The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV)
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 27:7-10 (ESV)
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, Lord, do I seek." 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Matthew 5:17-20 (ESV)
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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes 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 does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
My observation:
The choice word for today from the teaching of Jesus is righteousness. Jesus said an amazing thing about his followers in his comparison of them with the scribes and Pharisees. How could they ever exceed the righteousness of the religious teachers?
The religious leaders put their focus on what they could do to keep the law. Their focus was to look righteous on the outside. However, Jesus said that his disciples should use the law in a different fashion. The law should be a mirror to show our imperfections. Jesus looks at the heart.
Our righteousness must come from what God does in us to accomplish the goal of exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Our part is to surrender all of us to all of Him. The result of God's work in us will be amazing, and allow us to be salt and light. If we surrender to God, he will change our heart.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I pray that you would give me more grace, and more faith, so that I will be willing to surrender my whole heart to your direction and control. Father God, fill me with thy Holy Spirit, let thy blessings fall afresh on me. Father, when I look into the mirror of the word of God, may my response be, "I surrender all".
My song:
I Surrender All (Click on link to listen to this song):
http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/441
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http://www.herbcotton.org
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2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
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