JANUARY 26

todays reading:Matthew 17:10 thru Matthew 18:6

HUMILITY

Wouldn't it be great if we could be presented with an instruction book explaining "How to Be Humble in 5 Easy Steps"?

Today's lesson gives us a glimpse into what the Lord wants us to know about humility.

It's obvious that He thinks very highly of this sometimes ellusive quality.

Study a child for awhile and you just may see a little person who desires to please, desires to love openly and confidently without fear.

Children seem to find it very easy to believe us!
They rely on us to take care of their needs.
They don't seem to question us.
Trust... Loyalty...Easy confidence...
Teachability...

Perhaps these are some fundamental qualities needed
to shape an attitude of HUMILITY.

January 25

today's reading: Matthew 16:13 thru 17:9

Don't Be Afraid
How many times do we read in the scriptures the phrase, "don't be afraid"?
That phrase always is spoken during an event that would certainly cause my heart to skip a beat or two! 

Just think of the shepherds working the night shift, watching over the flock of sheep.  
There was no electricity back then, no laser light shows had been produced, no rockets had been fired into space....no technology at all, let alone something that would have prepared them to see a heavenly host popping into view....in the sky...
"Don't be afraid" 

 There was no shortage of "amazing" in today's scripture either. Can you imagine the scene that took place in the presence of those three disciples? There were special effects that would win a major movie award! The appearance of Moses and Elijah would be enough to flatten most of us. After all, even back in Jesus day, they had been dead for a very long time. Then the cloud and the voice of God speaking to them! 
And again.... "Don't be afraid." 

So my friends, Jesus tells us over and over again to not be afraid. There must be nothing to fear! Because I believe Him! 

It has been revealed to you that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God! 
He is coming to us again sometime, and will reward each one according to what he or she has done with that revelation.

Think carefully about how KNOWING Jesus has impacted your life. What have you done since you believed Him? 
What will you do now? How will you serve Him and live for Him? 

Let Him lead you to what is right........and remember, wherever He leads you........Don't be afraid!     



  
 

 

 

January 24

today's reading: Matthew 15:29 thru 16:12

READ-PRAY-LISTEN  repeat...READ-PRAY-LISTEN repeat....

Do you know people with physical illnesses or limitations, spiritual blindness, emotional pain or struggle? 
Most of us know many who fall into one or more of these categories, don't we? 
The difficulties of life come to us all at one time or another.
How can you be ready to face hard times?

What can you to do prepare yourself and to help others also? 
The formula is and easy one to follow; read, pray, listen. 
If we can set aside time every day to meet with the Lord, He himself will prepare us for those challenging times. 
       
Jesus would have us bring the lame, the blind , the emotionally or spiritually crippled, to his attention.
So make your prayer list today. 
Establish a habit of meeting with Him in your own special place.

Then "read, pray and listen".

As you spend those moments listening carefully to his teaching, you will be equipped to discern false teaching; which is any teaching that takes a truth and makes it into something that God did not intend it to be. 

So read your bible everyday.

     Invest time in prayer, bringing all of your requests to Jesus.

           And keep listening.......you WILL hear Him teaching and guiding you!
 
   

January 23

today's reading: Matthew 15:1-28

Tradition!

vs: 8-9  
"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 

They worship me in vain;their teachings are but rules taught by men."

Traditions can be wonderful, can't they? Just think of all the warm memories we make at the holidays that are born of time honored family tradition.

Celebrating those special days such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and Easter in the way of our family traditions gives us a feeling of contentment and security. 

But just as easily as traditions can bring rich blessing to our lives, they can also entangle us with unnecessary rituals and trap us with feelings of stress and condemnation.  

With our worship, and following Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we need to be sure that we are truly following HIM and not rules made by men. 

"Church Tradition" is not to be our goal... but rather, loving the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. Matthew 22:37

Now that is a tradition to keep FOREVER!

 
 



 

January 22

 today's reading: Matthew 14: 13-36

Water Walking

Have you ever been asked to do something that seemed impossible to you?

Sometimes, all you can see are the negative things that are coming against you as you try to accomplish a difficult task. 

What can you do cut through the problems and get to the solution? 

When Peter asked the Lord to call him out of the boat and step onto ... not INTO... the treacherous water, he was keeping his eyes focused firmly on Jesus. 

And step out he did!  

For a little while, he actually walked on the water towards Jesus! 

What a sensation that must have been! 

And can you imagine the disciples hunkering down in the boat, afraid of the stormy sea, only to watch Peter do this amazing thing? 

Peter did alright for a few moments, but then he took his eyes off of the Lord long enough to notice the wind and waves. 

That was enough to sink him...

When we are hoping to follow Jesus, and asking Him to call us out of our boat, do we keep our eyes on Him, or do we let the waves of doubt and fear wash over us and cause us to sink? 

Jesus tells us to take courage! He tells us to not be afraid. 

So don't let those waves of doubt drown your faith! 

Keep your eyes on Jesus and step out of that boat! 

 

January 21

today's reading: Matthew 13:47 through 14:12

Blind to His Presence

Am I blind to the miraculous that God puts before me? 

How many times have I experienced a near miss of some kind and failed to recognize the hand of God? 

• How many car accidents have I been spared that could have altered my life forever, or even taken it?  
• What natural disasters has the Lord diverted from my door? 
• What financial ruin have I escaped?  
• When an illness has threatened, but healing and restoration has come, do I recognize that the Lord has intervened once again?

Help me to see You in every facet of life. 
Help me, Lord, to never overlook what may seem to be commonplace.  
When I remember that You have created all things, I can acknowledge that no human being is common. 
A bit of the miraculous is woven into each person! 
If we can just wrap our minds around that, how much differently we would live our lives! We could never scoff at or disregard, ignore or abandon, tear down or diminish. 

Let me become so familiar with You, that I recognize You everywhere!
 
   


  
    

January 20

today's reading: Matthew 13: 24-46

The Kingdom of Heaven is like..........

• a man who sowed good seed in his field....

• a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.....

• yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.... 

• treasure hidden in a field....

• a merchant looking for fine pearls, when he found one of great value he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Contemplate carefully what the Lord is explaining in each of these parables. 
 

The Lord is speaking to us about,"things hidden since the creation of the world." WOW! 

Just say that outloud one time....

THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD! 

 
He is revealing amazing Kingdom Truths to us, giving us a glimpse into Heaven! 
  
The Lord of Heaven, our Savior Jesus Christ the Messiah tells us plainly that the priceless treasure of Heaven is worth giving up EVERYTHING for!

I don't know about you, but I think that is a TRUTH worth listening to!