Hearts That Honor God - Matthew 15:8-9 - April 28, 2020

S. Matthew 15:3-9

3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a] and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[b] 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]”

O. Jesus told the pharisees that they were putting the tradition of men above obeying God’s word. He let them know that their worship if for nothing if their hearts (the center of our emotions) are not given to God.

It is possible to go through “lip service” (just saying you are following God without ever truly trusting Him from the very center of our lives). What comes out of us, can either make us unclean or draw us closer to God - fully trusting Him.

A. I want my spiritual life to be centered around the Lord, that is, I do not wish just to “talk” and have no fruit. I do not desire empty words. I desire to worship the Lord with all that is within me and to obey His words rather than live by man-made rules.

P. Heavenly Father, thank you for my salvation and relationship with you through Jesus. I desire an intimate, close walk with you, to honor you, and to worship you with all my being and not just following the traditions of men.

Compassion Exemplified - Matthew 14:14 - April 27, 2020

S. Matthew 14:12-21

12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basket-fulls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

O. I think Jesus may have been grieving the loss of His cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus was in a place by himself (on a boat). However a large number of people followed Him. He had compassion on them and healed them.

— Jesus paused from his own needs to minister to others.

A. There are times that it is good to get away to private places and simply be alone with God. However, it is also good to pause from our troubles to care for others. Jesus teaches by example - showing compassion for others and caring for them above our own needs.

P. Thank you Father for Jesus’ example of compassion and serving others. Holy Spirit fill me with wisdom to have such compassion for others. In Jesus’ name!

Prayerful, Persistent Planting - Matthew 13:3-8 April 26, 2020

S. “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering seed, some fell along the path, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky places..other seed fell among thorns. Still other seed fell on the good soil.”

O. The farmer is sowing seed in four different places. He gets really good results when the seed hits the “good soil.” However, there is no other growth from the other 3 locations.

Mu first thought is that in planting. We are planting the gospel in the hearts of people. There is a 25% “success rate” due to the conditions of people’s hearts. People go through different seasons of their lives and are at times not responsive. They let other things come in and hinder the planting process.

My next thought is, understanding this, perhaps there is work on my part (the planters) in working the soil and better preparing it. This might be done through prayer, conversations and friendship.

A. I will continue to share Christ in many ways. When I see ineffectiveness I will pray and ask God for ways I can help better prepare the soil (conditioning for them to be receptive).

P. Thank you Father for opportunities to share Christ. I pray for wisdom and determination to keep sharing, cultivating and praying. I also pray Holy Spirit for your filling and keeping my heart properly conditioned for your work in me.