Meet me at the gate.....
Reading Plan: The Book of Matthew
June Memory Chunk: Psalm 23
Prayer Requests go here.
New to SHINE? Go here.
One of the first sermons that we read about Jesus preaching in the book of Matthew is the Sermon on the Mount. It is by far the most famous and well known sermon ever preached.
Well, of course it is. It is preached by Jesus, Himself.
Can you imaging being there? Sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking up His every word?
I imagine the people crowded around Jesus were hungry, starving, thirsty....but not for food or water.
But for Bread. The Bread of Life.
"For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33
Jesus teaches on subject after subject, as the people are amazed at His words.
I want to be there. I desperately want to be on the side of that mountain, listening to Jesus speak.
One day, I will be. One day, we all will be.
In the meantime, He instructs us how to live here on earth. He instructs us, directs us, teaches us.
Yet, we go our own way. Don't we?
We choose to rebel against His words at times.
The world scoffs at His words.
The world says, "Take care of yourself. Put yourself first. Don't let anyone get in your way."
Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
The world says, "If someone hurts you, hurt them back. Don't be a fool and forgive them, punish them. Turn your back on them."
Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9
As you study the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7 this month, ask God to speak to you. Ask God to show you where you struggle with His teachings.
His way goes against the grain of this world. It always will.
Our flesh goes against the grain of His way. It always will.
We must know His Word, so we will know His way.
Here is the irony of our flesh desiring to go our own way...
It never works out.
Ever.
Every time we fall victim to our fleshly desires....anger, bitterness, short-temperedness, hatred, prejudice, addictions of any kind, lust, gossip, gluttony....
We lose.
Every single time.
I know, because I have been there.
Our flesh will always lead us astray. It will get us into such messes that we don't know up from down, left from right, inside from outside.
Have you been there?
Yes, me too.
Many times.
However, we are now better equipped.
We know the right way to go, because Jesus teaches us. Right smack dab in the middle of the book of Matthew.
Does it mean it is easy to follow His way? Not always.
However, it will always work out in our favor when we follow His way. He knows this, that's why He teaches us.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
The narrow gate is a lot less crowded.
I'm so glad. Crowds were never my thing.
How about you?
Will you join me at the narrow gate?
The wide gate is overrated. Too many people, and the ending always disappoints.
looking for the narrow gate,
jill
June Memory Chunk: Psalm 23
Prayer Requests go here.
New to SHINE? Go here.
One of the first sermons that we read about Jesus preaching in the book of Matthew is the Sermon on the Mount. It is by far the most famous and well known sermon ever preached.
Well, of course it is. It is preached by Jesus, Himself.
Can you imaging being there? Sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking up His every word?
I imagine the people crowded around Jesus were hungry, starving, thirsty....but not for food or water.
But for Bread. The Bread of Life.
"For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33
Jesus teaches on subject after subject, as the people are amazed at His words.
I want to be there. I desperately want to be on the side of that mountain, listening to Jesus speak.
One day, I will be. One day, we all will be.
In the meantime, He instructs us how to live here on earth. He instructs us, directs us, teaches us.
Yet, we go our own way. Don't we?
We choose to rebel against His words at times.
The world scoffs at His words.
The world says, "Take care of yourself. Put yourself first. Don't let anyone get in your way."
Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
The world says, "If someone hurts you, hurt them back. Don't be a fool and forgive them, punish them. Turn your back on them."
Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9
As you study the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7 this month, ask God to speak to you. Ask God to show you where you struggle with His teachings.
His way goes against the grain of this world. It always will.
Our flesh goes against the grain of His way. It always will.
We must know His Word, so we will know His way.
Here is the irony of our flesh desiring to go our own way...
It never works out.
Ever.
Every time we fall victim to our fleshly desires....anger, bitterness, short-temperedness, hatred, prejudice, addictions of any kind, lust, gossip, gluttony....
We lose.
Every single time.
I know, because I have been there.
Our flesh will always lead us astray. It will get us into such messes that we don't know up from down, left from right, inside from outside.
Have you been there?
Yes, me too.
Many times.
However, we are now better equipped.
We know the right way to go, because Jesus teaches us. Right smack dab in the middle of the book of Matthew.
Does it mean it is easy to follow His way? Not always.
However, it will always work out in our favor when we follow His way. He knows this, that's why He teaches us.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14
The narrow gate is a lot less crowded.
I'm so glad. Crowds were never my thing.
How about you?
Will you join me at the narrow gate?
The wide gate is overrated. Too many people, and the ending always disappoints.
looking for the narrow gate,
jill
