The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 9:11 (HCSB)
For by Wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 28:6 (HCSB)
May the Lord be praised, for He has heard the sound of my pleading.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Matthew 5:43-48 (HCSB)
43 "You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don't even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
My observation:
Today we conclude this portion of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus continues to correct some common misinterpretations of the Old Testament by the people of that day. We have seen several instances where he introduced those corrections by saying, "You have heard that it was said". This should be a big red flag to us that you can't believe everything that you have heard that the scriptures says. There are some things that you need to check out for yourself.
Jesus corrected the disciples by reminding them that the Old Testament scriptures never commanded them to hate their enemies. We have observed this week that the way we use words should be different, and the way we respond to wounds should be different. Today, we learn that the way we respond to wrongs should be different.
We cannot meet the standards taught by Jesus as long as we live in this fallen world. We can never grow toward meeting them in our strength alone. There is no self-help program that you can follow to achieve the standard set out in this sermon by Jesus. We need Jesus in us to be pleasing to God. Then, by faith, we can allow him to love others through us. This is not a self-help lesson, it is a God dependent lesson taught and empowered by our Savior.
Matthew 5:48 (HCSB)
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I praise and thank you that the heavy lifting has already been done by Jesus to make me holy and righteous in your eyes. Father, help me to be willing to bend the knee, and to submit to the will of my heavenly Father.
My song:
I Can't Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand (Click on link below to listen to this song):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv6rLqdNDBc&feature=related
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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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