Month: January 2016

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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.” Matthew 5:43-45 HCSB

We have all experienced situations where the “good guy” gets penalized in some way while the “bad guy” gets rewarded. Life is not fair. Many times people who seem to get all the breaks and financial rewards are living lives of sin, lies, and destruction. Those who are seemingly trying to live their lives for the Lord and do what is right are struggling and have problems. It appears that God is not fair and is rewarding people for their sins.

These Scriptures tell us that God sends sun and rain on the evil and the good. In that way, God is being fair. He is treating everyone with the same love and mercy. God loves everyone, including the worst of sinners. In God’s eyes the least of sinners is just as bad as the worst of sinners. We are all sinners and fall short of His glory. God desires to have a relationship with each of us. The problems of our world are a result of the sin of mankind. Because of God’s love He allows man the freedom of choice. If God took away our choice and made everything perfect and good then we would be no more than puppets on a string. Without bad we would not know what good is. He wants us to choose to love Him and to follow His guidelines but He will not force us to do so.

Challenge: These Scriptures teach us to love our enemies just as God loves His enemies. We are to pray for those who persecute us. Our human nature prompts us to seek revenge and hate our enemies. Pray that God would give you His Spirit of love and compassion even for your enemies and those who persecute you. Say a prayer for someone who has wronged you in some way.

“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You Moron!’ will be subject to hellfire.” Matthew 5:21-22 HCSB

My name is Ron Moore. When turned around, it is Moron. In school when a teacher called the attendance roll and read the last name first, it was always embarrassing when she got to my name. As a youth minister, teenagers lovingly called me “Moron” as a nickname. It did not bother me and even today I will answer to the name “Moron” in the right context.

In these Scriptures Jesus is again trying to point out the importance of one’s attitude. He compares the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not kill” with an angry or hateful attitude. If a person has an angry or hateful attitude toward someone, it is the same as murdering that person. God desires for us to have a positive and helpful attitude.

Challenge: How is your attitude? Do you have any anger toward other people? Be careful what you call other people and focus on always treating others with respect.

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 HCSB

This year I celebrate 40 years in full-time ministry. I have served several churches, a state convention, and Lifeway Christian Resources. I have met and observed many different people in positions of leadership. Some have appeared to be very religious and even taught Sunday School or served as pastors but their hearts and actions told a different story. They would go through the motions of going to church, praying, giving, and even serving in leadership positions, but their hearts strayed far from God and His principles.

That is what Jesus was referencing when He said that our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees who were intent on following every letter of the Law but whose hearts and attitudes were not right. Jesus called His disciples to a different type of righteousness – that which must come from God. We cannot be righteous. Our righteousness must be based on a reverence for a Holy God rather than on the approval of men. Our righteousness must go beyond keeping the Law to the principles behind the Law. There must be a change in our hearts and attitudes if we are going to be acceptable and pleasing to God.

Challenge: You cannot keep the Law. You cannot be good enough to be righteous. It is only God working through you that produces righteousness. God is more concerned about your attitudes than your actions. Look for ways to be pleasing to God rather than pleasing men.

“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19 HCSB

We have all heard the quote, “Practice what you preach.” Here are a few more quotes with the same theme: “Too many people talk the talk, but few actually walk the walk.” “Just because you talk about Jesus doesn’t mean you get a ticket to heaven.” “Learn before you try to teach.” “Sometimes people need to take their own advice.”

The Pharisees of Jesus’ time were great teachers of the Laws of God but so many of them did not follow what they taught. Jesus taught His disciples to practice what they taught. Just like the Pharisees, there are too many people in the world today who try to look and pretend to be religious and holy but whose lives do not reflect a real change in their hearts.

Challenge: Practice what you preach or teach. God knows your heart and your reward in heaven will be a reflection of your heart here on earth. Will you be called least or great in the kingdom of heaven?

“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 HCSB

The laws of our country are designed to provide order, control, and a safe environment. Most of the laws are based on the 10 Commandments God gave to Moses. God’s laws are designed to help people know how to live in relationship to God and to each other.

The Law was considered to be the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch in Greek and the Torah in Hebrew. Moses is considered to be the author of these books. The Prophets would have included the Major and Minor Prophets. The Law and Prophets would have referred to the Old Testament. The Jewish leaders considered Jesus as one who did not obey the Law because He healed on the Sabbath and ate with sinners.

Jesus challenged their thoughts by saying He had come to fulfill the Law rather than to destroy it. None of us are capable of following and obeying the Law. Only Jesus is perfect. He fulfilled the Law because He never sinned. Because Jesus was sinless He can be the perfect Lamb of God and pay the penalty for the sins of the world.

Challenge: Jesus has already paid the penalty for your sins. Thank God for providing the perfect sacrifice for your sins. Strive to live by the Law but know that when you fail, God still loves you and forgives you because of your faith in Christ.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.” Matthew 6:13 HCSB

When I visited the Dead Sea I used an old water bottle to collect some of the water. I brought the water from the Dead Sea home and it sits on a shelf in my office. Many years have passed and the water is still crystal clear and salt particles have formed in the bottom of the bottle. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, but there are no outlets for the water of the Dead Sea. Its water is so salt-laden that warnings are posted for people who swim in the Dead Sea not to drink any of it because it can be deadly. Nothing grows or lives in the Dead Sea because of the heavy salt content – hence its name, the Dead Sea.

Salt was a valuable commodity and was used as a preservative for meats in Jesus’ time since there was no refrigeration. It was also used to flavor foods as it is today. Jesus used salt as an illustration to describe His disciples. They were to be like salt. They were valuable and to be a preservative for all mankind. They were to bring the Good News (flavor) to the world. If they lost their saltiness they would not be of any value to the kingdom of God.

Challenge: The same is true of today’s disciples of Jesus Christ. We are to be the salt and light of the world. How salty are you? Pray that you will be the salt and light to a world that desperately needs the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 6:11-12 HCSB

A county clerk in Kentucky decided to follow her religious convictions and would not give marriage licenses to same-sex couples even though the Supreme Court had made the decision that same-sex marriages were legal. She was persecuted because of her Christian beliefs. Many people called her names and said evil things against her. Eventually the judge ordered that she should go to jail. Another Christian couple was fined because they refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. It seems that more and more Christians are being persecuted for their beliefs.

Jesus warned His disciples and followers that they would be persecuted because of their beliefs. Most of the early disciples of Christ died a martyr’s death because of their faith in Christ. Today, many people are killed around the world because of their Christian beliefs. Here in America Christians may not be killed, but they are often persecuted.

Challenge: Count it joy and be glad when you are persecuted because you are a Christian. Pray that God will give you strength to face persecution and ridicule for your beliefs.

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10 HCSB

Have you wondered how to pray? Is there some magical formula for what to say or what to do to have your prayers answered? Is there a special position to pray? There are some religions that direct followers exactly how to pray, when to pray, what position to pray, and even what to say in the prayers. This is not what God desires. He wants to hear from our hearts.

Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. He gave them an example of what should be included in a prayer. It was not intended to be a prayer that would be repeated. These verses are often referred to as the “Lord’s Prayer” and are sometimes recited, but the elements of the prayer are of importance. Jesus began His prayer by calling on His Father and acknowledging that God is holy and deserves our praise. He then asks for God’s kingdom to come and for God’s will to be done.

Challenge: When you pray, speak to God just as you would talk to a good friend. He wants to hear your concerns and cares. Begin your prayer by praising God for who He is – a holy God. Present your prayer requests to God but always pray for God’s will to be done in every situation.

“But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 HCSB

The movie “War Room” was a story about the power of prayer. One of the main characters in the movie was an elderly woman who had a prayer closet in her home. Its walls were papered with sheets of prayer requests for her family and friends. She would faithfully go into her closet and pray to the Lord. Through a series of circumstances, she challenged a younger lady to take her requests to the Lord. The younger woman took all of her clothes out of her own closet and turned it into a prayer room where she began praying for her husband, her marriage, and her family.

Jesus challenged His disciples to take their requests to the Lord in secret rather than through loud public prayers. God the Father is always present and hears our prayers. He wants to hear prayer requests that come from our hearts. He may not answer our prayers exactly the way we desire, but He will always do what is best for us.

Challenge: Take your prayer requests to the Lord. God wants to hear your requests. Always pray for God’s will to be done in every situation. Consider selecting a special place in your home to devote to your private prayers. Watch the movie “War Room”.

“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!” Matthew 6:5 HCSB

A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be someone or something other than who or what he or she really is. Webster defines a hypocrite as a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs; A person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion; A person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.

Jesus assumed that His disciples would be praying people, but He wanted to make sure they did not follow the example of the Pharisees who would stand in the synagogues and on the street corners to pray, making sure the people could see them. Public prayer was not the problem but rather the attitude of the person praying. They wanted to be seen by others rather than actually trying to communicate with God. They wanted others to think of them as pious, faithful, and religious.

Challenge: How is your prayer life? Are your prayers repetitious or do they seem to hit the ceiling? Are you actually talking to God or trying to impress others who are listening?