22010.165 Stay Focused

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” —Matthew 6:22–23

What is it we set our sights on? Is our spiritual vision tainted by what the world offers? Do we prostitute ourselves by going after the desires of our own hearts and eyes? We are to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord! We are to live our lives before an audience of One!

I am reminded of the poor example of Eve. We are told in Genesis that by her maintaining a selfish desire, she fell, dragging her husband down with her:

“When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” —Genesis 3:6

Do not be mistaken, we never sin as unto ourselves. Sadly, it will always affect those around us. The ripple effect goes on and on.

“Let this be a warning to me, O Lord. Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame: thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time. “The hypocrite soars like the kite, with his eye on the prey below. The true Christian soars like the lark, higher and higher, forgetting the things that are beneath.” —Matthew Henry

We must be careful to guard ourselves against worldliness. We are to be sojourners and ambassadors for Christ! Our citizenship is ultimately in heaven. The Christian, like the traveler, must have their eye on the journey’s end. Our spiritual vision is to have the capacity to see clearly the right road—God’s path.

Solomon’s wisdom rings true:

“Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.” — Proverbs 17:24

Surely the writer of Hebrews was on target when he tells us where our gaze should remain:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.” —Hebrews 12:1–3

Become More

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.” —Colossians 3:1–4

Further Reflection

“I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” —Jeremiah 17:10

22010.164 What Do You Treasure?

“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and devouring insect do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19–21

Hmmm … maybe I need to clean out some closets, purge the attic, or rid myself of some stuff!

Jesus expands on this “stuff” principle in a wonderful parable in Luke:

“The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.” —Luke 12:16–21

Life is vastly more important than the accumulation of material things. We are all created for a far greater purpose than self-indulgence, greed, wealth, and the desire to be satisfied by the created rather than the Creator.

The words Jesus uses in Matthew as “store up” come from the Greek wordthesaurizo meaning to gather and to reserve. Our Lord warns us against storing up that which is temporal. We must not place our hearts upon what our eyes can see and our hands can grasp. Everything here on earth will eventually rot or rust and in the end prove not flame retardant! Jesus tells us we are to store up for ourselves that which will make it through the fire when our works and deeds are tested

Paul tells us: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” —1 Corinthians 3:10–15

Do our treasures lie in the wealth of the world or the eternal treasures above? The heart will follow its treasure. Love and affection, value and esteem, are all placed on what one treasures. We are to watch the way we live our lives; it will show us what we highly esteem. How do we spend and invest our time? How do we spend and invest our resources? This is definitely not just about money; it is about all the gifts we have been given. We are stewards of everything that God has blessed us with!

“You must remember the LORD your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day.” —Deuteronomy 8:18

Become More

“Being generous with your money is a personal quality of someone that the grace of God has gripped. Why? Because the essence of the Gospel of grace is generosity. Jesus Christ gave up the Greatest Treasure in the world. He gave away his treasure when he left the most affluent gated community in the universe, heaven and all its glory, became poor, so that we might become rich. He gave up Ultimate wealth—Himself, for you. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’, he said and lived. He also said you cannot serve God and money, it’s impossible. You have to choose. Only by the power of the Gospel of grace can you begin to be generous”. —Tom Wood

Further Reflection

“The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.” —Ecclesiastes 5:10

22010.163 Have You Ever Tried the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting?

“When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward! When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:16–18

In its simplest form, fasting is denying oneself for a specific period of time something that one enjoys. It can be as varied as food or television, movies or the newspaper, chocolate or chewing gum, shopping or hunting, sweet tea or cookies, or whatever you enjoy most! When it is something we enjoy, quite often we are continuously reminded to pray and seek God’s glory. The purpose behind fasting is to draw attention in prayer to our heavenly Father every time our thoughts turn to crave that which we are fasting from. Fasting provides extra time for prayer, teaches self-discipline, helps us to subdue corrupt desires, reminds us that we can live with a lot less, and helps us to reflect upon and appreciate the abundant provisions from God’s hand. Fasting is also a practice that helps us to reach higher duties.

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?’” —Luke 9:23–25

I think it interesting that Jesus does not begin this lesson with, “If you fast,” but “When you fast.” The Israelites were commanded to fast once a year on the Day of Atonement. Scripture is full of examples of fasting. David, Queen Esther, Jesus himself, Paul and Barnabas, and many others all fasted and prayed. We see this discipline embraced oftentimes prior to major decisions, people seeking to know the will of God or to gain strength for the duty ahead.

Jesus criticizes those fasting for show. When we perform acts for man’s approval, the pay is always worldly in measure. We need not expect heaven’s recompense. Fasting requires contrition and humiliation of the soul.

We are not told how often we are to fast nor directed how to manage a private fast. It is as the Holy Spirit who directs us as He leads us in our hearts. However, we are to remember that when we fast, it is to approve ourselves to God.

Become More

“It costs much to obtain the power of the Spirit: It costs self-surrender and humiliation and a yielding up of our most precious things to God; it costs the perseverance of long waiting, and the faith of strong trust. But when we are really in that power, we shall find this difference, that whereas before, it was hard for us to do the easiest things, now it is easy for us to do the hard things.” —A J. Gordon

Further Reflection

“Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.” —2 Timothy 2:15

22010.160 Take Time to Pray!

“So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” —Matthew 6:9–15

Here Jesus presents us with a model prayer. This is a prayer for His disciples to follow. It is an example containing elements important for our petitions. Christ begins His pattern of prayer with worship. Worship, reverence, and thanksgiving to our Holy Father are to be the foundation of all of our prayers. We praise God in all His perfections. We do not praise Him because He needs it, we praise Him because He deserves it! Beginning our prayers with praise helps us keep the correct perspective of who He is and who we are.

The psalmist tells us:

“Worship the LORD with joy! Enter his presence with joyful singing! Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give him thanks! Praise his name!” —Psalm 100:2–4

Certainly, there is nothing more pleasing and pleasant both to us and to God than for each one of us to call Him “Abba Father.” He thankfully comforts us in our weakness and denies us nothing that is ultimately for our good and His glory. He is on His throne in heaven and from there maintains a full and clear view of our burdens and needs as well as our weaknesses. God knows us through and through and is fully aware of the attitudes and thoughts. He is not only willing; He is also able to help us do great things! He gladly comes to the aid of those seeking to do right.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” —Isaiah 41:10

The words of the Lord’s Prayer tell us to seek God’s will in order that He may be glorified and we may be satisfied. The Lord Jesus came to do His Father’s will, setting the example for His disciples to follow. We are to line up our wants with the will of the Father. All requests are to be subordinate to and in pursuit of His righteousness and glory. We are to pray that He may rule in our hearts as a demonstration of trust in Him that He has our best interest at heart. We do well to pray for the knowledge of His will and the ability to obey it, both are necessary for the child of the King. There is no better place on earth to be than in the center of God’s will.

Our petitions are to be not only for that which is wholesome but also for that which is daily. We are to speak in a direct and specific manner for the things we both need and desire, always according to His will, and with an expectation to draw from Him upon the unlimited resources of heaven. We need not worry about tomorrow! Day by day we can count on His mercies and grace.

Become More

“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” —Martin Luther

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.” —A. W. Pink

Further Reflections

“Be eager for more frequent gatherings for thanksgiving to God and for His glory.” —Ignatius of Antioch

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You assist those who delight do right, who remember your commandments.” —Isaiah 64:4–5

22010.159 Just a Simple Prayer

“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward! But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” —Matthew 6:5–8

The Pharisees loved to demonstrate their righteousness. They enjoyed performing their act of public prayer—and an act it was. In their long flowing robes and with their long flowing religious jargon, their prayers were not directed towards God but towards the ears and eyes of their hearers. They were famous for their long repetitive phrases. Their prayers drew the recognition, attention, and admiration from man, but not from God. Our heavenly Father always directs His gaze to the motive and the heart. Jesus tells us that the Pharisees received their reward in full. 

Make no mistake about it; God is never into the exaltation of self. I am reminded of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:

“Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!” I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” —Luke 18:9–14

This Pharisee’s prayer consisted of telling God how good he was. Jesus says the one justified was the one who was humbly repentant not sanctimoniously smug.

Peter tells us:

“In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand.”—1 Peter 5:5–6

The Lord Jesus also tells us we are to handle prayer privately. Christians are to be a praying people and prayer is to be a conversation between each one of us and our Maker. It is to be earnest, not trifling, humble, not demanding.

What passes between God and the deep expression of our own souls must be out of sight and not on stage. Public places are not proper for earnest private prayer. Our Father in heaven is ready to hear and answer, ever graciously willing to help and aid us. He is especially near to those who pour out their heart. Children do not make long speeches to their parents when they are in need. Our simple cry of “Help!” is not a bad prayer.

Become More

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” —Ephesians 3:20–21

“Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.” —Isaiah 65:24

Further Reflections

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.” —Romans 8:26–27

“There is no true holiness without humility.” —Thomas Fuller

“Tears have a tongue and grammar and language that our Father knows.” —Samuel Rutherford

22010.158 Finding a Way to Give in Secret

“Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward! But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:1–4

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins to warn against hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness; sins that we should be ever aware of and on our guard against. It was these sins that characterized the lives of the Pharisees. Giving is a high Christian duty and yet we must be aware of the subtle sin of pride which can quietly worm itself into our actions.

I remember praying thirty or so years ago that I would never remember anything I did that was positive for someone else. I enjoyed doing things incognito. If something redeeming or edifying flowed from my hands or mouth, something sacrificial or encouraging, it was only because of the Lord Jesus within me. I knew that if I pondered prestige, thinking I should be honored or repaid in any way, that the recognition would negate the action as cause me to stumble. I disliked the thought of “keeping score” and wanted the freedom from myself and others to do or give as the Lord directed. And He answered my request. Unwittingly, I was living out the principle that our Lord describes in our verses for today. We are to live our lives for an audience of One.

“Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.” —2 Chronicles 16:9

Giving is a duty which is accompanied by great reward when not done hypocritically with pride. One can never out-give God!

“Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.” —Luke 6:38

The promise of Scripture will hold true for those who give to please God rather than man.

It is certainly true that the Pharisees practiced the duty of giving, but their motive was not in obedience to God or of love for their fellow man. What the Pharisees really wanted was the praise of man. They wanted to be able to boast of their piety. Their actions were purely for show, choosing to give where all could see. Praise was their pay in full.

Jesus tells us we are to conceal our giving as much as possible. We are not to dwell on how much we give or how often, rather we are to be diligent in keeping our actions concealed and private. We are to give because it is good work and not to receive a good reputation.

Become More

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’” —Matthew 25:34–40

Find a way today to bless someone in some way in secret.

Further Reflection

“Self-conceit and self-delight, the adoring of our own shadow, are branches of pride.” —Matthew Henry

22010.157 Do I Really Have to Love My Neighbor?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” —Matthew 5:43–48

God’s love extends to all people and as His children, we are to be a channel through which His love freely flows to others. We would do well to remember the mercy and love God demonstrated to us while we were yet sinners without strength, feeble and impious. 

Paul tells us:

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” —Romans 5:6–8

John adds:

“We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians. But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.” —1 John 3:16–18

We are to be bound in love to others. We are not to live simply according to our natural affections and inclinations in our spiritual life. Our likes and dislikes of others must not rule our Christian life. God has made all people who dwell on the face of this earth of one blood—all are human beings. What more than that are we?

“For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?” —1 Corinthians 4:7

We are to seek to please our Master. In pleasing Him we love those He came to die for. Others may spurn our love, but Jesus will never spurn it. Our love is a sweet-smelling sacrifice to Him, acceptable and pleasing. In loving our neighbors, we are following in His footsteps. He is our supreme example and as His disciples, we too are to deliberately identify with God’s interest in others. John tells us:

“I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34–35

Just as God dispenses His gifts of common goodness as in the sun and the rain on both the just and unjust as an amazing demonstration of His patience and kindness, so too we are to do good indiscriminately. Sometimes the greatest deeds of the kingdom of God are acts of service and kindness done that perhaps others consider meaningless and unworthy of their talents as they carry less recognition and less glory. As God’s children, we are called to live above the ordinary ways of this world. That’s how we bring Jesus to others! We are to treat each other as we ourselves would want to be treated: with kindness and mercy and love. And only Jesus can make us like Him.

Become More

“I love Him because He first loved me. His goodness and mercy and compassion to me are new every day. And my assurance is lodged in these aspects of His character. My trust is in His love for me as His own. My serenity has as its basis an implicit, unshakable reliance on His ability to do the right thing, the best thing in any given situation. This to me is the supreme portrait of my Shepherd. Continually there flows out to me His goodness and His mercy, which even though I do not deserve them, come unremittingly from their source of supply—His own great heart of love.” —Phillip Keller

Further Reflections

“Love never fails.” —1 Corinthians 13:8

“Just as God’s goodness and mercy flow to me all the days of my life, so goodness and mercy should follow me, should be left behind me, as a legacy to others, wherever I may go.” —Phillip Keller

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” —1 John 4:7–11

22010.156 Learning to Forgive

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your coat also. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.” —Matthew 5:38–42

Jesus clearly teaches that we are not to be retaliators of evil. The law of retaliation presented in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy was given to protect the innocent and to make sure that the retaliation did not go beyond the offense. The punishment was to fit the crime and not to exceed it. In Deuteronomy we read:

“You must do to him what he had intended to do to the accused. In this way you will purge evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear and become afraid to keep doing such evil among you. You must not show pity; the principle will be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.” —Deuteronomy 19:19–21

Jesus, however, teaches us we are not to be vengeful. We are to avoid and resist evil as is necessary for our own security, but we must not harbor a grudge, avenge ourselves, or seek to get even when wronged.

In the Old Testament, the rights of the innocent were protected by the Law, yet Jesus says the righteous need not necessarily claim their rights. Indeed, Scripture teaches us we are to repay evil with good. Paul tells us in Romans:

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:17–21

Forgiveness, when wronged, demonstrates the divine miracle of grace in one’s life and points to Jesus. Forgiveness is supernatural and flows against the flesh which is desirous of retaliation. Forgiveness costs and it is marked by mercy and love—its origins are in God himself. We are never more Christlike than when we forgive when wronged. Like Jesus, we are to entrust ourselves to the One who judges justly. Christians are to bear a striking resemblance to their Master. God sees every slight against His children and it is His to make right. 

Peter writes of Christ’s example:

“When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.” —1 Peter 2:23

We are to think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly. We are to forgive as we have been forgiven. Those who have experienced the grace of God and are thankful for the forgiveness of the Lord are to be quick to forgive. If we have been privy to have heard the words of forgiveness spoken to our own hearts, we will want others to hear them too. Returning good for evil is Christlike.

“Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.” —1 Peter 3:8–9

Become more

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.” —Colossians 3:12–14

Further Reflections

“Forgiveness saves us the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.” —Hannah More

“Be God-like, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, ‘You have been with Jesus.’” —Charles H. Spurgeon

22010.153 Watch Your Words!

“Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not take oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.” —Matthew 5:33–37

A believer’s word, demonstrated by the actions of their lives, is to be sufficient—we need add nothing more.

Christians are to be honorable and trustworthy. We are to be known as people of our word. Seeking to live our lives above reproach, we are not to practice deceit.

Truthfulness in our day seems to be such a rarity that we think we must end our statements with some sort of vow to add emphasis or credibility. Jesus tells us to get rid of all rash and unnecessary swearing. He tells us later in Matthew we will one day be called to give an account for the careless words we speak:

“The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” —Matthew 12:35–37

Nothing is ours; everything is related to God. It all belongs to Him. Paul tells us:

“For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?” —1 Corinthians 4:7

Proclaiming an oath after something we have said has a tendency to demonstrate smugness in our own wisdom; it tends to promote pride regarding our rightness on a matter. This is particularly offensive when believers argue their points regarding spiritual matters. We must beware of this! Scripture tells us we are to do everything without complaining or arguing as we hold out the Word of Life:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.” —Philippians 2:14–16

Worldly wisdom is foolishness in God’s sight. Believers are to know and live by God’s truth:

“For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness.’ And again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’” —1 Corinthians 3:19–21

Become More

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” —1 Corinthians 1:25

“A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.” —Alexander Pope

Further Reflections

“The teachings of Jesus hit us where we live. We cannot stand as imposters before Him for even one second.” —Oswald Chambers

“Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently manifested.” —Oswald Chambers

22010.152 Marriage Is Designed By God

“It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” —Matthew 5:31–32

In all sincerity, I do not write this tritely or without compassion, yet it is clear in Scripture that God does not like divorce. Indeed, He hates divorce. This is understandable when you consider that it divides what He initiated—the marriage covenant. Remember, in Genesis God said:

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.” —Genesis 2:18

What the man lacked, the woman supplied, and what the woman lacked, the man supplied. That is what the term “suitable helper” means! The complete unity of man and woman in marriage is what is often referred to as culminating into one flesh.

God intended for husbands and wives to live together permanently, the only exception for divorce being marital unfaithfulness. Marriage has been designed by God to be an inseparable bond. It is meant to be a one-flesh relationship which God joins together and individuals ought not to separate. God does not take our vows made before Him lightly and neither should we. We discover this truth in Malachi:

“You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you. Yet you ask, ‘Why?’ The LORD is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law. No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestors do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth. ‘I hate divorce,’ says the LORD God of Israel, ‘and the one who is guilty of violence,’ says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. ‘Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful.’” —Malachi 2:13–16

Jesus was asked by the Pharisees if a divorce was lawful:

“Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, ‘Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh”? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ They said to him, ‘Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.’ The disciples said to him, ‘If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!’” —Matthew 19:3–10

The Lord’s own disciples’ reaction to His answer indicated their understanding of how hard it can be to live out a faithful marriage! Indeed, it is two big sinners living under one roof each seeking their own way!

While I am aware that Scripture allows divorce for marital unfaithfulness, I am also aware that in our culture we embrace divorce for a myriad of reasons. Unfortunately, problems are a part of living in a broken world amongst broken people and Christians are not to use them as an excuse to not practice generous grace. Certainly, no one is perfect and I dare say each one of us wants to be on the receiving end of mercy when we fail. We need to pray to love our spouses with Christ-like love and respect. Even if we do have a Biblical reason for divorce, we should make every effort through the Spirit’s power to seek reconciliation. God is fully aware of the sincerity of the heart and blesses His children with peace who seek to do His will. He is compassionate toward those who hurt and sees sacrificial living on our parts.

Become More

God is a Master at making “beauty from ashes.” We are always to return to Him. His mercies are new every morning and there is peace in His pleasure. God is a restorer of the broken.

Further Reflections

“So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man’s side and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.’ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family.” —Genesis 2:20–24

Marriage has been designed by God to be an inseparable bond. It is meant to be a one-flesh relationship which God joins together and individuals ought not to separate. God does not take our vows made before Him lightly and neither should we.