Living life with steps of faith

What would our lives look like if we actually lived the way Christ asked us to live?  I personally find it quite difficult to live as he commanded.  Here are some of the things he asked for: Be baptized (Mt. 3:15) Live on the Word of God (Mt. 4:4) Do not put God to the test (Mt. 4:7) Worship the Lord and serve Him only (Mt. 4:10) Repent (Mt. 4:17) Follow Jesus (Mt. 4:19 & repeated several times) Fish for people (Mt. 4:19) Rejoice in the midst of persecution (Mt. 5:12) Let your light shine through good deeds (Mt. 5:12) Practice & teach God's law (Mt. 5:19) Quickly reconcile with others (Mt. 5:23) Do not look at anyone lustfully (Mt. 5:28) Don't divorce, commit adultery, or marry someone who is divorced (Mt. 5:32) Don't make oaths, just say "yes" or "no" (Mt. 5:36) Do not resist an evil person (Mt. 5:39) Give to the one who asks - do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow (Mt. 5:42) Be perfect like your Father in heaven ...

Jesus is a great teacher.  He teaches with wisdom and great deeds of power. In Matthew 13 we find him teaching about the kingdom of heaven.   He recognizes that at some point evil will be removed from the earth. Jesus claims to be a prophet. He uses parables to teach so that those who are to hear do hear the message and those who are not to hear remain hard of hearing.  Yet, he wants his disciples to understand so that they can record and pass down his message. He reveals to them the secrets that have been hidden since the beginning of the world. Jesus walks among the people and uses agriculture as an illustrative tool. He teaches the crowds (strangers) along the shoreline, his disciples in a private home, and his family and neighbors in the synagogue. Jesus is part of a family that includes brothers and sisters. Big Idea: Jesus walks among the people teaching and prophesying about the kingdom of heaven. Profound Identity Jesus left the house (Matthew 13:1). J...

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.   Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.” Matthew 13:1-2 (NRSV) Do you ever just sit and imagine Scripture?   Visualize the words as if they are taking place right before you.   Imagine yourself as a first-hand witness to the events that are taking place? I sat down to read Matthew 13 today and paused and imagined.   I invite you to imagine with me the first two verses of this chapter. “Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.” Hear the ocean waves lap against the shore.   Smell and taste the salt of the sea as it infiltrates the sky, your clothes, your nostrils.   Do you hear the birds?   Then look, observe, Jesus just stepped out of the home where he spent the night. He takes a step out the door, pauses, and breathes deeply. Scanning the horizon, his eyes lift to the sky in ...

I just realized that John 3:16 is Jesus' words about himself prior to his crucifixion and resurrection! Crazy, huh!  Jesus, in a private conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee who admits that he and his fellow Pharisee's recognize that Jesus is a teacher sent by God, gives this lengthy testimony to his own identity. - Jesus speaks of what he knows and what he has seen. - Jesus has chosen to speak of earthly things, recognizing that if they can't believe the earthly things it will be difficult for them to believe the heavenly things. - he speaks of the future has if it is already past - "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven" - he basically identifies himself as "the Son of Man." - he claims that as the people were healed by looking at the snake Moses lifted up in the wilderness, so those who look at him when he is lifted up like the snake will be healed/receive eternal life. and it goes on from there.  Just take a ...

In many ways Jesus was a regular guy, he walked through the grainfields with his buddies, broke the religious rules of his day, debated the law, and had siblings and a mother who demanded his attention.  But Jesus wasn't and still isn't your regular guy.  He had the authority to interpret the meaning of the Sabbath, cure the sick, release the demonized, confront the religious leaders, call a hypocrite a hypocrite, and predict his own death and resurrection.  In his humility and gentleness he fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah while seemingly simultaneously condemning those who uttered words carelessly and produced bad fruit. Jesus was and is greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, and greater than Solomon in all his wisdom. Jesus brings the kingdom of God to the people by the power of God's Spirit and invites us to be a part of that kingdom! Big Idea: Jesus brings the kingdom of God to the people by the power of God's Spirit and invites us to be a part of that k...

“ At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this , they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’ But He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, “I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,” you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’ Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned J esus, a...

Read Matthew 11:28-30 Are you tired?   Too exhausted to carry on?   Does life’s burdens just seem too much for you to carry alone?   Want to give up?   Run to Jesus.   He is waiting for you.   Trade your yoke for his.   For the one you carry is too heavy and the one he offers is light and easy.   Jesus is gentle. Jesus is humble.   He offers you rest for your soul.   He calls out to you, “Come.   Come to me.”   Run, my friend.   Run to Jesus.   He is waiting for you. [ breathe in ]          Come Jesus.    [ breathe out ]         I rest in you.  [ breathe in ]          I come running.     [ breathe out ]        Here I am God.  [ breathe in ]          I trust in you.  [ breathe out...

Jesus travels and teaches/proclaims his own message, a message that is revealed in miraculous works and testifies to His identity as Messiah.  By being witnesses to the miraculous works, the unrepentant cities are condemned.  Jesus' message is offensive to them.  Nonetheless, His message can be understood by infants. He comes to bring rest to those who are weary.  In Matthew 11, Jesus offers a profound declaration of His own identity: "All things have been handed over to me by my Father [Lord of heaven and earth]; and no one knows the Son except the  Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Matthew 11:25, 27). Big Idea: Jesus has authority over all things.  The use of this authority is a testimony to His profound identity.  As a result, we should turn towards Him and trust in His care. Profound Identity: Jesus was a teacher (Matthew 11:1). He had twelve disciples/students (Matthew 11...

Jesus is not about complacency!  Jesus has the authority to give supernatural authority to His disciples. With this authority, Jesus expects His disciples to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus blesses them with this power, commissions them, and says that His laborers are worthy of their having their needs met, yet they are to freely (without compensation) give God's gifts of healing and freedom. Jesus does not promise freedom from persecution, trouble, or conflict in this life. In fact, Jesus says that those who follow him will be persecuted just as He was persecuted. In many ways Jesus is saying that He will be embodied in His disciples.  Those who honor them honor Jesus.  In a like manner as the Father is embodied in Jesus, those who honor Jesus, honor the Father. Jesus also clearly states that he did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Big Idea: Jesus delegates authority and responsibility to His disciples and by doing so the disciples...

"As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." - Matthew 10:7-8 Do you ever wonder why these miracles don't seem to happen anymore?  I've been reading through the gospels and I am struck by the loudness of the theme of healing.  The good news in the gospel accounts isn't just that God has came to us through Jesus Christ, but that the healing authority of God has come to us through Jesus Christ. Do you think this is still true today? Sometimes I think we U.S. Christians have it all wrong.  I think we've missed the message and missed out on the supernatural aspect of faith.  God can still work miracles today!  And it seems in my reading of Scripture that God wants to work those miracles through us.  So, why aren't we letting Him? Prayer:   God, You Created, You gave Life, You Healed.  Help me to experience Your miraculous, supernatural power today....

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."  - Matthew 9:37b-38. "The harvest is plentiful,..." I don't always believe this.   I look around and I see people of different faiths or no faith at all.  I'm told to be polite and courteous in my witnessing, respecting the beliefs of others.  I don't know many recent converts to Christianity.  Most of the people I know who are Christians grew up in the church or came to know Christ in college.  I know that I've been a part of people coming to know Christ as personal Lord, but I've only witnessed the entire process once or twice.  How can the harvest be plentiful? Jesus continues, "but the laborers are few..." Perhaps this is why I don't always believe that the harvest is plentiful, there just aren't that many laborers.  I can count the number of full time missionaries I know on one hand. Eve...

Wow - Jesus Is Amazing!  The 9th chapter of Matthew alone is an incredible witness to the identity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is not only human: traveling by boat, touching his fellow human beings, and having a hometown; Jesus is also divine!  Jesus forgives sin, heals the sick, and revives the deceased.  Jesus also "gets" people.  He reaches out to the outcast and is attentive to his audience's level of faith.  He seems to care a lot for the people around him, yet he doesn't interfere with their lives unasked. Big Idea: Jesus is the Great Physician who heals not only physical ailments, but spiritual as well. Profound Identity: Jesus traveled by boat (Matthew 9:1). Jesus had a town that people identified as his hometown (Matthew 9:1). His hometown was somewhere near a sea (Matthew 9:1). Jesus is attentive to people's faith (Matthew 9:2). Jesus honors people's faith (Matthew 9:2). Jesus forgave sins prior to his crucifixion, death, and resurrection ...

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; 
 I will be exalted among the nations, 
 I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10 Jesus just says the word and it is!  An officer in the Roman army approaches Jesus and tells him that one of his servants is sick.  The officer asks Jesus to heal the servant. Jesus says “Go” and the servant is healed.  Two people possessed by demons approach Jesus and Jesus says “Go!” and the demons depart and the people are healed. A leper approaches Jesus, Jesus responds, “Be made clean!” and we know what happens, the leper is healed.  A paralytic is brought to Jesus and Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven… Stand up, take your bed, and go to your home” and the man stands up and walks. (See Matthew 8-9) Hmmm. Does this remind you of anyone else?  “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.”  “And God said, ’…  let the dry land appear. ‘ And it was so.” “And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living cre...

In this chapter Jesus is identified as "Lord," "teacher," "Son of Man," and "Son of God."  Jesus is one with authority to heal the sick, deliver the possessed, and command the weather. He only needs to say the word and the current conditions immediately change. Thus, he fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which reads, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."  To become a follower of Jesus, one needs to be willing to give up the temporary of this life: our homes, our families, and our traditions. Big Idea:  Jesus has the real authority to command both the physical and spiritual realm with only a word and they both respond in obedience. Profound Identity: Crowds followed Jesus (Matthew 8:1). A leper knelt before him and called him "Lord" (Matthew 8:2). A leper believed that Jesus had the ability to choose to make the leper clean (Matthew 8:2). With a touch and a few words, Jesus cleansed/healed a leper (Matthew 8:...

"'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?"  Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers."'" Matthew 7:21-23 (NRSV) Oh, wow!  I just finished re-reading Matthew 7:21-23 and I am left stunned.  This passage tells us that people will do miraculous things in the name of Jesus Christ, yet Jesus will claim that He never knew them!  That gives me pause.  How can this be?  People will prophesy, cast out demons, and even do deeds of power and give Jesus Christ the credit, yet Jesus will claim that He didn’t know them?  Why? I look back at verse 21 where Jesus says that the ones who enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do “the will of my Father in heaven...

Jesus has a keen sense of the reality of the human condition and He is not afraid to address it:  You who judge - take care of yourself first.   You who know how you want people to treat you - treat other people in the same way.   You who claim to be righteous - do your fruit testify to the accuracy of your claim? "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" Jesus obviously sees that the human condition leans toward sin. He says that people will turn towards him crying "Lord, Lord" and expect to be received into heaven. But those who don't do the will of his Father will be turned away because He, Jesus, never knew them. Jesus offers the listener wisdom, but the listener must hear His wise words and put them into practice or else he will reap the consequences of foolishness. Jesus is one who speaks with an authority that stands out among human au...

"Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you." – Matthew 7:6 Have you ever shared something special with someone and they didn't appreciate what you shared?   Perhaps it was a meal you cooked, a photo you took, or some time and talents that you sacrificially gave.   When I was a child I encountered God in a profound and life-changing manner.  As I have shared the story of my God-encounter over the years, I have learned that not everyone knows how to respond to it nor is everyone ready to hear it.  Some people respond by saying, "there is no way that actually happened."  Others act like they are listening, but really their attention is focused elsewhere.  And still others tell me that my interpretation of the event is wrong. Over the years though, I have learned that there are some people who can appreciate the preciousness of the spiritual event and in t...

Jesus encouraged people to practice their faith with humility and in secret, in a manner that would please their Heavenly Father while not attracting praise from humans. Jesus also taught that one's focus should be on God, rather than the things of this world.  He believed in and expected others to trust in God's good provision. Big Idea:  A central aspect of Jesus' reality was His understanding of the relationship between believers and God the Father.  Jesus encouraged the listener to evaluate and live life from the perspective of recognizing the existence and care of a personal Father God. Profound Identity: Jesus was concerned that his listeners receive the reward of Father God (Matthew 6:1, 4, 6, 18). Jesus recognized God as the Father of His listeners (Matthew 6:1, 4, 6, 9, 14, 18, 26, 32). Prayer: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive ...

Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, a kingdom in which the guidelines for social interactions are almost counterintuitive to human nature.  He taught his followers that the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and those who are reviled and persecuted on Christ’s account will receive blessings and honor that answer their need. He taught his followers to preserve their saltiness and shine forth as the light in the world. Jesus clearly stated that he did not come to “abolish the law or the prophets,” but rather to fulfill them. Jesus calls the people to live righteously and to respect the law. Jesus clarified the meaning of the law and the Ten Commandments by explaining how they were to be practiced in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus spoke harshly about sin and recognized the reality of being condemned to hell as a punishment for sin. Big Idea: ...

Jesus is the Son of God! Yet Jesus fully knew what it meant to be human. After being baptized, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Satan tempted him by appealing to physical hunger, doubt, and worldly desire (greed). Jesus responded by pointing to Scripture and noting that through God we are nourished. Jesus warned that we are not to put God to the test. He also recognized that only God is worthy of our worship and service. After John's imprisonment, Jesus found a home for himself in Capernaum and then took up the torch where John had left off, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." As he began his ministry he recruited fisherman to become his disciples and fish for people. As he preached about the kingdom of God, he also brought about the kingdom of God, by curing the sick and teaching in the synagogues. As a result large crowds began to follow this fascinating man. Big Idea: After a time of testing, which further reveal...