“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wantedto settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settleaccounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.” Matthew 18:23-24 As the Lord often did, he tells a parable to teach us a timeless truth. This particular story… Continue reading 2-19-24: The Unmerciful Servant
Category: Daily Devotion
2-18-24: How Merciful Do I Need To Be?
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asked the Lord a question about mercy that… Continue reading 2-18-24: How Merciful Do I Need To Be?
2-17-24: Obtaining God’s Mercy
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7 All the beatitudes end with a promise from God. If the audience were to gasp any where in the beatitudes, it might be here. The Lord tells them (and us) that God extends his mercy to the merciful. The clear implication is that those… Continue reading 2-17-24: Obtaining God’s Mercy
2-16-24:Be Merciful, Who Me?
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7 The Lord states the fifth beatitude. Again He deals with a heart attitude – mercy. This statement follows His pattern. A person is broken in spirit – he recognizes his life is a disaster before God. That person mourns over his sin – he… Continue reading 2-16-24:Be Merciful, Who Me?
2-15-24: Emptying of One’s Self
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 We want to stop after the first four beatitudes and look at them as a group. The Lord said these were characteristics of those who wouldenter the kingdom of God. As He… Continue reading 2-15-24: Emptying of One’s Self
2-14-24: Fulfilling The Desires Of Your Heart
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but befilled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” Ephesians 5:18-19 The fourth beatitude gives us a serious test to determine ourrelationship with Christ. Do we continually hunger… Continue reading 2-14-24: Fulfilling The Desires Of Your Heart
2-13-24: Appetites
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17 Isn’t it interesting that the first commandment of God has to dowith our appetites – what we desire to eat? God told Adam his appetite was… Continue reading 2-13-24: Appetites
2-12-24: Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 The Lord continues describing who will inherit the kingdom of God. He started with the poor in spirit, a person broken over their separation from God because of their sin, a person who mourns over sin as God… Continue reading 2-12-24: Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness
2-11-24: Inherit The Earth
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 As the Lord finishes His third beatitude, the Jewish crowd is even more stunned. The Lord tells them “the meek shall inherit the earth”. The typical Jew would think, “Wait a minute. We are God’s chosen people. We are the ones who will… Continue reading 2-11-24: Inherit The Earth
2-10-2024: Meekness, Is That Bad?
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 The Lord begins His sermon by making a series of declarative statements. He now makes the third statement of the characteristic that God blesses.Blessed are the meek The word the Lord uses does not mean weakness. It does not refer to a cowering… Continue reading 2-10-2024: Meekness, Is That Bad?