Scripture
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steel.”

Observation
When we fast, we should not make it obvious that we are fasting. This is for the admiration of people. We should look normal and not tell anyone so that we can receive a reward from our Father in heaven.

We must not store up treasures for ourselves on earth where they can easily be stolen or degraded. Rather, we should store up treasure in heaven where they will last forever.

Application
The world is constantly pressuring us to spend more and more and to invest wisely for the future.

In a culture that has abandoned God, the only thing to focus on is the physical world; there is no sense of eternity or life continuing after death.

People are consumed by endless acquisition of possessions, as if that is their sole reason for living. Jesus points us to our real destiny in heaven and a radical reordering of our priorities on earth.

When we give to the poor or give generously to support the kingdom of God, then we are storing up treasures in heaven. Being generous and considering the needs of others create a healthy environment for our soul.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the abundant wealth you have blessed me with. Please help me to store up treasures in heaven and not just on earth. Amen

Scripture

“If you forgive others who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.”

Observation

Jesus gives us the model prayer for disciples. The prayer is succinct, not like the prayers of pagans with their endless repetitions and high sounding language.

If we forgive others, we will be forgiven. If we do not forgive others, then God will not forgive us.

Application

To follow Jesus is to imitate him. This should be reflected above all things in our readiness to forgive other people.

If we hold onto the bitterness of past hurts, how can we claim to be following the Lord whose last words on the cross included “Father forgive them” ?

This is easier to do for some people than others. It is also easier to do according to the level of hurt we have experienced. People experiencing violence or sexual abuse will take time to get to the point of letting go.

Regardless, the goal for christians is that we are able to forgive those who hurt us. When we do that, we know that the grace of God is in our hearts and that God’s love will also overlook our own sins.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for your great grace towards me. Please help me to be gracious in being able to forgive others. Amen.

Scripture

“Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him.”

Observation

We must not do good deeds to impress people. Instead, we should give to charity quietly and without fanfare. Do things privately and not for the accolades of men.

When we pray, we don’t do it as a show of piety. Instead we should go to a quiet place to be alone with the Father.

When we pray, we should not go on and on, as if God is impressed by our long-winded prayers. He already knows what we need before we pray.

Application

If God knows what we need before we ask Him, one night ask, “What is the point of prayer?” And if God is sovereign, then all prayer does is let God do what He was already going to do anyway.

Prayer is really for our benefits rather than God’s. When we pray, we are admitting that we cannot do anything and that we are totally dependent on God.

When we pray, we allow God’s Spirit to replace anxiety with peace, fear with expectancy.

When we pray, we do not bend God’s will to conform to our desires. We bend our desires to conform to God’s will.

When we pray, then we are offering ourselves up to God to be used by Him. I express my concerns to Him, and sometimes He tells me what I should do about them.

Above all, prayer is meant to be a two way conversation with the Lord. It is not it is not about dumping a list of demands, but listening for the for the still small voice of God’s Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, please teach me how to how to pray. Allow my prayers to become a means of deepening my friendship with you. Amen.

Scripture

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say, ‘Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! “

Observation

Jesus continues to push home His points about addressing the state of the heart and not just obedience to the law.

So He says that the principle of eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth must give way to a new law in which we do not resist evil people. We should go further than the law demands.

Rather than loving your neighbour and hating your enemies, Jesus says we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. When we do this, we are like our Father who gives sunlight and rain to evil and good people are like. Even tax collectors are kind to their friends.

Application

There is no law in the Old Testament that says we may hate our enemies if we love our neighbours. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach that we have to love people who might not be our natural friends.

Jesus tells us to do the opposite of what the world teaches and our natural inclinations want. To be a true follower of Jesus means that we learn to love people who are nasty or violent towards us.

This is hard, and in our own abilities it is impossible. But as christians we are connected to the Father, the God who is love. He will give us grace to forgive and to love our enemies

Prayer

Lord Jesus, these words are hard to accept. Please give me grace to love those who hate me. Amen.

Scripture

“If your eye – even your good eye – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

Observation

Jesus takes the commandments and applies them to our thinking and not just our outward appearances.

The Law forbids adultery, but Jesus says if we even look at a woman with lust in our heart, we have already committed adultery. if our eyes causes to sin, we should gouge them out if necessary to avoid hell.

While the law allows for divorce, Jesus says that the only valid reason for divorce is an unfaithful partner.

We must not make a vow. Instead of swearing on something, we should simply say, “Yes” or “No.”

Application

God does not want us to be good just on the outside. He wants to transform our thinking so that the thoughts and desires that lead to sin will not happen.

He warns us of the reality of hell. Those who sin without the forgiveness of God will find themselves in such torment that losing an eye or another body part in order to escape sin seems like a good deal.

Jesus is clearly not advocating self-mutilation as a pathway to holiness. Holiness comes as we constantly commit our minds, hearts, and bodies to the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, i confess that I still sin, at least in my mind. Please cleanse my thoughts and teach me how to submit every part of me to you. Amen.

Scripture

“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your difference quickly. Otherwise your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.”

Observation

Murder is a serious crime, but just being angry with someone will make us subject to judgement. Calling someone an idiot or cursing them may send us to hell.

If we remember someone is angry with us, even in the middle of church, we should go quickly and be reconciled to them. if we are in a court case, we should try to settle the conflict lest we end up bankrupt and in prison.

Application

Jesus make some strong points here about the importance of proper conflict resolution. Anger can lead us to the place of judgement.

Anger is a good thing because it warns us that there is bad stuff going on in our heads. I heard a psychologist once who compared it to a light on the dashboard of a car. The light is not the problem, but it warns us of a hidden problem that might even be dangerous.

Anger can cause us to lash out and separate us from other people. It can cut it off from receiving love and may result in destructive actions.

So Jesus tells us to beware of the dangers of anger and to seek as much as possible to be reconciled to people. Even if we get who the level of legal action, or in the middle of worship, we need to stop and resolve our differences.

Relationships are vitally important in God’s Kingdom.

Prayer

Lord, I confess that I do get angry sometimes when I am under pressure. Please help me to let your peace displace angry reactions. Amen

Scripture

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Observation

We are the salt of the earth, but we must maintain our flavour or else we will be cast out.

We are the light of the world, like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a basket. No, it must be put on a stand to light the house. In the same way, our good deeds need to light up the world and cause people to give praise to God.

Application

This revelation that we have received from God must change us and it must be shared.

We need to live exemplary lives of generosity and service to others in order to cause people to praise the Lord.

Following Jesus is not just a religious practice. Yes, we must have hearts and minds that are focused on Jesus. But our prayers needs to be directed to actions of serving other people.

If we just preach the gospel, we have a message, just like a thousand others. But when we serve the poor or we give ourselves in helping people, then people can see that there is truth in the message.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you came into the world to save sinners. Please help me to both speak and live the gospel, so that people will give praise to my heavenly Father. Amen.

Scripture

“God blesses those who are poor and realise their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”

Observation

God blesses the poor, the grieving, those who are humble, those who hunger and thirst for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, and those who are persecuted.

When people mock us and persecute us and lie about us, then a great reward awaits us in Heaven.

Application

God’s value system is diametrically opposed to the world’s value system. The world favours those who push themselves forward and pay their own way. God favours the poor and the humble.

While many people look at the outward appearance, God judges the state of our hearts. So, many who seems successful in this life will not be in the kingdom of heaven.

When the system seems to be stacked against us, and the mockers and liars seem to be winning, then God is at work, overturning the scales. Some of this we see in this life, but we will not see the fullness until we get to heaven.

God tells us to be patient for vindication, for it will come.

Prayer

Lord, you see my situation and my heart. I surrender myself to you and look forward to your blessing. Amen

Scripture

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, ” and I will make you fishers of men.”

Observation

Jesus hears that John has been put in prison, and he returns to Galilee. He begins to preach, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Jesus travels throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching, and healing all kinds of diseases. Large crowds from all over the region begin to follow Him.

Application

Following Jesus is not just about getting saved, important as that is.

Jesus calls us all to be a part of his project of “fishing for men.”

Some people are gifted as evangelists and find this very easy to do. Others struggle with sharing their faith even amongst their friends and family. Paul tells us to always be ready to give the reason for our hope. This means knowing who we trust in and being able to express our joy in being followers of Jesus.

In the kingdom, as in ordinary life, there are the professional “fishers” and occasional “fishers” who sometimes drop a line in. Whichever end of the spectrum we fit in, let us always be ready to pray for our friends and to share the good news when prompted.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for saving me. Please help me to share your good news. Amen.

Scripture

During that time, the devil came and said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Observation

Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. He fasts for forty days and nights.

During that time, the devil comes to Jesus three times and says, “If you are the son of God… ” Three times Jesus refuses to take the shortcuts and easy routes suggested by Satan.

Finally the devil leaves, and angels to minister to Jesus.

Application

” if you are the son of God…”

Satan delights in putting doubts into our minds and our hearts. That was the original strategy with Eve: “Did God really say?”

We question our calling, our salvation, our assignment, our ability, and so on. It is not us questioning ourselves, but satan sowing seeds of doubt.

In each of the temptations, Jesus responds with scripture, not as a magic spell or a ritual response. No, Jesus really believes the word of God and in its authority. Therefore it is like a powerful sword in his mouth.

Satan is cunning and persistent. One attempt should have been sufficient to show that Jesus is not to be easily led astray. The devil did not go away lick his wounds. He found a different point of attack.

Temptation is a reality for all of us. Persistent repeated temptation is a fact of life. The only solution is to strengthen ourselves in the Lord through reading the Bible, prayer, worship, and fasting.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to stand firm in you and to remain strong in trusting you. Amen.