BORDER PATROL

March 24, 2009
Today I take a journey ahead of our beaten path.

Matt 7:24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

The Lord has called me to a ministry which prays for those who have been deceived by Joseph Smith in the LDS cult and the Christians who have been called to witness the true gospel in Utah, the heart of their orgnaization.

Steve and I watched End of the Spear recently - a documentary movie with a marvelously directed Christian message of perseverance and hope. My title is no doubt grossly misspelled and may not even be what I heard, but the translation of my foreign greeting is "I am a friend, a sincere friend."

When Nate Saint, Jim Elliot and their dear friends were murdered by savages, how easy it would have been for their wives to bundle up their children and run like the dickens.

I asked myself over and over, would I have stayed? Could I have stayed? Do I have the fortitude to go face to face with the enemy who would kill my husband and show him love and mercy?

The answer is a resounding NO.

I don't, but Christ does. What we saw in those women and children was not their own strength or courage or perseverance. We saw the very light of Christ within them, the Holy Spirit at work. The powerful message comes right out of Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

When it comes right down to it, none of us have courage, strength, power, perseverance - even desire - for the work of God. There are people in the world who are adrenaline junkies that will do all sorts of crazy things for the rush of it. But reaching out to a violent nation is not a joy-ride no matter how much the adrenaline pumps.

Are you a friend in a hostile land where you're not welcome? Do you feel Bi bui Oonunga?

Chip Thompson and his students don't confront Mormonism on a daily basis by any wisdom or force of their own, it is only by the grace of God they do what they do. Consider: the college house itself was delivered right into their hands despite opposition from the LDS and all efforts to prevent them from purchasing the property. The testimony of the faith of these sweet Christians deep in the heart of Utah is truly amazing. In every instance of need, God has provided in ways only He can. And God is given all the glory as they continue to fight the good fight.

I use Chip's ministry as an example because I'm very familiar with it but I know this happens in many of the ministries we pray for, we just don't always get to hear the rest of the story. I think that's how God keeps us humble, that we not take any credit for His glory.

As we draw near to the time of going to the border to pray for all the pastors, leaders and ministries in Utah, I go through the same mental gymnastics of questions every year. "Lord, is this what you really want me to do? Does it really do any good for a few of us to drive five hours through the mountains to pray in the middle of nowhere? This is pointless. Why do I bother? I can't get anyone motivated; no one believes in our cause, no one cares whether those Mormons come to Christ or not."

I do question myself, my motives, my position, and my authority. Does that mean we shouldn't face the enemy and pour out the love of Christ? I never question God's authority or ability to carry out His plans, even using a cracked pot like me.

Elizabeth Elliot and the other wives of the missionaries in Ecuador didn't take an army of saints to meet with the Waodani people. They went just as they were with their children beside them. What drove them? The power of the Holy Spirit.

Each year as this time draws near, the only thing that takes me through those mountains, often in the worst kind of weather, is the power of the Holy Spirit. It's not by my choice or desire, but by the power of God Himself.

We do not go alone. Though not many physically go to the borders to stand and pray for two hours, the few that do are fierce warriors for the cause of Christ. Our brothers in Idaho, Pastor Ron Heath and Jerry Holt show up each year with their sons. Our friend Pastor Pete Wells gathers who he's able in Nevada. We are grateful for these bold men of faith who are willing to go out on a limb for the sake of the deceived and those who take the gospel into Utah.

We are equally grateful for those who gather in churches like the Ephraim Church of the Bible, our friends in New Mexico and those in Arizona and Wyoming.

And the Lord blesses hundreds who are praying from homes around the nation and even around the world. I was reflecting on the vision I'd had in 2003 of Christians surrounding the state of Utah in prayer. Is it really possible? Could we connect Christians hand to hand at the borders of Utah surrounding the state in prayer? Could prayer lift up the saints in the fields and bring the LDS machine to a halt? Impossible? For us, yes. For God, no way!

The foundation of Mormonism is built on deceit, a house built on sand. With every prayer for the salvation of a loved one or a saint who shares the gospel with them, another grain of sand shifts beneath the house, another brick shakes loose.

People, we're surrounding Utah in prayer. It's happening. We may not be standing hand to hand, but we are standing together and that state is completely surrounded by the love of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit. We stand heart to heart, a stronger bond than flesh! Do no grow weary in doing good. For God has called you for just such a time as this. Nothing happens in our timing or we would fail. Everything with kingdom purpose happens according to God's timetable which is perfect. Don't be defeated by thinking Mormon authority will never fall. By the will of God, all things are possible.

Rejoice my friends! Lift up your hands in praise. And as you lift your hands this Saturday morning, feel the hands of the angels filling the gaps, connecting us all as one, united for the cause of Christ. He is with us. We do not stand alone. We stand together on the Rock.

Bi bui oonunga. See you at the border.

Heavenly Father, O sovereign God of the universe and all creation, holy is Your name. You alone are worthy of all glory, honor and praise. We come to You now, humbled in Your presence, confessing our sinful nature, accepting the atoning death of Christ to cleanse us. We thank You Lord, for all the answers to prayer in the last year, whether we heard yes or no, in joy or trial. Your timing is perfect, Your ways without fault. Now we turn to You to ask a powerful prompting of the Holy Spirit to the hearts of the saints around the world that they would run to the borders and stand together for those who are decieved, those who do not know they follow one whose house is built on sand. Grant power to Christians to stand in the gap for those who can't. Show them mercy O Lord, hear our prayers. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

What Commandments?

Matthew 5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This is one of those controversial verses that make good Christians a little bit crazy sometimes. There is lots of discussion about keeping the law to the letter and didn't Jesus come to bring a new covenant to give us relief from all those rules and regulations? On and on we could argue until the end of time. Satan would love to keep us busy bickering about one verse of Scripture rather than getting on with the business of sharing the Gospel - the good news that we are saved by grace and grace alone.

In fact, this is just the kind of verse Satan might have used to influence the minds of men like Joseph Smith, or Russel Taze and other heretics who claimed they had religious revelations outside the bounds of Scripture.

So we tread carefully now. I am no scholar, have never been to seminary and have studied the Bible only for personal spiritual growth and understanding. At this point, it's important for me to offer a discalimer of sorts: I have no divine wisdom other than the Word of God itself insofar as it speaks to all who seek God's heart.

What I hear Jesus saying is the law still stands. He tells us in John's fifteenth chapter account, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

So now we go back to the original Commandments, (which Jesus summed up in two according to Matthew 22:37-40.) But let's look at all of them, which those two love verses encapsulate.

No false Gods; No idols; Don't misuse the name of God; Keep the Sabbath; Honor your parents; Don't murder; Don't commit adultery; Don't steal; Don't lie, Don't covet.

The first four of the commandments are summed up in Jesus admonition to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. The rest of them are combined in His second commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.

Now man has jumped into the mix and complicated the heck out of these very simple tenets. Forget man's junk and listen to God: Love Him and love others.

Satan hisses, "spell it out for the morons, they don't get it." I say, listen to God, He has told you what to do. You don't need any church leader, not the pope, the priest, the pastor, the president or any other person to make it clear to you what He expects. Men are prone to twist things.

Whenever you have questions, get back to the basics. Go first to God's word. If there's something that confuses you, pray about it, leave it alone and allow God to reveal what needs to be known. If you absolutely must have an answer now, seek wise counsel from a Biblically grounded pastor.

So now I'm going to break it down for you to keep it simple.

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments... What commandments? ANY. There are ten, encapsulated by two, keep it simple. Don't add, don't take away. Just live right. It's a simple as riding a bike.

And teaches others to do the same... Does what? Leads others astray. Ride that bike down the wrong path and somebody's going to follow you.

Will be called least in the kingdom of heaven...There is only one heaven. Don't presume, like James and John, that you can sit at the Lord's right hand in His glory. Everything we do here on earth will effect our position in heaven.

But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. And that my friends, is the great admonition of faith. Live it and teach it for God's glory.

O Lord, this has been a rather rocky path to traverse today! Thank You for smoothing the way and making it abundantly clear, we don't earn our way to heaven, but all that we do in the process of this life will either glorify or disappoint You. Help us to stay on the bike path to lead others in the right direction. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Forever True

Matthew 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Jesus tells the truth. Jesus is the propitiation of the law. He reconciles us to the law. In Him, we abide in the law. Through Him, the law is accomplished.

How does that work?

Suppose you're driving down the freeway and the posted speed limit is 65 MPH. You're in a hurry so you set your cruise control on 75 MPH. You pass a patrolman who pulls you over. He writes you a speeding ticket. You could go to court and fight the charge (but you would have to lie because you were indeed speeding,) or you can admit you broke the law and pay the fine. Once the fine is paid, there is no more penalty for your decision to break the law on that occasion. If you do this a few times, there will be consequences, like losing your drivers license! If everyone did what they wanted and there were no laws, we'd live in utter chaos and never feel safe.

In the same way, Jesus is the payment for our sin. When we break God's laws, our error goes on the books until we pay the fine - we contritely seek forgiveness through our Savior. We call this repentance. We ask forgiveness and commit to turning away from this sin in the future.

When "everything is accomplished," that is, when the whole world has been given the gospel which is the new covenant, everything will be made new. The Word of God is our manual to live by and provides safety on this road.

Don't fool yourself for a minute thinking we can choose to abide in only some parts of the Bible. It's all or nothing. Either the Bible is the word of God and a perfect guide for living or it's all a bunch of fairy tales in which we've put our hope for naught. Jesus either was who He said He was or He was a lunatic and a liar.

Since we have much evidence for the person of Christ, in both Old Testament prophecy and historic revelation, I'm putting my money on the deity of Christ. He said, "I tell you the truth." Since He is perfect and sinless, He's as good as His word.

What was true for the apostles 2000 years ago, is true for us today. Forever true.

Heavenly Father, in You alone we trust. Open the eyes of our hearts and show us how to live, minute by minute, day by day. We submit to You for Your glory, for Your word is forever true. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

Law Abiding Citizens

Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus didn't come to put an end to God's law or diminish the work of the prophets, nor to put an end to prophets, but to carry out the law and prophecy.

To demonstrate it can be done.

Jesus shows us that when we walk in faith, God fulfills His promises.

Suppose for a minute, that Jesus had said to the apostles, "whoa, hold on their partners, I got better things to do with my time than put up with all these beggin' mongrels lookin' for miracles. And you say what? You want me to hang on a cross and die? I don't think so. You've been smokin' somethin' funny in your pipes!"

What if Jesus hadn't fulfilled the prophecies, hadn't abided by God's law in every respect, hadn't done as He was called to do? We would all be doomed to hell. Rather, He was obedient even unto death, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father guaranteeing our seat at the banquet table. Some day, because of his righteous obedience to the law, we will sing and dance with Him in heaven.

Jesus is saying, let go, let God. It can be done. And when it's done, it's all better. How will we ever know the blessings of God if we keep doing things our way? Let's be law abiding citizens - living in the perfect law of God, by the blood of the Lamb.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; Jesus didn't come to wipe out God's perfect plan.

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. He came to perfectly accomplish the will of the Father.

Father, help us to listen and obey, to accomplish Your purposes. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Shine the for the Glory of God

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Looking at the photograph we might say, "isn't it beautiful the way the sun casts a warm glow on everything?"

When people look at us, what do they see, what do they say?

On some days, they might say of me, "she's got a short fuse." They might say I'm boring or grumpy or goofy, depending my my mood and circumstances. If we are to draw people to the Son, we need to cast the right light, so that God is glorified.

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.

If we're always praying and giving thanks regardless of what's going on in our lives, naturally we'll be joyful. That joy radiates the light of Christ, shines His brilliance in a dark world.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Isn't it beautiful the way the Son casts a warm glow on everything?

Lord, help us to remember to pray without ceasing, to give thanks no matter what, so that our joy will be a warm glow casting the love of Jesus over the world, illuminating the glory of God. In Your name we pray, amen.

Lighting the World

Matt 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

When I arrived at the peak of Guanella Pass on the day I photographed the image to the left, it was a moonless predawn scene. An eerie silence pervaded the deep dull gray countryside surrounding me as I set up my gear. Moments later when the sun crept up in the east, I was blessed with a glorious sky, purple peaks and magical pastel hues lighting the frosted autumn valley. When the sun lights the sky, the glory and majesty of God's creation is illuminated.

If the sun was veiled by clouds, the beautiful vista I was entreated to would have been lackluster and dreary; unworthy of the sixty mile drive at night on a very rough unpaved road.

How will people ever know Jesus shines in our hearts if we walk around acting like the unenlightened, purveying doomsday, grumbling about all our problems, using profanity and acting just like those who don't know the mercy of Christ?

I'm reminded of an old Catholic hymn I loved:

You are the light of the world,
Let your light shine before men,
That they may see the beauty of Christ,
And give glory to God!

Blow the clouds away and let your light shine, that God may be glorified!

Father, forgive us for hiding out light and falling into the ways of the world. Send away the clouds that cover the light of Jesus in us and allow our light to shine wherever we go. May we be attentive to the Holy Spirit, give praise to God in all circumstances, and lead the lost to the Shepherd of mercy. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

City on a Hill

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

It was 1972, around 2 AM in the city of New Orleans. I'd had a fight with my boyfriend and stormed out of the restaurant into the dark winter night. In a blind rage I ran down the street, turned a corner and slowed to a brisk walk.

Suddenly I heard footfall behind me and glanced over my shoulder. A man followed me and was quickly catching up. There was light up ahead so I ran to it.

Ducking into a parking garage, I went straight to the toll booth where there was a young black man inside, who was somewhat malformed. I babbled my story and asked if I could wait there for awhile. He asked me where I was staying. I admitted we were living in a converted school bus but I had no idea where it was parked, where I was, or how to get back to the restaurant where I'd left my boyfriend. The man suggested he take me back to his apartment where I could sleep for the night, and when he got off work in the morning he would help me find the bus. I accepted his offer.

Are you thinking I must have been insane? Well, as a young hippie, you're not far off the mark. But a miracle happened that night and I'm convinced the man was an angel of God. Certainly at least a Christian.

True to his word, he took a lunch break, drove me to his apartment, let me in and left me there. At daybreak he returned and drove me around the neighborhood until we found the bus. He didn't ask me for anything. We never met again, nor did I know his name. Yet I will never forget the light he beamed into my dark life.

There have been many times when the light of Christ shown through others into my darkness and illuminated the way for me. Strangely enough, they were often black men. I believe God had His hand on me before conception, knew every decision and move I would make, every word I would speak. His has lit the way throughout my life, guiding me to the door of His kingdom.

Now I have a responsibility to shine the light of Christ into the darkness of my world. Everyone who has accepted Jesus' death on the cross as payment for one's sins, is filled with His light to bring to the dark areas of their own cities, communities and neighborhoods.

Are you lit up? Take a few moments to sit quietly and call on the Holy Spirit to reveal in You where He would have You bring a glimmer of hope today. Someone is desperately seeking the love and mercy of Jesus.

You are the light of the world. He lives in you now. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Don't try to blend into your surroundings - you're outstanding!

Heavenly Father, as we carry the light of Christ in our hearts, show us the way You would have us go, take us to the place that needs light. Thank You for the privilege of casting the warm glow of our Savior's heart into a dark and weary world. May we be obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit today as we seek Your will, that You be glorified. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Fresh Faith

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Does salt lose it's saltiness? I really don't know. I found some salt in our camping gear that had been there a few years and it was still mighty salty!

But Jesus' point is, salt without its saltiness wouldn't be of any use:

• Salt adds flavor
• Salt is vital to life
• Salt makes things pure
• Salt is a symbol of righteousness (Leviticus 2:1)
• Salt preserves

Are we offering the salt of our faith to the world in our daily living? And how can we maintain a constant flavor of Christ in our lives?

If I'm not in God's word every single day, eventually I land in a slump. That collapse is reflected in my attitude, actions and words every where I go. When I'm not walking with God's word as my perfect guide, I'm more prone to snap at store clerks when there's a problem, drive dangerously, ignore my family or treat them disrespectfully, slack off in my responsibilities to home, church and country, and just generally limp along in the dark.

To stay fresh, I read at least one verse of Scripture every single day. I ponder it in my heart, write about it and pray. This helps me stay humble and seek God at every turn. The result is peace, contentment and much joy, regardless of what's happening around me.

You are the salt of the earth. You were chosen by God to carry the good news of salvation to others. The salt you deliver is the news that Jesus loves and blesses those who seek Him.

By sharing the saving grace of Christ, you will:

• Add flavor to the lives of others
• Shine light on the eternal life of Christ
• Bring purification to those who are repentant
• Demonstrate the righteousness of God's redemption in Christ (Romans 8:3)
• Preserve His goodness

But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Keep it fresh.

Heavenly Father, our desire is to serve and worship only You, to bring Your righteousness to the world. Help us to keep it fresh, to pour out the marvelous flavor of Jesus on those we encounter, to bring hope to struggling humanity. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

The Final Reward

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It's tough to wait on anything in our fast food world. Especially when we're hungry now!

I read a story not long ago about men who work in a gold mine six days a week under back-breaking conditions, twelve or more hours a day, for slave wages. What they earn isn't enough to feed themselves let alone their families. But each man is allowed to go in on the seventh day to work as long as he wants and he gets to keep all the gold he finds for himself.

Life is not easy for any of us but we're spoiled in this country. We're used to getting what we want when we want it. Saving up for something we want is pretty much a thing of the past. When we see something we want, we just whip out a credit card. We don't know what it means to scrimp and save and work hard to attain something of value.

That's why it's so difficult for us to comprehend the concept of suffering for the gospel now to attain the blessings of our heavenly inheritance.

Visualize if you will, a world where there's no credit system. Everyone has to pay for what they want with cash. You want a house. The only way to buy that house is to save up the money to pay for it. You can bet you'd sacrifice whatever necessary and put aside every penny to realize your dream. Ten years later when you've finally saved up enough to buy the house you want, imagine your elation! You could have just lived in an apartment paying rent for all your days and it would have been fine. But now you have your own home paid for by your diligent effort.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We don't have to earn our way to heaven. Jesus already paid for our ticket. But what Jesus is saying to us is, don't worry about the inconveniences or problems you'll face for speaking the truth about me. Just do it. In the end, nothing matters because your reward is not in this world, it's in heaven. By His blood, all born-again Christians will go to heaven. But there are rewards beyond just getting a foot in the door. I don't know about you, but I want to hear my Savior say, "well done good and faithful servant." That will be the greatest reward ever!

Father, help us in our unbelief. Help us overcome our fear of what people will think of us. Holy Spirit, remind us that our time here is short, the world needs Jesus, and we've got a job to do. May we prepare our testimony, impress the gospel upon our hearts and be prepared to speak as the Holy Spirit leads. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thanks for the Insults

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

I'll admit that in the early years following my acceptance of Christ I was more than bold in my faith. To say I was zealous for the Lord is putting it mildly. Actually, I was just plain bursting to tell the world what Christ had done to change my life. Just about anything that moved got to hear my story. And everyone I shared it with moved away from me!

Criticized and shunned by family and so-called friends, eventually I shut down.

Whenever I heard others talk about those who were saved by their testimony, it pushed me further away from doing so, until I discussed it with my pastor.

"How come nobody I've shared my faith with has turned to Jesus?" I asked.

"Some people are seed planters. Some water the seeds. Still others open the curtains to allow the sun in on them to break through the soil and grow." Pastor Greg replied (paraphrased). "God knows your heart and wants you to continue sharing Jesus with people. Leave the outcome to Him."

I've come a long way since those days. A large part of knowing how to share the gospel is knowing the gospel and being prepared. An important verse to memorize and understand is 1 Peter 3:15 - Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...

Yes it's important to prepare your testimony but you must also be prepared for your recipient, in order to share your faith in such a way that it doesn't put them off. Despite this, you will not always be well received. But here's the good news! Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Do you get that? Blessed! Dudes, count it all joy to share your faith and be rejected! It's not you they reject, but the One you stand for. His blessings are well worth insults, persecution and false accusations. Man's unkindness dims as we realize our inheritance is the kingdom of heaven.

Heavenly Father, how blessed we are that Jesus has walked ahead of us on this stony road, clearing the way, removing all the stumbling blocks. If You could bear to be pierced and hung on a cross to pay for my sins, I can bear a little ridicule! Keep this close to my heart; grant me the words to share with others the hope I have in You at every opportunity. Let me not fear insult or persecution but boldly stand for the Truth. In Your precious name we pray, amen.

Be Blessed in Persecution

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Pigeons get a bad rap.

A large number of people might tell you they'd prefer that pigeons be extinct. They're messy, noisy, annoying and quite frankly useless.

Passenger Pigeons are now extinct because they were so abundant at one time that they were killed and eaten until there were none left.

Karen Purcell of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology writes:

Pigeons clean up food dropped by people and provide companionship to those who live in cities. They are beautiful and extremely resourceful. They have been linked with human beings in many different ways throughout history. They were used as religious symbols and raised for food; their homing instincts and racing abilities were (and still are) frequently used by armies throughout the world (they were even used in the recent Gulf War). Photographers, doctors, and reporters use them to transport items in a hurry; their excellent vision is used in rescue missions.

I learned at thing or two there myself. Of course, I've always rooted for the underdog, so it comes as no surprise I would rush to the aid of this misunderstood species.

What do people think of Christians? You know, it's interesting that we're almost the antithesis of the reason people hate pigeons: pigeons are dirty, we're supposed to be clean; pigeons are noisy, we're supposed to have a quiet gentle spirit; pigeons are imposing, we're supposed to be humble; pigeons beg for or take food in the square, we're supposed to feed the hungry. Yet are we not persecuted unjustly as well?

Which begs the question, why? What on earth do people have against clean, quiet, humble, helpful Christians?

That begs the question, are we who we're supposed to be?

I realize Jesus was talking about persecution for our faith. But that's exactly what I'm talking about. This persecution is a double edged sword. Think about it. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't. If we walk in righteousness, we're be accused of piety; if we stumble, they rush to say, "See! Hypocrite!"

We can't win.

Or can we?

Jesus said "blessed are they who are persecuted." Blessed! Our is the kingdom of heaven! If that doesn't get you fired up, you haven't been paying attention.

Who gives a flying hoot (or coo) what the world thinks of, says or does to us? What matters is what our heavenly Father thinks. Jesus is the way - follow the leader.

Heavenly Father, may we walk as Jesus walked, clean, quiet, humble, and helpful, wherever we go. May our clean hearts shine in this dark world to expose filthy evil and drive it out, Would our quiet, gentle spirits speak loudly of the goodness of God. Would our humble attitude seek only Your recognition, letting go of the accolades of man. May our service to others be a constant reminder of the love and mercy or our Savior. May we be driven by the Holy Spirit, so that all our words, actions and attitudes will be pleasing to You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Know Jesus, Know Peace; No Jesus, No Peace

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

My brother is an avowed atheist. To hear him tell it, "I don't get the whole God thing, never have and never will."

Because of some health concerns a few years ago, we felt it would be safer for my brother to live with us after my mother passed away. It never occurred to me that my faith would affect him in any kind of negative way.

Christmas is a time we focus on the reason for the season. My home is filled with reminders of Jesus' birthday. Opening presents is centered around the gift of Christ to all mankind. The first year in our new home, after the opening of gifts, my brother left all his presents upstairs and hid in his basement apartment the rest of the day. He came up long enough for dinner and then retreated again. That night before going to bed I went down to ask him what was wrong.

"I hate all this ****ing religious crap and don't see why I have to put up with it!" he snapped at me with about as much venom as a cobra and having near the same effect. For a moment I just stood staring at him in shock before I turned it back on him.

"You see this room full of drums, keyboards and guitars you spend all your time in? You love this stuff. In your own words, it's your life. I don't get it. I don't get anything about this. Never have, never will. But you're my brother. I love you. when you share something with me about a new instrument you've gotten or a new song you wrote, I encourage you because it's what you love and I love you. I share in your joy. How is it okay for you to be who you are, but it's not okay for me to be who I am? I love Jesus. That's my life. I'm sorry you can't love me enough to share the joy of what I love." Then I turned on my heels and left.

The next morning we found a note next to the coffee-maker with an apology, signed, "I love you."

Making peace doesn't mean we make concessions. It means we speak the truth in love. True peace comes with seeking first the kingdom of God. We don't need to get too comfortable here, we're not at home here on earth. Our heavenly home will bring peace everlasting.

Father, we know our peace is not with those who reject You and that our only hope for the world is to share the peace that comes only from You. Help us be discerning in all situations, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Above all, grant us Your words as we speak to bring others to the knowledge of the peace we have in Jesus. In Your holy name we pray, amen.

Homogenized Faith

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Homogenization of milk is a mechanical treatment of the fat globules brought about by passing the liquid under high pressure through a tiny orifice, which results in a decrease in the average diameter and an increase in number and surface area, of the fat globules. The net result, from a practical view, is a much reduced tendency for creaming of fat globules. In addition, heat pasteurization breaks down the cryo-globulin complex, which tends to cluster fat globules causing them to rise."

Simply put, homogenization changes the properties of the milk to prevent separation of fat and liquid. Pastuerization slows microbial growth, allowing for longer shelf-life. Together, these processes give us products that are both more palatable and enduring.

Jesus tells us the pure in heart are blessed and will see God.

As I prayed over this verse this morning, the word pure impressed me, and of course prompted a search for related information.

What does Jesus mean by pure? On the surface you might say, well duh, pure is pure. Right?

Let's take a closer look at the word. According to Miriam-Webster, my trusty online dictionary:
1 a (1): unmixed with any other matter (2): free from dust, dirt, or taint (3): spotless , stainless b: free from harshness or roughness and being in tune —used of a musical tone c: of a vowel : characterized by no appreciable alteration of articulation during utterance.

There's a mouthful. But worthy in all its detail for our purposes. Let's see if we can make it purely clear what Jesus is saying - pun intended :-)

• Our hearts should be empty of all but the word of God.
• Untainted, free of sludge, unblemished, immaculate
• They should be free from harshness and roughness
• What emanates from them should be a sweetly prefect, lyrical sound to God

Jeremiah said the heart is deceitful above all things (17:9) and the Psalms and Proverbs are filled with verses warning about the evil heart of man. So let's consider the list above for a minute - our hearts are full of garbage, tainted, blemished, harsh, rough and probably sound like screeching breaks to God's ears. So how on earth can it be purified?

First it has to be emptied of the garbage. Then it has to be cleansed. It needs some refining (Remember the story of the refiners fire?) And not doubt a good tuning is in order. All of these processes my friends are the work of the Holy Spirit.

Faith in Jesus, trusting that His atoning death and blood shed for all mankind covers our sin and cleanses us of all iniquity, is the process by which we are made acceptable to God. Frankly, I love milk fresh from the cow without all the processes. But living in sin seems pretty good too, until it gives you aids, alcoholism, or bitterness....

Blessed are the pure in heart, those whose hearts have been washed in the blood of Christ, for they will see God.

Now here's the final and pivotal point to this message. As a result of this purifying, we will see God. Not in heaven (yet.) Not in some magical or mystical way. But when we empty ourselves of the junk, there's nothing left in that heart but the image of God. Process that, beloved.

*Father hear my prayer: I will open my heart - Search me in the deepest part - And I will stand in cleansing fire - By You, purified - By You I'm purified - I'm purified for you. In Jesus' name, amen.

*Lyrics, Michael W. Smith, Purified

Mercy, Mercy

Matt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

We are raised on the Golden Rule, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Jesus tells a story about a wealthy man whose servant owed him a great deal of money.

Let's look at this situation in modern times. Let's just say the wealthy owner of a Cadillac dealership (we'll call him Bob,) provides vehicles and service for Donald Trump, one of the richest men in the world. Bob borrows a large sum of money from Trump to subsidize an addition to his dealership. Now, a year later, there's a recession and cars aren't selling. Bob's debt payment comes due and he doesn't have the finances to pay. So he goes to Mr. Trump and asks for more time to pay off the debt.

In Jesus' story, Trump shows mercy, graciously forgives the debt and wipes the record clean.

The story doesn't end there. Jason, a hard-working wrench-turning mechanic asked for an advance from Bob a few months ago because his wife needed surgery and they had no insurance. Bob loaned him the money to pay hospital bills. Now that Bob's in a crunch, he calls Jason into his office and demands immediate payment of the debt. Jason hasn't got that kind of money, heck, he works on commission and there hasn't been any work coming into Bob's service drive all week. Jason can't repay the debt all at once and asks for more time. Instead, Bob fires him.

According to Jesus' reckoning, Trump would have discovered Bob's unforgiving behavior and demanded he pay up or turn his business over to Trump.

Then He goes on to say that's how it is with God. How can we go to God begging for mercy and forgiveness of our sin, when we expect of others what we refuse to do? Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." We reap what we sow.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Father, may we be acutely aware of how we treat others as we go through our day. Would we be mindful always of Your boundless mercy, Your unfailing grace and eternal love. Move in us to be merciful to others. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Hungry for God

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

As most of us struggle in this recession that has every earmark of impending depression, it would be easy to succumb to despair. Yet this time in history has given Steve and me cause to praise and pray as we never have before.

Every morning we settle on our bed with the Bible. We open with prayer, then we read a chapter from Scripture (currently we're in the book of Joshua,) and dialogue about the reading. We close with another prayer for our day. The more we digest, our hunger for the wisdom of God's word increases. There's a side effect of this daily dose of Scripture - it strengthens our marriage!

Living in this recession has made us starkly aware that all our material goods are meaningless. I look around my house and wonder how I've accumulated so much stuff that I would now love to be rid of. I've actually thought of inviting people to come and take what they want, just to get rid of things! It's because my focus is no longer on the things of this world, but viewed through the lenses of Scripture. There is nothing on this earth that ties me down for I'm free in Christ and looking forward to a heavenly inheritance.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

May we get utterly obese in the spirit as we gorge ourselves on God's word!

Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that the things of this world have no hold on us. We seek Your kingdom and are sated, stuffed with Your goodness. May we always be hungry for and feast at the table of Scripture, filling our souls with Your righteousness. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Be Who You Are

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

When I was in grade school, the teacher would ask a question and half the class would throw up their hands wanting to give an answer. Some would push their arm up as high as it would go with their other hand, leaning wildly and lifting their little body half off the chair. Some would wave frantically, like Arnold Horshack of Welcome Back Kotter, little noises escaping their lips begging for attention. Some just sat up tall and stately, stiff-armed, hoping to catch the teacher's eye. The teacher inevitably called on someone who hadn't raised a hand.

I never quite figured out if this was to humiliate the uneducated or to honor those who were diminutive. I suppose that really depends on the teacher.

Personally, when teaching Sunday School, I've always had a tendency to call on those who don't make a big fuss: the shy, reserved, and humble. Not to torment them but because I want them to feel recognized and loved.

Jesus said when we pray, we ought not to make a public display out of it but hide in a closet. He said if we want to be a leader, we ought to wash the feet of those who serve us. He said if we want to inherit the kingdom of God, we must first be willing to give up all our earthly riches.

God said, "be still and know that I am God."

God is not paying attention to the one who's demanding notice. They're well tended by their followers on earth. Whatever we do, we're to do it with all humility, not expecting accolades or recognition. He calls on the one who sits quietly in the background.

Donald Trump may have his riches here on earth, but I wonder where he'll be when Jesus comes for His own.

The Pope may sit on his throne in the Vatican, but how will He answer the One who sits at the right hand of the Father.

The father of a nation may think he's in control in his little oval office, but does He seek counsel from the Father to whom he'll ultimately answer?

You can stand on an pedestal in the world but the reward for elevation is nothing more than the riser one stands upon.

It's hard to resist the desire for recognition in this world. But the riches of heaven belong to those who forbear the test.

Blessed are they who are meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Father, let us be content to graze in the fields and lap at a clear pool. Would we be satisfied to rest in green pastures, gazing toward Your star studded heavens at night. Would we find joy in the little things: the smile of a baby; the hue of a blue jay; the chatter of squirrels. Would we find reward in serving others and peace in shining the light of Christ into a dark world. May whatever we do, honor and glorify You and bring us ever closer to Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.

Christ Our Comforter

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

We are never alone, no matter what we're going through.

Some months ago, I was in a serious slump. I wasn't sleeping well, wasn't satisfied in my devotions and prayer life, and in general was just unhappy, bordering on depressed.

I could probably pinpoint the spiritual/emotional decline to an incident that happened in December 2007. My focus on that incident which filled me with anger and unforgiveness, drove a wedge between my Savior and me. I was mourning a great loss and rather than seek the comfort of my Lord, I tried to handle it myself.

Then one day as I was crying out to Jesus, I submitted all the pain, confusion and anger to the foot of the cross. I said, in effect, "Thy will, not mine be done." I conceded. "Lord, I'm not fighting this battle anymore. The battle belongs to You. I accept that I'm powerless over this situation and I forgive those people. Take this anger from me and make me clean again."

A couple months later, I suddenly realized the fog had lifted, the emotional pain was gone, I had forgiven, almost forgotten, and my cheerful attitude had been restored. Today I'm thankful that I can count my blessings once again and find all my hope in my Savior, not in the things of this world.

As I was reading the words of Jesus this morning, I realized I'd been in a period of mourning over the situation a year ago. While I went through a necessary process that included pouring out my anger and frustration to God on a regular basis, shutting myself away from those who might console me and allowing myself to wallow in self-pity, Jesus never left my side.

I don't know what might have happened, how differently things might have turned out had I not relied on my Savior to see me through that dark valley. But I do know He blessed me with comfort, strength, hope and healing, walking with me every moment.

Heavenly Father, how amazing are Your ways! You are sovereign, holy and perfect. Yet from Your high heaven You pour out Your mercy and grace on us through the person of Jesus and counsel of the Holy Spirit. Thank You Father, that You always walk those dark valleys with us and comfort us in trouble. Thank You for Forgiving us those times we turn away in anger and misunderstanding as You draw us gently back with a nudge from the Holy Spirit. We love You and praise You, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Humbled for Heaven

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Long before Jesus was born, the wise King Solomon penned these words: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

To be poor in spirit suggests one who's down on his luck, low man on the totem pole. The Greek word used in this instance is ptockos, which means to crouch as a beggar or pauper. The Greek word for spirit is pneuma suggesting the very soul, the breath of life. Blessed is the word Makarios, indicating extreme good fortune, supremely blest. The fortunate, Jesus tells us, are those whose souls are hungry. Those who hunger for Him.

It's been my experience that prideful people have no sense of need in their lives. They're often independent, relying on themselves and taking credit for any accomplishments they achieve.

Those of faith who struggle in one way or another, draw closer to God in seeking to understand, accept, push through and rise above their circumstances. They demonstrate deeper compassion for one another, a longing for wisdom rather than material possessions, and a hope for the future.

Jesus is not just talking about people who are in a low position. He's talking about those who lower themselves spiritually, being humbled, prepared for God's purposes.

Heaven is our destination. The things of this world are temporal and slip through our fingers like salt through a sieve. Don't get hung up on stuff. Whatever you don't have here, don't feel cheated. Trust me, God has so much more to offer when we get home. I believe (and this is strictly my opinion) that the less we have here on earth, the more blessed we'll be in heaven.

When God sees people who live in opulence while there are millions starving and oppressed around the world, who do you think will find a better reward in heaven? I'm not saying wealthy Christians will not receive God's blessings. On the contrary, if they have abundantly shared their wealth in caring for the needy, the Lord will pour out His blessings on earth and in heaven. But those who have no love for God, who give to the needy only for the sake of tax shelters, have all the reward they will ever know. And I'm certain the greatest riches of this earth are like dirt compared to the inheritance we have in the kingdom of God.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Dear Heavenly Father, the older I get, the more I understand this principle. The material goods of this world just don't mean a thing. They bring but little pleasure, and the more we have, the more we seem to want. It's never enough. Rather, may we acquire hearts like that of Albanian Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, famously known as Mother Theresa, who lived to serve the poor, walking by these words of Jesus throughout her life. Would my humble life honor You Lord, would I keep my eyes heavenward. In Jesus' name, amen.

Gone Fishing

Matthew 4:19 "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!"

The root of the word disciple is discipline. Jesus is saying, let me teach you discipline so you will be attractive to others.

A young man I know has some really disgusting habits. He burps loudly apologetically, laughs at others' troubles, has unhealthy hygiene practices, uses foul language and is generally offensive. People rightly steer clear of him. There are psychological reasons this young man is so disrespectful of himself and others but I won't get into that now. The point is, this young man is undisciplined.

If people don't want to be in my company, there's a reason for it. Everything about us sends messages to others: how we dress, our manner of speech, attitudes, personal hygiene and the subjects we talk about, just to mention a few.

I read an article that carp seem to like sweet, clean foods. This man was successful in catching lots of carp using corn for bait. People also like things clean and sweet. You won't draw a crowd if you offer them stale bread. But put out a pan of fresh hot cinnamon rolls and you'll find the masses moving your way.

Jesus commanded us to be salt and light in the world. In order to do that, we must first allow Him to discipline us. Because His time on earth was limited, His teaching was recorded for our benefit. His word prepares us to be used for his purposes to draw people to Himself. We must sweeten our souls to be inviting bait for those seeking the kingdom of heaven. We can do that by pouring the word of God into our hearts.

Let's spend some time meditating today on what areas of our lives we need to sweeten up. Here are just a few things we might consider dumping in the useless bait pile:

• Gossip
• Bragging
• Turning our backs on those in need
• Swearing
• Losing our temper
• Telling off-color jokes
• Listening to offensive music
• Gluttony
• Dressing inappropriately
• Sarcasm

I'm sure you can come up with more. Now in place of the garbage, let's fill our tackle box with lots of good things like:

• Kindness
• Generosity
• Giving your time to help a worn out mom
• Bringing hope to the hurting
• Encouraging words
• A meal for a troubled neighbor
• Helping a coworker
• Praying for the sick
• Visiting a hospital or nursing home

Add your own ideas. There are many ways you can sweeten the hook to attract the spiritually hungry.

As we head out the door today, let's do it with a sweet spirit, disciplined hearts and the desire to go fishing with the Lord! He knows where we're going and will supply the right bait.

Heavenly Father because You are infinitely wise, we head out to the sea of life with Your desires in mind. There are big fish and little fish, old fish and young fish, all lost and spiritually starving. We seek Your word for discipline, accept what You teach us and go according to Your plans. May we be wise and steadfast fishermen for Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Father Knows Best

Matt 4:17 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

God is watching. As I ponder Scripture, I read the verse several times through, listening to what the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart through the Words of God.

We would all imagine Jesus is saying, "stop sinning, your time is short and there's no time to waste." That could be it. I heard something more from our Savior this morning.

Turn from your sin, God is near.

The kingdom of heaven has always been near us because God is alive and well and still involved with His people.

Remember the show Father Knows Best? I'll use Jim Anderson as an example because he was considered a good and wise dad. Let's just say he's our dad and he follows us around all day long, watching what we do. He even climbs into bed with us. Now, do you suppose if we had Jim Anderson tailing us around all day we might do things a little differently? How would our grammar sound? What kind of words would come out of our mouths? How would we carry ourselves? What would we do with our time? When we're at work, would we slough off some of our duties or would we be attentive, careful and steadfast with every task? What would we eat and how often? What would we drink? How would we act in every private moment?

We would act a lot differently if our good dad were following us around all day and night. How much more should we care, knowing our Heavenly Father is here with us every minute?

Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near. The Lord watches over us as a loving father cares for his family. He doesn't want us to fail. He's not watching to make us nervous and miserable, but to guide us back onto the right path when we get separated. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, pushing us towards the path of righteousness. Sometimes we wander off on our own. Turn around, He is never far off. Father knows best, let's get back on track.

O Lord God who sits in heaven, we honor Your name. Forgive us for straying off the path and doing our own thing without a thought for Your holiness. We repent and receive Your forgiveness, sweet Jesus. Holy Spirit, may we be attentive to Your every prod today and stay on track. May we trust in our Father who knows best. In Jesus' name, amen.

Worship Only God

Matthew 4:10 Away from me, Satan! For it is written: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."

This morning, I climbed out of bed, made coffee, packed lunches for Steve and Michael, and did a little Bible study and prayer with Steve before he left for work. My normal routine is to then go immediately into my own quiet time of Bible study and worship (my faith blogs are part of that daily regimen.)


Today, I found myself sidetracked by some old photographs of a friend from my youth. Without a thought, I took the photos from their frames to scan them, and cleaned the glasses from each frame. I kept myself busy with this project for a good half hour before I realized what I was doing. I had to ask myself, why am I doing this now?

I can't say it was Satan drawing me away from my quiet time with God but I can say with absolute assurance, it makes the enemy happy any time we take our attention from Jesus and put it on things of this world.

As I cleaned those photographs I was reminded that this girl had once been my idol. She had befriended a lonely child and introduced me to a world of fun, laughter and trouble. She gave me great pleasure at a time when there was none in my life. Then I noticed that in the photos, she looked utterly miserable. There was a void in her soul that only God could fill. And for years, we allowed ourselves to be instruments of the devil.

Today, I have a friend in Jesus. Satan still tries to take my eyes off of my Lord. But I can say with confidence, (or should we say Godfidence?) "away from me Satan, Jesus the Word tells me to worship and serve only God!"

* Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God! You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me! In Jesus I rest my case, amen.

* Here I am to Worship, lyrics by Tim Hughes

King of all days,
O so highly exalted;
Glorious in Heaven above.
Humbly You came
To the earth You created,
All for love's sake, became poor.

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God!
You're altogether lovely;
Altogether worthy;
Altogether wonderful to me.

And I'll never know,
How much it cost,
To see my sin,
Upon that cross,
No I'll never know,
How much it cost,
To see my sin
Upon that cross...

But here I am to worship...

Matt 4:7 The Scriptures also say, Do not test the Lord your God.

As our Savior stood at the edge of a cliff, looking out over a vast valley of His own creation, Satan had the gall to tempt Him to jump off and trust God's holy angels to bear Him up and save Him.

With each temptation the enemy put forth, Jesus' only answer was the word of God. He quoted Scripture.

This speaks to the admonition that we are to store the word of God in our hearts (Deut. 11:18, Romans 10:8, Eph 6:17.) There are a great many Scriptures that remind us of this. A brother in Christ has given us three good reasons of his own to memorize Scripture. Rather than plagerize or try to come up with my own profundity, read them here.

The word of God stored in our hearts is our greatest defense against the devil's schemes. While there are many ways we can seek help in dark times, there is nothing as powerful as the promises of God, for provision, safety, strength, hope and every good thing.

Take heart. Whatever troubles you today, we can count on God's word to see us through.

Heavenly Father, we are warned not to test You and sometimes we find ourselves crying out, "show Yourself Lord, that I might know You care about me!" Yet we know by the power of Your word that You are God, unchangable, merciful and loving God whose promises are kept. You forgive us our weaknesses and childish demands, blessing us all the same. Today we recommit our trust to Your word alone, who is Jesus. In His holy name we rejoice! Amen.

Comfort: 2 Cor. 1:3

Hope: Hebrews 6:18-19

Healing: Luke 8:47

Peace: Romans 8:6

Strength: Phil 4:13

By God's Word We Live

“No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4

This is deep. This topic of God's Word was part of Pastor Fred's sermon at GracePoint Community Church yesterday, as we are studying the book of John.

John begins his gospel with: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Jesus was in the beginning with God and was God. Jesus is God. And by the power of God's Word, through Jesus Christ, everything came into being. Without Jesus, nothing exists.

It's not just food that sustains us, it is the very word of God. Jesus Himself is the giver and sustainer of all life. Whether people choose to believe in Him or not, that's the Scriptural truth.

Food only fuels our bodies. Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit whom He sent when He ascended back to heaven, fuels our souls, the actual essence of our being. Without the spirit, we are nothing more than organisms. Because we have a soul, we are set apart by God, unlike animals who move by instinct, driven by need. We are driven by the Source of the universe, God Himself.

I will write no further today. Let's just savor these words of our Savior and consider the depth of them. For they are the very words of God Almighty.

People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

We are because You said so. Praise You! Praise Your holy name O Lord! In Jesus name, amen.

God spoke, You lived, Your light, to give.
We're blessed to be, from sin, set free.
Your Word, we love, sent from above.
We give You praise, for all Your ways.
Our Lord doth reign, to thwart our bane.
My soul to will, as Spirit filled;
Connected by the Lord on high,
We worship You, Your word is true.

Hearing the Words of God Through Jesus

This blog will be a daily devotion using only the words of Jesus. Each post will take a specific phrase, sentence, paragraph or section of Scripture quoting the words of Jesus. I believe much will be revealed about the heart of God by examining His words.

Proverbs tells us, as a man speaks, so he is. Therefore, whatever comes from our mouths is very important. We will be looking at what came from the mouth of Jesus, incarnate God, Savior of the world. We begin with the book of Matthew Chapter three, verse fifteen. For the sake of depth and clarity, I'm going to be using several translations of the Bible.

Matthew 3:15 Jesus said, "It must be done because we must do everything that is right." NLT
"Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."NIV
"Permit *[it to be so] now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." NKJV
"Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. KJV

I don't know why the gospels are laid out in the Bible as they are. But it's strikes me as supernaturally powerful that these were the first words recorded from the mouth of Jesus in the New Testament.

If we never knew the context of that statement, it pretty well sums up the message of God. Whatever you do, do it because it's right.

Heavenly Father, wow. What a powerful way to begin Your ministry on earth. I'm pretty sure the writer's of the gospels and the scholars who put them together in one volume had no idea what they were doing when that first statement of Jesus was recorded in the New Testament. I'm also quite certain You did. Nothing happens on this earth without Your permission. Forgive us for blundering through out lives without consideration for all You have to teach us. Help us as we travel this road with Jesus, with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, to grow along spiritual lines and draw closer to our Savior in discipleship. Grant us opportunities to share what we learn with others. Thank You for this day and for all that we are, have and do, in accordance with Your will. Give us the strength, courage and character to do what's right in Your eyes. In Jesus' name, amen.

* Bracketed words or phrases were added by the translators as the original Script was either missing or the language did not contain the sentence structure used in English.