"You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world." ~~Jesus

Tags

God-colors, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Light, Matthew 5, Mission

Light does amazing things. It is very hard to replicate in a photo what it is doing some days.

Jesus requests that I be His light in this world. I have a mission to bring out the colors of God. I must shine like Jesus does.

I must obey Jesus and His command. He knows what I should do.

While I know that God is light, He also expects me to reflect His glory as well. I am to shine as a reflection of what He represents in the world. There is no hiding. There should be no darkness in my life.

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16 The Message)

“You’re more than happy when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.” ~Jesus

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Appetite, Happy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

I love to eat. Almost anything, anytime. There is nothing like a great meal with family or friends. I have never been accused of not having a good appetite.

So, how is my appetite for God?

Do I hunger for Jesus the same way the same way I do for a great meal?

Do I long for Him like no other?

I will be more than happy when I work up a good appetite for Jesus!!

You’re more than happy when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” Matthew 5:1-12

"You’re happy when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for." ~Jesus

Tags

Care, Happy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5

Am I caring enough? Am I full of care?

That is what it is all about. Jesus had this focus. He cared all the time. His Father focused on caring for him. That is what love is all about.

God’s goal for me is to be full of care. Jesus challenges me to love everyone.

You’re happy when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.” ~Jesus (Matthew 5:7 The Message)

"If an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him.." ~~Jesus

Tags

Enemies, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Right

Jesus is Life

I have enemies. Jesus knows that and is clear on it. I have done things to offend others. They don’t forget.

They may not know we are different now because of Jesus. They may know and not care. They are out for blood.

Jesus lets me know it doesn’t matter. It is up to me to make things right. I must make the first move.

That is my job. That is God’s goal for me. The focus is on “making things right”. That is the criteria.

In God’s world, I can’t sit passively by waiting for the other person to make the move.

If an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him..” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:25-26 The Message)

"Live generously." ~~Jesus

Tags

Generosity, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5

God is so very generous to me. Although I don’t deserve it, He lavishes me with every gift imaginable. I can’t even think of every thing He is going to do for me.

Jesus demands that I live generously. Love God; love others! That is His command in His mission for my life.

Jesus wants me to move beyond just living and to live generously. When I think about my “to do” list for the day, is “be generous” at the top of the list?

 Live generously.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:48 The Message)

"Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working." ~~Jesus

Tags

Eternal, Goal, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Law, Matthew 5, Mission, Permanent, Relationships

Stars

What is permanent in life? Not the things I think most days. Jesus is clear however.

The 2 most important things, as Jesus highlights, are to love God and love everyone else (my neighbors). That will never go away.

God says it and it is the way things work in his new world. That is His goal for us. I have been given a clear mission. No need to think of “what is my mission” kind of stuff.

God’s law is about relationships and it is alive and working in us.

Jesus is clear.

Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:17-18 The Message)

“You’re more than happy when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less.” ~Jesus

Tags

Content, Happy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

All that striving is useless!!

Can I be content with who I am? Is that it?

That is all there is to it!! That is the attitude my Father wants me to have.

There are things that just can’t be bought. Happiness is one of them. I just can’t whip out my credit card and buy it.

May I be content!!

You’re more than happy when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. Matthew 5:1-12

"I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder." ~~Jesus

Tags

Anger, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Murder, Sin

Anger

Jesus has a standard that is different than what religious leaders try to make us follow. His standard is one of love. Love of God and love everyone else. Every minute of every day.

That is a focus on getting my  attitude right, getting what I say right and getting what I do right. Love is the summation of all the laws and “rules and regulations” of the religious world.

Love is God’s goal for me. Missing that goal is the essence of sin. If I  love, I won’t get angry which, in Jesus’ world, is just as bad as murder.

I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:21-22 The Message)

"An ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere?" ~~Jesus

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Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Legalism, Love, Matthew 5

Jesus loves the word of God. He also knows the legalism can be taken to the extreme.

I certainly have legal “rights” that I can insist on being fulfilled. Jesus also gives me the option to pursue love. His challenge to me is to pursue love and not “my rights”.

Jesus summarizes God’s Law up as 2 essential requirements. Love God and love everyone I come in contact with every day. Jesus demands that I focus on those two requirements.That is the essence of things in God’s world. That is His law.

Legalism isn’t going to get Me anywhere. End of story.

 An ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere?” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:38-42 The Message)

"Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or speak lies about you to discredit me." ~~Jesus

Tags

Blessed, Comfort, Happiness, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Uncomfortable

Jesus Challenges Us

Are people putting me down because of my following Jesus? Do I make others uncomfortable with my passion of our Lord? Uncomfortable questions in a culture that values “not rocking the boat”.

Jesus challenges me to not live a comfortable life. Being a follower of Jesus should get me in trouble with others.

I need to remember this is not about me but it is about Jesus. They are doing it to discredit Him not me.

Oh well. I am more than happy (blessed) when it happens.

Count yourselves blessed (more than happy) every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:11-12 The Message)

"God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet." ~~Jesus

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God's Word, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Law, Matthew 5

God’s Word

Jesus is clear on what God has said. His word is like Him. It is here to stay.

Nothing can be added to what God has said or taken away from it. God means what He says. We can count on Him.

Everything else is temporary. It will pass away. It is not real. God’s word is the real deal.

Now that is some good news.

“God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:17-18 The Message)

"Let me tell you why you are here." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Mission, Seasoning

Jesus is very clear. There is no doubt about what I am to do. The choice is will I obey Him?

Jesus understands that I need to know why I am here. Of course, it is a foundational question. We are not here to please ourselves and do whatever we want.

Jesus calls us to go on a mission for Him and our Father. We are the seasoning of this planet. We must bring out God’s flavor and bring His Kingdom into all the countries.

We are His light to shine the way to others. We must speak out. We must show His love.

To choose otherwise is to abandon His way. The consequence of not being His seasoning for he world is to be useless and end up in the garbage. Not a pleasant thought.

Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:13 The Message)

"Unless you do far better than religious leaders in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom." ~~Jesus

Tags

Challenge, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Kingdom, Love, Matthew 5

Jesus is tough on religious leaders. He doesn’t cut them any slack.

He challenges me that I can do better than how religious leaders approach God’s world (Kingdom). He wants me to start from the knowledge that this is God’s world. He is in charge. It is not a democracy.

Jesus wants me to love God more than anyone or anything. He wants me to love everyone I come in contact in a very real and concrete way.

Jesus knows I can do better and it doesn’t start by emulating religious leaders.Tough but true.

 Unless you do far better than religious leaders in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering God’s world.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

“You’re more than happy when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.” ~~Jesus

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Christian Persecution, Commitment, Happy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Messiah, Persecution

Jesus knows that following Him may not be a “bed of roses”.

Jesus tells us about it in advance.

We may get persecuted. We may even be martyred. It happens every day. Will you “sign up” to follow Jesus if you know that tomorrow someone may kill you for believing Him?

Of course, living in America makes if feel like being a martyr isn’t an issue; that it can’t happen to us. Because of that we are lulled into thinking it doesn’t happen to anyone any longer.

It’s not just about being a martyr though. 100 million Christians around the globe are currently suffering. They are real, and they are our brothers and sisters in the Messiah.

As followers of the Messiah, we are called to take a stand for our persecuted brothers and sisters.  Hebrews 13:3 says, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Learn more at Open Doors on how you can help persecuted Christians.

Now here is the rub. Jesus also knows the benefit of being persecuted. Persecution drives (the deeply committed) deeper into His Father’s world.

You’re blessed (more than happy) when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

~Jesus (Matthew 5:10 The Message)

"Don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed with someone who is not your wife." ~~Jesus

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Adultery, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Virtue

Jesus knows something and he wants religious people to understand it. Who we are is a result of what we think. If we think about committing adultery, we have done it. What makes us “UN-virtuous” is what we think, not what we do.

This is a huge thing to grasp. Jesus knows, for religious people, it is way to easy to “get around” moral rules and still violate the principle God has in mind every day. We need to change how we think (repent) about God’s word.

“Don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed with someone who is not your wife.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

"You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right." ~~Jesus

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Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Messiah, Mind

Changing our minds (Repent)

Jesus demands that I get my life in order before I can see God in a real way. He knows it is not about what I look like or what I own.

It is all about changing my mind (repent) about who is in charge and loving God in every way I can. We must love each other. That is what matters.

May my mind and heart be right with God.

 You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

~~Jesus (Matthew 5:8 The Message)

“Live out your God-created identity.” ~Jesus

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Generosity, Grace, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Maturity

Jesus has a great way to simplify what He is saying. Jesus is very direct and doesn’t beat around the bush.

So, Jesus challenges me to grow up.

I know I am a child of God and live in His World (Kingdom). I know Jesus is in charge of my life when I let Him be.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up.” ~Jesus

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Children, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Mature

Mature

I have heard from Jesus to be like a child. I also hear Him challenge me to grow up. Which is it? Be a child or grow up?

Well, I think it is yes / and Yes. I need to have the faith of a child and I need to grow up. It isn’t either / or. I need to live generously and not focus on myself (like children can). I need to live the way God lives toward us.

God’s goal for me is to mature and not stay a child. I started out as a child but I shouldn’t stay that way.

In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. 

Source: Matthew 5:48

"When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Prayer

Get on your knees and pray

Jesus challenges me to do things differently than the way people of this world do things. He is not subtle at all.

Jesus knows my friends and acquaintances, even my family, will give me a hard time. Following Jesus guarantees that for sure.

What should I do? I should devote my whole energy to praying for them. That is the way of Jesus and God’s goal for me.

When God is in me, praying is second nature to me. I start reflecting my God-created self that way.

Jesus challenges us to be like God, to love like God. He gives us the power.

When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does.

~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

"You’re more than happy (blessed) when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for." ~~Jesus

Tags

Care, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Messiah

God Cares

Jesus, the Messiah, demands that I care. He insists on it if I want to live in His world. Being full of care is His way. God, our Father, cares. That is the way of God’s world. The challenge is for me to care. I must not be indifferent.

We all want to be cared for. The path is to care for others. That makes us more than happy.

May I care deeply the way my heavenly Father cares. May I show His love today.

“You’re more than happy (blessed) when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:7 The Message)

"Take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom." ~~Jesus

Tags

Disciple, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, King, Kingdom, Master, Matthew 5, Messiah

Taking God Seriously

Jesus demands that I take His way seriously. There is nothing frivolous about it at all.

My job, my mission, is to show others His way. Jesus is King of God’s country. Jesus is in control. Jesus is my Master. Jesus has been anointed by God to serve in this role and is the Messiah. I must lead others to this understanding.

Later on Jesus would say, as He rose to Heaven, to make disciples of all nations. That is how we find honor in His world (Kingdom). Am I making disciples? Not as much as I should. I need to take that seriously.

May I take Jesus seriously. May I do so today, right now.

Take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom.” ~~Jesus

Source: Matthew 5:19-20 The Message

"You’re more than happy (blessed) when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat." ~~Jesus

Tags

Blessed, Happy, Hunger, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

Am I starving for God? Do I have a good appetite for Him?

Is all I think of my next meal or what I am going to wear today? Will any of these concerns really make me happy?

Jesus knows a lot about happiness. It isn’t about this world. It isn’t about our next meal. Jesus knows that God has a real meal for us. A meal that satisfies our hearts and souls. A spiritual meal based on doing what God wants.

It is all about God and His world. He is in absolute control. We need to be hungry for God. It will open up a world of happiness beyond anything we know now.

“You’re more than happy (blessed) when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:6 The Message)

"You’re more than happy (blessed) when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight." ~~Jesus

Tags

Blessed, Cooperate, Happy, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

This is how competing looks to God

We live in a culture of competition. It’s a fact. It’s not pretty.

And, worse, we seem to thrive on it.

Jesus demands something different of us. If we want to be more than happy, we have to live a life of cooperation and show others to live the same way. Jesus gave us His Spirit to empower us to live this way in His new agreement with God.

“You’re more than happy (blessed) when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:9 The Message)

"You’re more than happy when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you." ~~Jesus

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Blessed, Happy, Jesus Sayings, Loss, Matthew 5, Messiah

Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenges us to be radical in our love for God. Do I want to be embraced by our Father? Is He the most dear thing in my life? How can I get to that place every day?

I will be more than happy (blessed) when I have lost everything that I think is important to me in this world for Jesus. Jesus doesn’t exclude anything on the list. Not family, possessions, not anything. That is our Messiah’s challenge to us. Give it up for Him. Seriously.

That is what Jesus requires. That brings us true happiness. His happiness.

“You’re more than happy (blessed) when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:4 The Message)

"You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it." ~~Jesus

Tags

Authentic, Jesus Sayings, Matthew, Matthew 5, Pious, Religious

Jesus knows us. Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenges us to not “be religious”. If we say we will pray, we must do it earnestly. We must do it often. We must go after the victory with our brother and sister. Jesus demands it. It is the way in His new agreement with God, our Father.

Jesus challenges us to be genuine in Him. Being pious and phoney makes things worse not better. We don’t make our words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making our speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.

“You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:33-37 The Message)

"Keep open house; be generous with your lives." ~~Jesus

Tags

Generosity, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Messiah, Open

King Jesus, the Messiah, wants us to radically open. He links this to being generous. Everything we are belongs to our Father. Jesus knows that by opening up to others, we’ll prompt people to open up with God. They will see this generous Father we have in heaven. They will see, through our openness about God how wonderfully generous he is. What a loving Father He is.

This is core to the new agreement with God. God’s goal for us is that nothing is be hidden. Nothing is to be closed. Transparency is required. Jesus demands it.

“Keep open house; be generous with your lives.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16 The Message)

"I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!" ~~Jesus

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Jesus Sayings, Light, Matthew 5, Messiah, Public, Shine

Jesus, the Messiah, challenges us to be public, to tell all about His Father’s love, to be radical in our devotion to Him. Jesus will accept nothing less. Jesus is the one who has restored us, made us whole, healed us and puts us out in public for all to see. Our job is shine.

Jesus makes us shine. We don’t do it. He puts us out front to bring God the glory. We must choose to be obedient.

“I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16 The Message)

“Change your mind. God’s kingdom is here.” ~Jesus

Tags

Heart, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 3, Matthew 5, Mind

Heartfelt experience with Jesus

Jesus is not after behavior modification. Jesus wants heart and mind transformation.

That is His challenge to us. Will we love God? Will we love everyone we come in contact with every day? Will we have a heart after God?

More than happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” ~Jesus  (Matthew 5:8)

Beyond our heart, Jesus challenges us to change our minds (repent).

“Change your mind. God’s kingdom is here.” ~Jesus (Matthew 3:2)

"You’re more than happy when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less." ~~Jesus

Tags

Content, Happiness, Happy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew, Matthew 5

Happy

We are always looking for more. We want to be better. We want to develop.

The reality of who we are is that we are God’s precious children. Jesus challenges us to accept that and be content. When we do, we have everything we need.

There are things that can’t be bought. Who we are, i.e., children of God, is one of them. God’s goal for us is to be content with that which makes us more than happy. It makes us blessed. That is some very good news.

“You’re more than happy (blessed) when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:5 The Message)

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works.” ~Jesus

Tags

Glorify, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Light, Matthew 5, Shine

Light on a hill

I am to be a light. I should bring out God’s colors into the world. God is not a secret to be kept from those I come in contact with. I should go public.

I have seen cities on a hill. There is no mistaking them. They are not hidden. My ability to reveal Him should be the same way. In my house, I don’t light a light and then cover it up. What would be the point?

I should always have an open house. I should be generous with my relationship with our Father. I should open up to others about what God has done for me. If I open up with them, I will prompt them to open up with God, my generous Father in heaven.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

"You’re more than happy when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." ~~Jesus

Tags

Blessed, Happy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

Happy

When there is less of what we want and more of what God wants, that is a good thing. It isn’t about us. That is hard for us to wrap our brains around some days. We have lots of resources at our fingertips. Who needs God when you have a credit card?

Getting to the end of our rope and seeing it isn’t about us makes us more than happy. We are blessed.

God has a goal for us. God has plan. It is a pretty good rule of thumb that we need more of God. When we allow Him to rule we are more than happy. We are blessed.

“You’re more than happy when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:3)

"My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into trouble." ~~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew, Matthew 5, Persecution, Trouble

Jesus challenges us to be radically different from most Christians and religious types of people. It will get us in trouble. In fact, it is a promise. Jesus challenges us to be glad when we are persecuted. Here is what happens:

1. It takes our eye off of earthly rewards
2. It strips away superficial believes
3. It strengthens our faith as we endure
4. Out attitude serves as an example for other believers

That is nothing new. You can go back and read almost any account of men and women of God. Being on God’s side will get you in trouble with people of this world. Just look at Jesus. As God’s son, he paid the ultimate sacrifice to save us from missing God’s goal for our life.

Getting in trouble for Jesus puts us in good company.

“Not only that—count yourselves more than happy every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (Matthew 5:11-12 The Message)

"I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama." ~~Jesus

Tags

God's Goal, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew, Matthew 5, Trust

Jesus has it all together. All the complexity we see. All we don’t understand. Jesus sees it simply. He understands it all. He is putting it all together.

If we want understanding, let us go to Jesus. Jesus is the author of our life in God and He is the one who is going to finish it all out. We have nothing to worry about. He has it all figured out. Our job is to trust Him.

God’s goal for us is to trust his son Jesus. God has given Jesus all power and authority. Jesus is in control.

“I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:17-18 The Message)

"Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ " ~~Jesus

Tags

Clarity, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Pious

Jesus lives in a clear world. He is light. There is no darkness in Him at all.

Our heavenly Father is all about clarity. God demands the same from us. His radical world and plan for us is that we be clear as well. No ambiguity. No waffling. No wavering.

In Jesus’ world, he challenges us to no “ifs, ands or buts”. It is all yes and no. Jesus challenges us to not be manipulative, trying to get our own way with our answers. God’s goal for us is clarity.

May we be clear with what we say. Yes or no is clear.

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. (Matthew 5:33-37The Message)

 

"The simple moral fact is that words kill." ~~Jesus

Tags

Death, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Words

Jesus warns us to be careful about what we say to others. Our mandate is to love. Anything other than that is not acceptable. Our words to others is a reflection of life or death. This is stark but Jesus gives us a whole new way to live through His Holy Spirit.

In God’s world (Kingdom) there is no loving your friends and hating your enemies. It is only love. What we say to others should reflect that. Jesus demands it. Jesus is clear. We are not to think we are righteous because we don’t murder or physically hurt other people. Our thoughtless hurts others and is the opposite of love.

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.(Matthew 5:21-22 The Message)

"I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!" ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Light, Matthew, Matthew 5, Shine

Now who hides a light? It seems like a silly question. No one does. Well, children do when they are supposed to be asleep and they read under the covers.

We are God’s light to the world. Jesus demands that we shine. We should not act like God is a secret.

Jesus challenges us to shine. He has redeemed us for a reason. God’s goal for us is to be a light and to shine.

 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14 The Message)

"If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that." ~~Jesus

Tags

Conventional Wisdom, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Unlovable

We live in a world where there is conventional wisdom. We have a culture of success and infatuation with the beautiful. Look at our celebrity worship.

Jesus challenges the notion that there are those who are lovable and those are unlovable. Jesus says, that is no big deal. Why are we impressed with that? Anyone can love the lovable.

God, our Father, shows us what love is. God is good and loves all us. God loves the lovable and unlovable. God’s way is to love everyone (the world).

God’s goal for us is clear. We are to love. We are to love everyone. We are to love like Jesus does.

What is Jesus standard? Love everyone. Love the “unlovely”. That is God’s world and what Jesus demands of us.

Here are the key ideas:

1. God loves the lovable and unlovable.
2. God’s goal is for us to love the lovable and unlovable.
3. God isn’t like us. God is loving all the time.
4. God is in a good mood and shows it by his love.
5. God is great and redeems us all through Jesus.

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. Matthew 5:43-47 The Message 

"God gives his best to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty." ~~Jesus

Tags

Gift, Grace, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5

God’s generosity extends to everyone. He includes the evil, the bad and the nasty in His plans to redeem and restore. He is not like us, good to those who are good to us but vindictive to those who hurt us.

He gives his best to everyone. Think about that. In our world, we dole things out in a hierarchical way. Average things to most people and the best for a few. Not our Father. He gives his best to everyone. No distinctions.

Here are the key ideas:

1. God is good to everyone. No one can escape his love.
2. God’s goal is for us know that he loves us.
3. God is God so he can chose to love everyone.
4. God is in a good mood because he gives his best to everyone.
5. God is great because only a great God could love everyone regardless of how many times they have missed God’s goal for their life.

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.  (Matthew 5:43-47 The Message)

"Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is." ~~Jesus

Tags

Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Pretend

Sometimes we are very good at pretending. We want it to look easy. We don’t want anyone to know that living the life God wants us to isn’t as easy as it looks.

Jesus challenges us to live a moral life of a whole different way that we normally think. Jesus challenges us live differently. God’s will demands that we love Him first and everyone else all the time. Jesus challenges us to not live in “pretend city”.

Most of this is about choices. We get to choose living a tough life in obeying God or an easy life doing what we want. What choice will we make today? Will we choose God’s way? Will we accept God’s challenge? God’s goal for us is to make the right choice and choose the way of Jesus.

Admit that doing God’s will isn’t easy for us naturally. Admit that we need His Holy Spirit to give us supernatural courage. Admit it.

That confession frees us up to live a life that meets His goals for us.

“Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.” (Matthew 5:29-30 The Message)

"Don’t say anything you don’t mean." ~~Jesus

Tags

Commitment, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Pious, Truth

We say something we regret. We excuse it by saying, “I didn’t mean it”.

That doesn’t cut it in God’s world. We need to control what we say and only say things that we mean. We should tell the truth. We should be counted on for that.

We need to keep our promises. If we say we are going to do something, we should do it. If we can’t, we shouldn’t say it.

If we love someone, we should only speak words of love and caring. Jesus challenges us to love everyone.

God’s goal for us to say what we mean. And if we don’t mean it, don’t say it.

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. (Matthew 5:33-37 The Message)

"Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire." ~~Jesus

Tags

Accountability, Hate, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5

Jesus sets standards for us based on a whole different world. It is His Father’s world. It is a world of consequences and accountability. Sometimes it is convenient for us to think that it is not that way. Jesus is direct and forces us to deal with that. No free passes at all.

With the help of God’s Spirit, we can control what we say. We are accountable for the hate or love that comes out of our mouth. Our words may be thoughtless but are real. Thoughtlessness is not love.

What is it that God demands of us? What is God’s goal for us?

Jesus knows it.

It is simple. It is love. Live a life of love, he challenges us. All the time. That is God’s goal for us. He has given us His Spirit to give us the power to do it. Every day.

“Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:24 The Message)

"Please, no more pretending. " ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Legal, Matthew 5, Moral, Pretend

We know we all do it. We “pretend” nothing is wrong. We pretend we are something we are not. We pretend we don’t know Jesus. Peter did that 3 times.

Jesus challenges us to stop. We are God’s children. We shouldn’t pretend we are not. We pretend we don’t know He is in a good mood. We know he is.

God is great. God is in charge. God wants us to be real, in his son Jesus. That is God’s goal for us. Be real in Jesus.

Are we pretending to be righteous just because we are technically legal? Jesus knows that be right with rules and regulations doesn’t make us right with God. Only He can do that. Jesus challenges us to understand the difference between legal and moral.

 “Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’? Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure. (Matthew 5:31-32 The Message)

"Let your enemies bring out the best in you, not the worst." ~~Jesus

Tags

Enemy, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5

There are people in our lives that simple challenge us. Many times that challenge clearly brings out the worst in us. The boss at work who takes credit for things we have done. The obnoxious uncle who is a bore and dominates the Thanksgiving celebration every year with the same old stories. They are the enemies of what is best in us but not really even our enemies.

There are real enemies who want to destroy us. If it is a challenge to love friends and family, what hope do we have to love our enemies? Fortunately God has given us, through Jesus, His Holy Spirit who enables us in ways we can’t imagine.

Jesus turns things upside down. Jesus challenges us to think and act differently. His challenge is to love not hate. Easy to say but not easy to do. We can through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

God’s goal for us is to love. That is it. No exceptions for anyone, even our enemies.

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,  for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.  (Matthew 5:43-47 The Message)

"God is not a secret to be kept." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Secret

How often do I act like God is a secret? Unfortunately, more than I want to admit.

I take credit when people compliment me for things He has done. I don’t tell others how has healed me. I don’t mention that I am a new being in Him. I don’t credit Him for the wonderful and amazing world He has given us. I don’t mention that God is a good mood. I don’t acknowledge that God is God.

Here are some common ways I act like God is a secret.

1. Being quiet when I should speak up.
2. Going along with the crowd.
3. Denying that Jesus is the light of the world.
4. Letting missing God’s goal for my life to dim my light.
5. Not explaining my light to others.
6. Ignoring the needs of others.

Jesus is direct. Don’t act like God is a secret.

May it be so as Jesus said. May I be a beacon of truth. May my light shine clearly and boldly.

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14 The Message)

"When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong." ~~Jesus

Tags

Goal, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Manipulate, Matthew 5, Pious, Truth

We miss God’s goal when our goal is to get our own way. Jesus stops us dead in our track by saying it like it is. That approach is wrong. We are wrong when we do it.

Manipulation is a huge problem. It is core to the culture in this world. We are steeped in it. It is “dead dog” wrong.

Jesus has a better way. In everything we do, we must strive to hear God and do what He wants. No manipulating people to get our own way. Only knowing what God wants and that is to love.

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. Matthew 5:33-37

Thank you Jesus for making it clear.

"If you enter your place of worship and you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right." ~~Jesus

Tags

Grudge, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Worship

Jesus challenges us to live a real life, versus a fake spiritual one. God commands us to love one another. How can we pretend to worship God (love Him) if things aren’t right with a friend or a loved one?

God’s goal is for us to love. Love takes the initiative when we know things aren’t right. Maybe we think we are really right and that the other person is treating us unfairly. That doesn’t matter. Our job is to love. Our mission is to make things right.

Jesus challenges us to make things right. That is always the first order of business. Then we can worship. Right relationships with others leads to a right relationship with God, our Father.

“If you enter your place of worship and you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

"Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt." ~~Jesus

Tags

Adultery, Corrupt, Jesus Sayings, Leering, Lust, Matthew 5, Pornography

Jesus challenges us to see how corrupt our heart can be and it is about our heart. Jesus says don’t feel good because you don’t commit adultery but do look at pornography. What about all those TV shows and the fact they aren’t so innocent in what they are suggesting? Why is it you like to watch them, Jesus asks.

What about …? The list of these questions, in this day and age could go on forever. Sexuality is “in our face” and not subtle at all. Jesus is clear that what can be in our heart is corrupt. No mincing of words here but then again Jesus is always clear.

God has a goal for us. God wants us to be pure. Jesus makes it clear that “the law” about adultery is not the issue when our heart is burning up with lust. The culture of our world is not a subtle one. It is all over the top and clear in its message. Jesus challenges us to make a choice. Mental adultery is missing God’s goal for us.

So … Jesus challenges us to be pure. He gives us the power to be pure in His Holy Spirit. But we do have a choice. Will we make it?

“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than yourbody. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt. (Matthew 5:27-28, The Message)

"Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." ~~Jesus

Tags

Generous, God is Good, Gracious, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

Our heavenly Father is in a good mood. He always is and never waivers from that feeling. No ups and downs with Him. Always excited to see us. Loves us even when we ignore Him.

Jesus challenges us to know that in our soul. Why?

Many of us have an image of fathers, maybe even our own, that doesn’t match that.

Jesus is God’s Son. He knows the Father. We can rely on what He says. He says that GOD is generous and gracious. Always in a good mood. So, it is true.

“Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

"That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tags

Love, Martin Luther King Jr., Matthew 5, Right Thing, Time

Love your enemies – Jesus

Jesus clearly has a different way. MLK understood it. The right thing to do is love. Now that is hard to do under normal circumstances but with our enemies?

Jesus is clear. Jesus challenges us in a radical way. This is not what we want to do and it is not the way of the world. It is seen as weak and ridiculous.

Yes, Jesus is challenging us.

Jesus said (Matthew 5:43-44)  “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves,your God-created selves.”

That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

"You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Mission

Burning love

Jesus challenges us to go beyond what the rules say.

He knows we focus on “what the rule says” and then find loopholes. Religion is about loopholes. GOD is about real love.

Our mission, according to Jesus, is an extraordinary kind of love. Our love is to be like GOD’s love. A love that almost can’t be understood. A love for even our enemies. His Spirit makes it happen for us.

God’s goal for us is to love to the extreme.

Do we have a passion for God’s kind of love? Will we live that out today?

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:44 The Message)

"No more tit-for-tat stuff." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Kingdom, Love, Matthew 5, Retaliate

Our culture tends to be one of retaliation. Someone hurts us, we envision a way to get them back. There is no thought of taking one for Jesus.

Jesus challenges to live in GOD’s World (Kingdom). In His world, we are to represent Him.

God is love. God’s goal for us is that we love, just like God does.

Love acts differently. Love doesn’t retaliate. Love doesn’t plot on how to get even. Love looks for an opportunity to do good no matter what the other person has done.

Love rules!!

“No more tit-for-tat stuff.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

"In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Kingdom, Matthew 5, Maturity

Kingdom of God

Wow. Jesus is direct. Grow up!!

OK, that makes sense. We can be very childish.

We live in God’s World (Kingdom). God is in charge. We know it. We need to act like it. We need to live like we know that God is God.

God’s goal for me is to do what God wants. I am subject to what God decides. I am under God’s control.

May I live like I know I am living in God’s World, where He is fully in charge.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:48 The Message)

"Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Retaliate

Jesus challenges us

Jesus challenges not to retaliate. It is in our core, when someone hurts us, to strike back.

Jesus has a different way. Don’t hit back at all. Just take it. Agree with your adversary.

God has a goal in mind for us. Jesus has higher standards for us than what the world expects. He expects us to be full of the love of God.

Love acts differently. Love is kind and patient. Love does not retaliate.

May I love like God. May I not be defensive and retaliate.

“Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.” ~~Jesus Matthew 5:38 The Message (MSG)

"Live out your God-created identity." ~~Jesus

Tags

God-created, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5

Jesus challenges us to be the person God wants us to be.

It is not about us or our unique personalities. God has given us His identity.

Jesus only does what He hears and sees His Father saying and doing.We need to get outside of our “me identity”. It isn’t about who I am.

He wants the same for us. We have a God created identity. We are a new creation in the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. We share that with Him through baptism.

God’s goal for us to live His Life, doing everything His way.

“Live out your God-created identity.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:48 The Message)

Jesus, unconventional wisdom and going against the grain

Tags

Blessed, Care, Content, Cooperate, Happiness, Matthew 5

Unconventional Wisdom

In listening to Jesus, much of what He is saying (see Matthew 5) goes against the grain of what I have thought brings happiness.

God has a goal for us. Jesus takes care to summarize what some of God’s principles are.

In Matthew, we are used to the word “blessed”. The Greek word is μακάριος (makarios). That translation sounds religious. What does it really mean. A better translation might be “happy”. Even better would be “more than happy”.

God has a plan for how we can be more than happy. Now that is some good news. The plan, however, doesn’t follow conventional wisdom. Nope, not at all.

Here are some of the things that don’t make sense in this world but lead to happiness in God’s Kingdom:

• With less of me there is more of God and his rule.
• I have to lose what is most dear to me.
• I must be content in who I am in His kingdom.
• I must be a glutton for Him spiritually. I must hunger for Him more than food.
• I must care for others, not myself.
• I must get my inside world, mind and heart, right first.
• I must show others how to cooperate not compete.
• I must be comfortable that my commitment to God will provoke persecution.
• I must please Him first.

So, there it is. It is not conventional wisdom at. It is God’s way.

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

"You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jargon, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Religious

Religious Jargon

Jesus challenges us to make sure our words are clear and genuine. They should reflect all of His love.

Embellishing what we say with religiosity is useless. Being religious isn’t being genuine in God.

Sounding religious doesn’t make us religious.

God’s goal for us is to be clear in what we say. Religious jargon is not God’s way.

“You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:33)

"If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Servant, Unfair

Servant

It happens all the time. Someone uses us for their own advantage. We get upset. It’s just not right.

We plot how we can get even. We put them in their place. We feel better for a while. But we are not at peace.

Jesus challenges us to not see it that way and act that way.

It shouldn’t be about who is right. We are here to love and serve. That is the “Jesus way”. God’s goal is for us to serve others, regardless of how they treat us.

“If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.” ~~Jesus Matthew 5:38

 

"Don’t say ‘God be with you,’ and not mean it." ~~Jesus

Tags

God's Goal, God's Will, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Pious, Power, Religious

Yes or No

Jesus challenges us to mean what we say. Religious jargon and trite sayings are useless.

It is the power of the risen Lord and Savior that means something. Jesus challenges us to understand what action God wants us to take not say some religious saying. The action Jesus took was always specific. He healed the blind but never exactly the same way.

God’s goal for us is that we speak plainly with the use of religious jargon.

May I live the life Jesus wants me to every day. May my life speak his power.

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. Matthew 5:33-37

"Too many of you are using doing things ‘legally" as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ ." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Legal, Matthew 5, Righteousness, Selfish

The Law

Jesus challenges us to look at whether meeting the “letter of the law” means we are living right in God. God’s right way of living has nothing to do with “not doing” things but has everything to do with loving Him and others every day.

Following the letter of the law is really a not so subtle form of selfishness. We justify not doing things by the fact that “we go to church” or “we tithe” or “we pray”. We can avoid loving the homeless because of our other religious activities.

Jesus exposes that approach as a sham.

God’s goal for us is that stop pretending with our religious behavior and live in a right relationship with him.

May I be right in Him doing His right things everyday.

“Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’? Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure. Matthew 5:31 The Message (MSG)

"I’m not here to demolish God’s Law or the Prophets but to complete. " ~~Jesus

Tags

Complete, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Law, Matthew 5, Old Covenant, Prophets, Scripture

Complete the law and prophets Matthew 5:17

Jesus, God’s Son, shows how He completes what was started in the Old Covenant (Testament).

Everything in the Old Covenant pointed to Him. He completed everything through His life, death for us having missed God’s goal for our life, glorious resurrection and ascension to rule with God.

As He said on the cross, “It is finished”.

God loves us. He sent His son for us. He reached the goal that God has in mind for all of us. He shows us the way.

“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures— either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. ” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:17-18 The Message)

What is God’s standard for how to love?

Tags

God's Goal, Jesus, Love, Matthew 5, Relationships

God’s standard for love

This is tough stuff. It doesn’t feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us in trouble. Jesus has a different standard for us. Unless Jesus has invaded our life, relationships can be pretty difficult at times. Real love in relationships can require supernatural courage. It can only happen after Jesus has changed us. Jesus demanded that the “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” world of natural and religious rules be completely changed. God is love and that is not how He does things. It isn’t how He wants us to do things either. God’s goal for our lives is to love.

And so, it takes supernatural courage to love the way God loves us. But that is the way He wants us to love. That is what relationships in “His world” look like. This is an example of how to be a servant leader in relationships. The other alternative is to be a follower of how our “friends” do things.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42

May we love the way God wants us to. May our relationships be based on how He loves not the way that serves us and not others.

"If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?" ~~Jesus

Tags

God's government, Hide, Jesus Sayings, Light, Matthew 5

Light Bearers

Jesus doesn’t want us to play a game of hide and go seek. Now think about it. He is light. His goal for us is to be light-bearers. He wants us to tell everyone that He is the Master. He has Good News. God’s government is here, right now.

There is nothing to hide. Not at all. Who would take a light and hide it? Yet, isn’t that what we do some days. The opportunity comes to bear witness to Jesus and we don’t say a word, not even “can I pray for you?”

So …. let us shine His light and don’t hid a thing.

“If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?” ~~Jesus  Matthew 5:14-16

The Digital Ministry: Is the connected disciple distracted or engaged?

Tags

Connected Disciple, Digital Ministry, Engagement, Light, Matthew 5

We see it every day. We are at an event and someone holds up their phone to video or take a picture. Or they are looking down at their phone at your church service. You think they are distracted, not engaged with what is going on. Can’t they focus on the service and be engaged?

Here’s the rub. They aren’t distracted. They are engaged. They are sharing the video of the service on YouTube. They are checking in on Four Square. They are always connected and they are always sharing their experiences. They do it as it happens. This is the new Connected Disciple. They are sharing with their friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and via text messages. The question is are they doing it at your service? If not, why not?

Engagement is completely different now. It is “in the moment” physically and digitally. We are becoming increasingly networked with individuals amassing hundreds or thousands of friends and followers. And it is in multiple networks. What they say to me matters more than ever before. Word of mouth used to be one-to-one. Now is one-to-many and that many could be thousands for real influencers.

There is a new kind of currency. In the network economy, there is the audience who has an audience that has most of the influence. This influence is changing everything about how disciples connect with our ministry.

The balance of power used to be to the church message at the service. The new way of engaging and influence gives all the power to the disciple to amplify the good news message of Jesus. It is not as much about what you say but what they say about what you say.  Do you encourage your members to check in on Foursquare when they arrive? Do you encourage your members to tweet relevant portions of the service as it happens? Do you encourage your members to video relevant portions of the service and post them to YouTube or Facebook?

Will any of that make a difference in how you decide to transform your ministry? It does make a difference in spreading the good news of Jesus.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” ~~Jesus Matthew 5:14-16

"Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Word and you will only have trivialized yourself." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus Sayings, Matthew 5, Word of God

God means what He says. What He says is important. What He says is not to be trivialized in any way. When we do, we trivialize ourselves, not Him. His word will always be true.

Jesus demands that we understand that. It is important. God is God. His word is always true. We can count on it.

“Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Word and you will only have trivialized yourself.” ~~Jesus Matthew 5:19-20 (The Message Bible)

Is the truth to close for comfort?

Tags

Happy, Heaven, Matthew 5, Prophets, Truth

All heaven is applauding when I get in trouble for speaking the truth of the government of God. God is God and in control. I am in good company when I am put down for making his rule known. God is light and shines truth on us all. I can’t hide His light. I can’t pretend He isn’t in control.

How often, though, am I considering what others will think if I speak the truth in love? God has a goal for us to speak the truth about Him and His government. He is in a good mood and wants us to let others know about it. It may make them uncomfortable. That is OK.

May I speak the truth and seek our Father’s approval and not others.

Not only that—you will be more than happy every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. Matthew 5:1-12

“Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5

Jesus is clear what love looks like. Our words need to reflect His love in us. Jesus knows that being careless in what we say to others can have consequences we don’t want to see.

Jesus demands that we have a pure heart and then we won’t say careless words to others. His goal for us is to be intentional in our love. Love gets reflected in what we do and say.

May what I say reflect His love in my heart.

“Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:21-22 The Message)

Here are the key ideas:

• God’s goal is for us to love one another
• Be intentional in saying good things about others
• There are consequences for being careless in what we say

“By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Love, Matthew 5, Open

Jesus intends for us to have great relationships with people in our world. That is His goal for us. He challenges us to love one another. Other than love of God, this is the second most important thing for us to focus on. All of God’s plans come down to this. 

This requires being open. When we reflect His love and are open, we are prompting others to have a relationship with our Father. Our generosity and love always points to our Father’s generosity and love.

May I learn to be open like my Master Jesus.

“By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” ~~Jesus

~~Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message Bible)

 

“In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Language, Matthew 5, Pious, Religious, Speech

Jesus is clear about using “religious language”. Don’t do it. Be genuine. Use contemporary and understandable terms to point people to God’s world. God’s goal for us is to be able to be real and able to communicate in terms people understand. Religious language just makes us look religious not genuine.

Jesus is clear that we shouldn’t say anything we don’t mean.  We only make things worse when we lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. We don’t make our words true by embellishing them with religious lace. Jesus let’s us know that in making our speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Jesus wants us to just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When we manipulate words to get our own way, we go wrong and miss God’s goal for us.

Here are some easy changes:

• Gospel = Good news
• Sin = Missing God’s goal
• Repent = Change your mind
• Kingdom of God = God’s world or country
• Christ = the Messiah as in Jesus the Messiah

What are others you would suggest?

“In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.” ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:33-37 The Message)

Read more about God Thoughts

• God is God – God is in charge of everything.
• God is great – God is all powerful.
• God is good (and in a good mood)
• God has a goal for us – He wants us to be focused on it.
• Digital Ministry – Thoughts on creating a digital ministry for Disciples of Jesus.