Scripture

But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had many possessions.

Observation

Some parents bring their children to receive Jesus’ blessing. The disciples want to send them away, but Jesus says,”Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like this.”

A rich man comes to Jesus to ask him what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments. The man says he has done this and asks what else must he do?

Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. The young man goes away sad, for he has many possessions.

Application

Jesus has a way of putting his finger on people’s addictions and idols. For this man, the idol was his wealth.

Jesus, at the man’s request, gives him a fundamental choice. He could enjoy the benefits of wealth in this life or he could give them up for now in order to enjoy eternal life.

It is a bit like the challenge for young children – have one lolly now sitting in front of you on a plate or wait half an hour for five lollies. Many people, adults and children alike, are unable to exercise discipline and patience to wait for the better thing.

This man was obviously aware he was lacking something. He was looking for the relationship with God that just obeying commandments can never satisfy. Jesus says, in effect, that his wealth was standing in the way.

It doesn’t have to be possessions, of course. People make idols of all kinds of things – power, sexual immorality, approval by others and more.

If we are not prepared to give up the thing that blocks our relationship with God, we will never get to Heaven.

Prayer

Lord, please show me the idols that get in the way of my relationship with you, and please give me the grace to surrender them to you. Amen.

Scripture

“Haven’t you read the scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.'”

Observation

Jesus leaves Galilee and travels to Judea. Some Pharisees ask him if a man should be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason.

Jesus replies that the scriptures teach that God made people male and female, and for this reason a man leaves his parents to be united with his wife. Therefore, no one should separate those whom God has join together.

When pressed by the Pharisees, Jesus goes on to say that divorce was given because our hearts are hard. Anyone who divorces for any reason other than adultery by their partner is themselves guilty of adultery.

Application

In the beginning God created people male and female.

Jesus repeat this passage from Genesis because it is foundational to what it means to be human. It is basic biology.

Western culture at the moment is being assaulted by people who want to tear down all distinctions in nature, but especially those between men and women.

Biology teaches us that our sex is hard coded into our DNA. Every cell in our body carries the code – you are a man or a woman. We cannot overwrite this with surgery, hormones, and feelings.

In the same way, marriage is undermined when people say,”Love is love” to justify a form of marriage in which the sex of the people is irrelevant.

God made us male and female. To deny this basic truths is to make God a liar.

Prayer

Father, please help people to understand the basic truth. I reject the claims of those who deny you and I declare that your word is true. Amen.

Scripture

Then Peter came to him and asked,“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? 7 times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.”

Observation

Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sings against him. He suggests seven times, which was very generous. But Jesus says seventy times seven is the appropriate number.

Jesus then tells a parable of a king who was settling accounts. He discovered that one of his servants owed him millions of dollars. He ordered the servant to be thrown into prison, along with his family. The servant pleads for time to pay, so the king forgives his debt. A fellow servant owes this man a few days wages. The first servant has him thrown into prison despite the man’s pleas for mercy. When the king hears about this, he has the first servant thrown into prison.

Jesus concludes by saying that this is how God will treat those who refuse to forgive their brothers and sisters.

Application

Gods mercy towards us is huge. We think of all the times we have said, “Sorry” to God and received His forgiveness. We should probably add four times that number again of occasions when we should have said “Sorry” but failed to do so.

Forgiveness flows to us from God’s heart because He is love and we are His children.

Part of being a receiver of God’s loving forgiveness is that we forgive those who hurt us. Peter thought he had an idea of God’s grace when he suggested that we forgive people seven times. But Jesus explodes that idea. “Seventy times seven” really means that we do not keep count.

For the child of God, forgiveness should flow freely from our hearts as it does from God’s heart.

“Freely you have received. Freely you must give.”

Prayer

Lord, your love is like an ocean that stretches beyond our imagination. You let my sins sink out of sight and over again. Please let this same grace flow from me to others. Amen.

Scripture

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Observation

If a man has 100 sheep, he will go searching for one that goes astray. When he finds the stray, he will rejoice over the one that was lost more than the ninety-nine who did not go astray. The Father also rejoices when one of His little ones comes to faith.

If another believer offends us, we should first try to resolve it privately. If that does not work, we should take one or two others to meet with them. If all else fails, we must take the dispute to the church to be adjudicated.

If two people agree on earth concerning anything, the Father will do it. Where two or three gather in Jesus’ name He is with us.

Application

There is spiritual power in agreement, for better or worse.

When we agree in prayer, then God sees our combined faith levels and moves to answer our prayer. Agreement brings a multiplication of faith.

Agreement has a negative side also. When we gossip or speak badly of other christians in a group, then the power of agreement releases satan to pull that person down. When we say a particular person is no good or beyond redemption, we give satan the ability to block that person’s access to the grace of God.

If there is power in agreement, there is even greater power in presence. The presence of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, pulls down strongholds, releases healing, and brings people to salvation.

When we gather, even as two or three, the church, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ is in session. There amongst us is Christ.

The key is that we meet in the name of Jesus, that is, as His representatives. There is no promise for a couple of christians having coffee together, but when we come together “as my followers”, we can know our prayers will be powerfully answered.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the power of agreement and the power of your presence. Please help me to believe these words and put them into practise. Amen.