by David Rudel
Day 1: Matthew 7:7-28
What do you expect at the end of a sermon? We all give sermons to others, or at least we imagine giving them occasionally. How do you finish yours?
Matthew 7:24-28 is not really the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. It is the conclusion of the conclusion. The larger passage from 7:7-28 is the conclusion of the sermon. In the body of the sermon (5:21 to 7:6), Matthew reports specific teachings and admonishments, the commands Jesus mentions in 5:19. The conclusion, though, includes no such specific requirements and possesses a different texture.
Does Matthew 7:7-28 incorporate the aspects you expect in a sermon’s conclusion? How?
What do you consider the basic purpose of the Sermon of the Mount (either in Jesus’ ministry or in Matthew’s presentation)? Does your reading of the conclusion support this view or ask you to alter it?
Day 2: Matthew 28:18-20
What common themes can be found by comparing the end of the Sermon on the Mount (verses 7:24-29) to the end of Matthew’s gospel (28:18-20)?
What imperatives are given in both? What justification is given for the commands discussed in both?
How does the wording of Matthew 5:19 connect the introduction of the Sermon on the Mount to the conclusion of Matthew’s gospel?
Jesus asks Peter, John, and the rest to make disciples of all nations. What does this word mean to you? Is this meaning reflected in the passage? Are there ways you see yourself fulfilling the call to make disciples? Are there endeavors you are considering that would fulfill Jesus’ call to make disciples of others?
What aspects of the conclusion of Matthew’s gospel (28:18-20) do not appear to have counterparts in either the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount or its conclusion?
Day 3: Luke 11:9-13
Comparing Matthew 7:7-11 to Luke 11:9-13 reveals something interesting. The “good things” that the Father will give according to Matthew’s gospel are rendered as “The Holy Spirit” in Luke’s account.
How does this relate to the conclusion of Matthew’s gospel mentioned in yesterday’s meditation? In particular, how does it relate to those aspects that might not have obvious parallels in the introduction or conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount?
Very rarely, a rabbi would arise who was said to have “authority” (Jewish term: semikhah, though many other transliterations are possible.) Such a rabbi had the right to promulgate new interpretations or rabbinical traditions. These teachings would then be passed down to later rabbis. This practice maintained a certain degree of consistency among the teachings of Judaism since rabbis were not generally free to make up their own interpretations.
But occasionally someone received special revelation for a short time and would do or say things while being “in the Spirit.” We normally think of this in terms of prophecies, but often it was for instruction. An utterance made while “in the spirit” was cherished and given special authority. The biblical writers use this idiom in Matthew 22:43, Luke 2:27, and Acts 19:21 to describe actions or words provoked by God’s call. The idea that the Spirit of God would be available to everyone all the time was probably incomprehensible, and it is unsurprising that the apostles spoke in such humbled terms of the Spirit’s availability. It is called the “gift” and the realized “promise” multiple times in Acts, and chapters 13-16 of John put the Spirit in the spotlight as well.
If we temporarily set aside the mental pictures Matthew 7:7-11 plants in our Western, individualistic minds, we can grope for how Jesus may have intended this message on a community-wide scale. The Sermon on the Mount repeatedly speaks of the “Kingdom of Heaven” that the Jews were expecting to come upon them as God’s people. The Jews of Jesus’ day commonly prayed for their national salvation. If Matthew 7:7-11 is an allusion to that, we see in the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount the first hints at one of the most amazing nuances of the coming Kingdom: that it would be a revolution by spiritual revelation. Instead of suggesting his Jewish brothers ask for an army to bring about their deliverance, he asks them to pray for the Spirit to come.
Just imagine living in a faith society where the Spirit of God had been almost silent for centuries, very rarely possessing anyone and only for short periods of time. How amazed early Jewish Christians must have been to find the Spirit pervading their community and touching all believers! That which was once desperately rare had become abounding, as though diamonds were falling like rain.
What role does the Spirit have in your life?
Day 4: Matthew 7:1-6 and Romans 11:11-21
In the sermon’s conclusion, Christ discusses the twin dangers of following those who should not be followed and failing to follow those who should be.
Christ’s final admonition, Do not judge lest you be judged, leads into this conclusion by suggesting the Jews in general are not being a good example to others. He tells them to remove the plank from their eye so they can see to remove the specks from their brothers’. And he follows that up with a curious statement: Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs, otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.
When this phrase is quoted today, people often think Christ is saying “don’t waste your time on those unreceptive to your message,” but there is nothing anywhere near Matthew 7:6 that suggests he has this in mind. It would be rather strange for Jesus to ascribe pearls of wisdom to those he had just called hypocrites and accused of having planks in their eyes. Furthermore, the idea that we should not engage those we do not believe are receptive would go against Christ’s own model. He debated the scribes and Pharisees in his own ministry and even addressed the aristocratic Sadducees, who were probably even less receptive to his views. His later disciples would similarly engage all manner of people, not allowing their prejudices determine who was fit to hear the gospel.
Instead, Matthew 7:6 is probably a reference to the danger of God’s favor passing to the Gentiles [“pigs” and “dogs” were both Jewish epithets for Gentiles, the former emphasizing their living outside God’s law, the latter emphasizing their idolatry]. By continuing in disobedience, the Jewish nation risked having their inheritance retracted and given to someone else. This theme has already come up earlier when Jesus asks in Matthew 5:13 (the only other place where “trampled” appears in his gospel): You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. This concern shows up several times later as well, in Matthew: 21:33-41, 22:1-10, 23:37-39, and perhaps 25:28.
We might think that his concern for the Jews is an academic one, irrelevant to us today. However, Matthew saw fit to capture this concern (as did Luke) in gospels many believe were written long after the Jewish leadership rejected Christ. How do Paul’s words in Romans 11:11-21 interpret the loss the Jewish nation suffered? Do Christians run the same risk?
Do you see the modern Christian church prone to dangers like those Christ and Paul warned their audiences against?
Day 5: Luke 6:46-49 and Exodus 23:20-32
Luke’s version of the conclusion to Christ’s sermon (note how Luke 6:37-49 matches up with Matthew 7:1-27 if verses 6-14 are omitted) can aid our interpreting of Matthew’s account. Fitting together Luke 6:46-49 with Matthew 7:21-27 suggests that Luke 6:46, Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I tell you? is Luke’s version of Matthew 7:21-23.
How does Luke 6:46 guide your interpretation of Christ’s words in Matthew 7:21-23?
In addition to comparing Matthew’s version to Luke, we can compare it to the scripture Matthew undoubtedly had in mind when portraying Jesus preaching laws on a mountain, an obvious reference to Moses on Sinai. The commandments given there composed the statutes for the Mosaic covenant, a “lease” of sorts between God and Abraham’s descendents for their occupation of the promised land.
Covenants between rulers and vassals in ancient times shared a common structure. After the stipulations describing what was required of the vassal came a set of blessings, a set of curses, and provisions for the ongoing validity of the covenant. In the case of the Mosaic covenant, the stipulations were the Mosaic Law (e.g. Exodus 20:1 – 23:19) and a short version of the blessings, curses, and continuity provisions can be found immediately afterward (Exodus 23:20-32). (A longer version can be seen in Deuteronomy, where the Laws span from chapter 5 through 27, the blessings, curses, and provisions for the continuity are found in chapters 28-32.)
The body of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-7:2) parallels the commandments given on Sinai, the stipulations for Israel’s occupation. It is unclear if the conclusion of the sermon is intended to be analogous to the blessings, curses, and provision for continuity typical for a covenant. Still, there are interesting parallels between Exodus 23:20-32 and Matthew 7:7-29.
What points of contact do you see between these two passages?
In the Exodus passage, the Israelites were told to destroy the altars of their pagan neighbors, and God promised to drive those idolaters from the land. How does this apply to us today? What altars are you called to smash down? What do you yearn for God to drive out from within you?
Day 6: Matthew 5:13-20
A common formula for public speaking is “tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them what you told them you would tell them, and then tell them what you told them,” referring to the introduction, body, and conclusion of a speech. So far, we have looked at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount as its own entity, in comparison to Matthew’s conclusion to his gospel, in comparison to Luke’s account, and in comparison to the account of Moses giving the Torah. The final place to look for confirmation that we understand the sermon’s meaning is in its introduction.
How do specific sections of Matthew 5:13-20 match up with Matthew 7:1-29?
We tend to read the Bible in a piece-meal fashion, often remembering just a verse or short passage that speaks to us without reference to what part it plays in the writer’s overall design. When we see individual passages as relating to common themes in a letter, it can change our views on a passage’s intended meaning. Verses we assumed meant one thing we can find were really aimed at a different objective entirely. For each match-up you find, explain how seeing the introduction and conclusion in parallel modifies how you have viewed/interpreted the individual parts.
The Sermon on the Mount is a well known phrase. Many people have heard of it without being able to identify any particular part, other than perhaps the Beatitudes. If you overheard a group of people in a coffee shop laughing about how they all knew the phrase “Sermon on the Mount” without really knowing anything about it, what would you tell them?
Ask, Seek, Knock
by Deb Meyers
Lord, I humbly ask that you reveal yourself to me this week in new and fresh ways. I seek to know You, not just know about You. Help me to dig a little deeper in Your Word, in order to gain greater wisdom and insight into You and Your ways. I trust that you have good things in store for me. Help me this week, to see the world and those in it, as you see it. Help me to love as you love. Amen.
Day 1 – Read Matthew 7:7-8.
The first phrases of each verse are astonishing, aren’t they? “Ask and it will be given to you.” “For everyone who asks receives.”
What do you think Jesus is instructing us to ask for? What is he promising to give us? Are there some requests you think are too little for God to be bothered with? Are there some things you think God is too small to accomplish? Miracles? I often call on God when I am in a crisis, and after I have exhausted all other means of handling a difficult situation myself. Do you tend to limit your requests of God to times of emergency or desperation?
Psalm 55:16-19 says: “But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out my distress, and he hears my voice.” What is the psalmist asking of God? What assurances does he trust in? When is God available?
Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on paying for all the saints.” What is Paul instructing us to do? When are we to pray? What types of prayers are we to approach God with? What does it mean to “pray in the Spirit?”
Romans 8:26-27 also references the Holy Spirit and prayer: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
What role does the Holy Spirit play in our prayers? What assurances are we being offered in this verse? How does God’s will play into the equation?
In the Lord’s prayer we ask: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” We’ve studied this. What are we really asking for when we say this? Just before his arrest, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 27:39) “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” What level of trust is Jesus placing on the will of God?
1 John 5:13-15 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
Do you ever preface or end your requests of God by asking for His will to be done, trusting that what ever He chooses is for the ultimate good?
I wonder if we miss out on many of the blessings God wishes to shower on us; some of the prayers he wants to say “yes” to, because we never bother to ask? I wonder if we miss out on seeing God’s answers to prayers, because we place limits on what we’re expecting to receive from Him and on the timing of His response? What do you think?
Suggested Closing Prayer:
God, Give me the courage to pray more often, in all times, in all places, for big things and small things. Increase my faith so that I actually believe that nothing is impossible for you. I don’t want to miss out on a single blessing you desire to give me, my loved ones or this hurting world. Help me to trust in your will; trust that you know what is best. Open my eyes to all the times you say “yes” in answer to prayer, so that I can praise you. Don’t let me lose faith in those situations when the answer appears to be no; when the timing is not right, or when you have a different plan, an even better plan, that is impossible for me to understand at the moment. May your Spirit constantly guide and direct my requests. Work in me and through me to bring your desired kingdom to earth. In Christ’s Holy name I pray. Amen.
Day 2: Seek (Re-read Matthew 7:7-8)
Look at the second phrase in each verse: “seek and you will find;” and “he who seeks finds.” Who/what are we to seek and who/what will we find?
In an earlier lesson on “not worrying” (Matthew 6:33) we learned “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (food, drink, clothing,) will be given to you as well.”
Look at the following verses where the words “seek” and “find “ are used. Circle who or what we are to seek and find. Underline any other instruction given or benefits mentioned.
Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, be- cause anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and under- stands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek His face always.
Proverbs 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
Psalm 24:4 “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple.”
Day 3: Knock (Re-read Matthew 7:7-8)
Got it memorized? Look at the third phrase: “knock and the door will be opened to you.” “And to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
In the movie, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy goes to Oz to find help in getting home. She approaches a huge imposing door at the castle in OZ and knocks. And a loud voice booms out: “The wizard isn’t in. GO AWAY!”
Unlike the response Dorothy received, Jesus is promising us something different. “Knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Imagine yourself approaching the door of the house of a dear friend. What kind of reception do you expect? Are you excited or anxious?
Imagine yourself approaching the door of a complete stranger. What thoughts, feelings, expectations come to mind now?
For me, it makes a huge difference if I know and trust the person behind the door. When Jesus tells me to knock and the door will be opened, how do I know if I will encounter a friend or stranger?
Friendships develop by investing time to get to know one another. Loving, trusting relationships don’t just happen. They require some intentionality. The same can be said about our relationship with God.
In Ephesians 1:17-19a, Paul prays: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
John 14:23, 26-27 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching, my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Excerpts from the book “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha world” (pg.72-73), articulate for me, the joy of knocking on the door and finding God, the author of love and friendship, on the other side.
He (Jesus) promised, “I will be here every morning early, meet with Me here and we will start the day together.” So morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the drawing room and He would take a book of the Bible...open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold me its truths... They were wonderful hours together....It was a period when we had our Quiet time together...I started looking at (this quiet time) in a whole new way-not as a ritual, but as a relationship. And a relationship just doesn’t happen. It has to be nurtured, protected, and loved...The place at Jesus feet is a place where we can be comfortable, a place of transparency and vulnerability; a place where we are completely known yet completely loved. It is truly a place to call home.
Pray Psalm 25:4-5
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Day 4: The Heart of the Father (Read Matthew 7:9-11)
In this teaching, Jesus is showing us the heart of God the Father. He is reinforcing the invitation to come to God in prayer with our requests, trusting that God is kind and good and will bless us.
Read the following verses for more insights on the heart of the Father: Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Lamentations 3:22-25 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “the lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, the one who seeks Him.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, and will bring you back from captivity.” This promise was given through the Prophet Jeremiah to the Israelites while they were being held captive in exile in Babylon. Even in times of difficulty and hardship, God was offering his children hope and a future.
Are you enduring struggles and hardship? Have you experienced a time in life when you’ve been exiled or held captive: maybe by addiction; by depression; by bitterness/anger; by unforgiveness; by the need to be in control; by debt? Has your faith been held captive by doubts, skepticism, and unbelief?
God is offering us freedom, hope, grace, and countless other good gifts. We have only to reach out to Him in order to receive them. God doesn’t force Himself on anyone. He’s waiting for us to make the choice.
Pray that God would free you from what ever is standing in the way of a closer relationship with Him. Ask for him to give you strength if you are in a time of trouble. Ask God to increase your trust in him. Give thanks to God for the countless ways he has blessed you and His continued offer of grace.
Try living the remainder of this week with an attitude of gratitude.
Day 5: The Golden Rule (Read Matthew 7:12)
In this verse, Jesus is teaching the Golden Rule. He is asking us to step out and put the kingdom of God into action. We should treat others as we wish to be treated. And then he said that this command sums up all the Law and Prophets. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of this time, commanded the people to follow all the laws laid out in scripture, as well as countless other religious laws they had developed. There were so many rules it was impossible for anyone to keep them all. (Matthew 23: 1-7 & Luke11:46). Jesus was teaching something new. He was telling people about God’s intent; that at the heart of everything is love for one another. The love He speaks of is one of action.
1 John 3: 16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
John 15:9-17 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”
1 John 4:7-8, 21 “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....And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
Loving one another may sound simple, but as my mom used to say, “The devil is in the details. Some things are easier said than done.” This is a command that we can only carry out, with God’s help. Ask Him today to grant you the courage, strength and power, to love as He loves.
Lord, I humbly ask that you reveal yourself to me this week in new and fresh ways. I seek to know You, not just know about You. Help me to dig a little deeper in Your Word, in order to gain greater wisdom and insight into You and Your ways. I trust that you have good things in store for me. Help me this week, to see the world and those in it, as you see it. Help me to love as you love. Amen.
Day 1 – Read Matthew 7:7-8.
The first phrases of each verse are astonishing, aren’t they? “Ask and it will be given to you.” “For everyone who asks receives.”
What do you think Jesus is instructing us to ask for? What is he promising to give us? Are there some requests you think are too little for God to be bothered with? Are there some things you think God is too small to accomplish? Miracles? I often call on God when I am in a crisis, and after I have exhausted all other means of handling a difficult situation myself. Do you tend to limit your requests of God to times of emergency or desperation?
Psalm 55:16-19 says: “But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out my distress, and he hears my voice.” What is the psalmist asking of God? What assurances does he trust in? When is God available?
Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on paying for all the saints.” What is Paul instructing us to do? When are we to pray? What types of prayers are we to approach God with? What does it mean to “pray in the Spirit?”
Romans 8:26-27 also references the Holy Spirit and prayer: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
What role does the Holy Spirit play in our prayers? What assurances are we being offered in this verse? How does God’s will play into the equation?
In the Lord’s prayer we ask: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” We’ve studied this. What are we really asking for when we say this? Just before his arrest, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 27:39) “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” What level of trust is Jesus placing on the will of God?
1 John 5:13-15 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
Do you ever preface or end your requests of God by asking for His will to be done, trusting that what ever He chooses is for the ultimate good?
I wonder if we miss out on many of the blessings God wishes to shower on us; some of the prayers he wants to say “yes” to, because we never bother to ask? I wonder if we miss out on seeing God’s answers to prayers, because we place limits on what we’re expecting to receive from Him and on the timing of His response? What do you think?
Suggested Closing Prayer:
God, Give me the courage to pray more often, in all times, in all places, for big things and small things. Increase my faith so that I actually believe that nothing is impossible for you. I don’t want to miss out on a single blessing you desire to give me, my loved ones or this hurting world. Help me to trust in your will; trust that you know what is best. Open my eyes to all the times you say “yes” in answer to prayer, so that I can praise you. Don’t let me lose faith in those situations when the answer appears to be no; when the timing is not right, or when you have a different plan, an even better plan, that is impossible for me to understand at the moment. May your Spirit constantly guide and direct my requests. Work in me and through me to bring your desired kingdom to earth. In Christ’s Holy name I pray. Amen.
Day 2: Seek (Re-read Matthew 7:7-8)
Look at the second phrase in each verse: “seek and you will find;” and “he who seeks finds.” Who/what are we to seek and who/what will we find?
In an earlier lesson on “not worrying” (Matthew 6:33) we learned “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (food, drink, clothing,) will be given to you as well.”
Look at the following verses where the words “seek” and “find “ are used. Circle who or what we are to seek and find. Underline any other instruction given or benefits mentioned.
Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, be- cause anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and under- stands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek His face always.
Proverbs 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
Psalm 24:4 “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple.”
Day 3: Knock (Re-read Matthew 7:7-8)
Got it memorized? Look at the third phrase: “knock and the door will be opened to you.” “And to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
In the movie, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy goes to Oz to find help in getting home. She approaches a huge imposing door at the castle in OZ and knocks. And a loud voice booms out: “The wizard isn’t in. GO AWAY!”
Unlike the response Dorothy received, Jesus is promising us something different. “Knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Imagine yourself approaching the door of the house of a dear friend. What kind of reception do you expect? Are you excited or anxious?
Imagine yourself approaching the door of a complete stranger. What thoughts, feelings, expectations come to mind now?
For me, it makes a huge difference if I know and trust the person behind the door. When Jesus tells me to knock and the door will be opened, how do I know if I will encounter a friend or stranger?
Friendships develop by investing time to get to know one another. Loving, trusting relationships don’t just happen. They require some intentionality. The same can be said about our relationship with God.
In Ephesians 1:17-19a, Paul prays: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
John 14:23, 26-27 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching, my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Excerpts from the book “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha world” (pg.72-73), articulate for me, the joy of knocking on the door and finding God, the author of love and friendship, on the other side.
He (Jesus) promised, “I will be here every morning early, meet with Me here and we will start the day together.” So morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the drawing room and He would take a book of the Bible...open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold me its truths... They were wonderful hours together....It was a period when we had our Quiet time together...I started looking at (this quiet time) in a whole new way-not as a ritual, but as a relationship. And a relationship just doesn’t happen. It has to be nurtured, protected, and loved...The place at Jesus feet is a place where we can be comfortable, a place of transparency and vulnerability; a place where we are completely known yet completely loved. It is truly a place to call home.
Pray Psalm 25:4-5
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Day 4: The Heart of the Father (Read Matthew 7:9-11)
In this teaching, Jesus is showing us the heart of God the Father. He is reinforcing the invitation to come to God in prayer with our requests, trusting that God is kind and good and will bless us.
Read the following verses for more insights on the heart of the Father: Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Lamentations 3:22-25 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “the lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, the one who seeks Him.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, and will bring you back from captivity.” This promise was given through the Prophet Jeremiah to the Israelites while they were being held captive in exile in Babylon. Even in times of difficulty and hardship, God was offering his children hope and a future.
Are you enduring struggles and hardship? Have you experienced a time in life when you’ve been exiled or held captive: maybe by addiction; by depression; by bitterness/anger; by unforgiveness; by the need to be in control; by debt? Has your faith been held captive by doubts, skepticism, and unbelief?
God is offering us freedom, hope, grace, and countless other good gifts. We have only to reach out to Him in order to receive them. God doesn’t force Himself on anyone. He’s waiting for us to make the choice.
Pray that God would free you from what ever is standing in the way of a closer relationship with Him. Ask for him to give you strength if you are in a time of trouble. Ask God to increase your trust in him. Give thanks to God for the countless ways he has blessed you and His continued offer of grace.
Try living the remainder of this week with an attitude of gratitude.
Day 5: The Golden Rule (Read Matthew 7:12)
In this verse, Jesus is teaching the Golden Rule. He is asking us to step out and put the kingdom of God into action. We should treat others as we wish to be treated. And then he said that this command sums up all the Law and Prophets. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of this time, commanded the people to follow all the laws laid out in scripture, as well as countless other religious laws they had developed. There were so many rules it was impossible for anyone to keep them all. (Matthew 23: 1-7 & Luke11:46). Jesus was teaching something new. He was telling people about God’s intent; that at the heart of everything is love for one another. The love He speaks of is one of action.
1 John 3: 16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
John 15:9-17 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”
1 John 4:7-8, 21 “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....And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
Loving one another may sound simple, but as my mom used to say, “The devil is in the details. Some things are easier said than done.” This is a command that we can only carry out, with God’s help. Ask Him today to grant you the courage, strength and power, to love as He loves.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)