRAYER

Lord, help us with our hands.  We find them doing things that have nothing to do with Your purposes.  Use our hands to care for those in need.  Help fill in our weaknesses with Your abundant wisdom.  AMEN