matthew

Reflection on Matthew 5:38-48

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the_second_mile_2pe

Scripture

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Observation

In the past, people decided that “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was an acceptable level of revenge, but amongst people of the Kingdom forgiveness and non-retaliation are the rules. Go further than you have to in order to bless even those who are against you.

We must love our enemies and pray for our persecutors in order to be true sons and daughters to our Father. If we love only those who love us there is no virtue- anyone can do that. No, we are to be perfect like our Father.

Application

The desire for revenge runs deep in the human soul. The law of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” was meant to out a cap on revenge by stating that we can go so far and no farther.

Jesus tears all of this up by commanding us to love our enemy and extend grace to those who hurt us.

This is a radical extension of the idea that God will judge all people and so we do not have to. We offer no retaliation, just blessing.

Prayer

Lord, this is a hard command to put into practice. Grant me grace to bless those who cause me pain. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 5:13-20

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city-on-hill

Scripture

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.:

Observation

Following from the Beatitudes, Jesus goes on to tell His followers that they are salts and light for the world. Salt must retain its saltiness and the light must be allowed to shine forth. We must let people see our good works so that they may give glory to our Father in heaven.

Jesus came to fulfil the Law not to abolish it. The Law will not pass away until all is accomplished. Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we are to enter heaven.

Application

As followers of Jesus, we must make a difference in the world. We are the light of the world and salt for the earth. The love and righteousness of God should be shining out in our lives bringing people to a place where they glorify God because they recognise that we are empowered and motivated by God, not by our own nature.

We must not blend into the background, living lives that are outwardly the same as everyone else. Neither must we withdraw into a christian “ghetto” where we are completely cut off from the rest of the world.

The kingdom of heaven grows as we live our lives out in public and demonstrating a radically different life to the general population. The only way to do this is to pursue an ever deeper walk with Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to live for you in all things. May I truly be light and salt in the world today. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 4:12-22

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Fishers Of Men1

Scripture

From that time on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Observation

After the temptation in the desert, Jesus moves to Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of the light coming to the land of Zebulun and Naphtlali.

From that time, Jesus begins to preach the Good News of the Kingdom.

Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to come and be fishers of men. James and John are in their boat, and they leave to follow Jesus.

Application

Jesus starts preaching and calling His disciples to follow Him.

The message of the Kingdom is still the same. We need to turn away from our self-absorbed ways, obey God and live in the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is here so life annot continue in the same old ways.

Like the four men- Simon, Andrew, James, and John- we have to leave the old life behind even at the cost of losing our business or family.

Jesus is calling us to leave everything behind and follow Him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you died to save me. Help me to give up my hold on my life to follow you. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 1:18-25

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Scripture
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Observation
Mary discovers she is pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, Joseph decides to divorce her quietly.
An angel appears to Joseph telling him that the child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will have a son who is to be named Jesus.
This all happened in order to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah- The virgin will conceive and bear a son and they will call him Immanuel- God with us.

Application
The Christmas story is told so often that we become overly familiar with it, losing all the wonder that should be there.
Apart from the outrageous claim that this baby conceived outside of marriage is the Son of God, there is the extraordinary faith of two ordinary people.
Mary, a virgin, meekly (probably anxiously) accepts her responsibility to bear and nurture the Saviour.
Joseph, a man of great integrity and gentleness, comes to accept the preposterous story of the baby’s origin and plays his own part in raising the son.
Mary and Joseph were uniquely equipped for their roles. When God calls us to a task, he always supplies everything we need.

Prayer
Thank you  Father for the example of Mary and Joseph in accepting your commission. Help me to discern your plan for my life and to follow that plan. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 11:1-11

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blind-healed

Scripture

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Observation

John hears from prison what the Lord is doing. He sends word to Jesus to ask if he really is the Messiah. Jesus responds with the signs of the kingdom- the the blind see, lepers are cleansed and the good news is preached to the poor.

Jesus starts to talk to the crowds about John. He asks rhetorically, “What did you expect of John? A weak introvert in fine clothes?” John was the one sent to prepare the way for the Lord.

Although John was the greatest of those previously born, but now the least in the kingdom is greater than John.

Application

The signs of the Kingdom of God are quite simple according to Jesus- people are healed, dead are raised and the good news is preached to people who have nothing.

That makes me wonder why we focus on so many other things and neglect these basic things.

To be honest, I struggle with healing (let alone raising the dead!), because so often when we pray for people there is no immediate change. Yet I continue to look for a breakthrough in this area, and I rejoice in the healings that do occur.

I also need to work harder at preaching the Good News to the poor. I’m not sure how that looks in a relatively wealthy society such as Australia. The poor are those whose options are limited by their situation- the mentally ill, the disabled, the single parents. In a sense everyone who doesn’t know Jesus is poor and needs the Good News.

I see again the intimate connection between miracles and preaching the gospel. To see God in action we must be actively proclaiming the amazing news that God is with us.

Prayer

Lord I sense today that you are calling me towards something different about your kingdom to what we see in church. Please continue to stir my heart towards your plan for the world. Amen.

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A Blessing

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“Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” Matthew 5:8

We were practising prophecy on one another at cell group, and one of our members received this scripture for me.

I’ve always struggled with the Beatitudes because I’ve never really been sure whether they should be interpreted as commandments, exhortations or statements of fact. In many ways they seem unreal, over-spiritual, confusing.

As for pure in heart, well that’s definitely a work in progress.

So, I’ve been thinking, praying and researching this for several days trying to see what Jesus meant by it and how it applies to me.

“Blessed” means a “blessing on” or “God’s favour is on.”  The word “blessed” makes me think of some guru who has overcome all the problems of daily living and now exits on some other plane. Sometimes we confuse it with good luck or a vague sense of being well off. But really Jesus is saying that God has a special regard for those whose hearts are pure.

“Pure in heart” in English suggests 100% sin free. But actually it means something more like simplicity, singleness of purpose, lacking in secret selfish agendas. I think of Nathanael. “When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1:47). Other translations use the word guile here.

There is no suggestion of sinlessness here, just a singleness of purpose, a “What you see is what you get” lifestyle.

Here is the awesome part. It is those people, who are open and transparent, accepting of others as they are, who get to see God.  This is not in the future when we die, for everyone sees God then. No, this is saying it’s these down to earth people who sincerely love God who experience Him, who get the revelations, who learn to worship Him and receive His love. Wow- what a promise!

If you want these things, the key lies in learning to be open and transparent, losing all selfish ambitions and just following Jesus in simplicity,