But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. v28

I am guilty of such sin. Yet I can recognize my urges as selfish and I seek to be more aware of the control that these selfish urges have on me.  I doubt that I will ever rid myself of these selfish urges but I can be more aware that they are selfish and also seek to separate myself from any influence that might cause these urges to more active.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God, capable of anything and creator of everything.  You can help me with anything - big or small.  I do want to be more pure and holy and more like Jesus Christ.  Yet I am weak.  I thank You that You love me anyway but I pray for Your forgiveness.  I also pray that You can grow in my heart such that whatever else is in my heart has less influence.  Help me Jesus.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. v16

As Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount, I can hear him speak directly to me:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. v14-15

For me the challenge becomes:

1. Do I have my lamp lit - am I publicly glorifying God by who I am and what I do to love and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ?
2. Am I going into the world to allow others to see the light of my lamp - am I stepping out or am I hiding under a bowl?

These are challenging questions indeed, and I seek God's help.


 
 My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God - Your light is so bright that it can never be extinguished and it will be seen everywhere.  You are "the way, the truth, and the life", and I desperately seek Your help Jesus.  I am weak and I fail to light my lamp and I fail to show my light publicly when it is lit.  I know You love me anyway so thank You but please forgive me for my lack of a bold and daring faith.  Help me Jesus.  Please grow in my heart and in my life Jesus.

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee.

Matthew 4

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. v12

Upon reading Matthew 4 and the above verse, it struck me as odd that Jesus would withdraw.  Jesus does not need to withdraw from anything or anyone!  He is God!  But after thinking about this, it dawned on me that the timing was not right for Jesus to find himself in trouble yet...His ministry needed to gain steam before the appointed time for Him to go to the cross.  Simply, there was more for Him to do.  There was a plan of course.

For me this causes me to be more aware of how God may be using my current circumstances as part of His plan and how He may be directing me.

In terms of my current circumstances, I think of the verse here.

In terms of how God may be directing me and how I can know God's will:
- read God's Word
- pray
- do I have confirming circumstances
- do I have confirming witnesses or wise counsel of brothers and sisters in Christ
- do I have peace of mind

My Prayer: Lord, You are truly a great God - the one true God!  There are none like You.  You create, You love, You bless, etc.  What an amazing God You are!  That You love me and died for me is incredible!  I am not worthy of such blessing and love.  I seek other Gods (pursuits, etc.) and this is SINFUL.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me!!  Help me Jesus.  Please grow in my heart and transform my heart and my life to be more like You.

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Matthew 4

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ v10

There is evil in the world and I pray constantly to be protected from earthly and worldly concerns.  Moving to Raleigh helped a great deal - less expensive place to live, etc.  

Jesus protected himself by removing Satan from his presence:

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! v10

To protect myself from Satan, I can:
1. Remove evil influences that serve to distract me
2. Increase Jesus in my heart

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the only influence I want in my life.  I want no other God or influence in my life other than You - Jesus Christ.  You are pure, perfect, holy, and defined by the fruits of the Spirit, love, kindness, gentleness, etc.  I want to be more like You.  Yet I fall down.  I am selfish, and I am lazy among the sin I do.  I know You love me anyway so that thank You, but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me be more like You and help me love You with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength.

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Matthew 2

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. v16

What is interesting is that the Magi did not outwit Herod, they simply listened to a warning from God:

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. v12

A similar warning was given to Joseph:

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” v13

and then again...

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” v19-20 

When circumstances don't go my way, do I see things as directed by God or as "I did not get what I was hoping for?"

I think of the story of Joseph who makes the best of his circumstances.  I also think of the following verse:

...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Lord of all, capable of anything, reigning over everything, knowing everything, and defined by love, mercy, kindness, etc.  You love and bless me beyond my imagination and beyond what I deserve...what a great God!  I am not worthy nor deserving.  I sin - I am not pleasing as a worker as You command nor as You intend.  I know You love me anyway, so thank You Jesus.  But please forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend me to be.

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” v17

I see two messages here:
1. That confirming circumstances are key to understanding God's will for your life
2. That God judges all of us...now and upon death.

We should always be looking to God (prayer and His word), confirming circumstances, wise counsel, and for peace for indications of alignment to God's will for our lives.  We should always be growing in Christ (and He in us).

This is in an ongoing process of maturity.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  Luke 12:48.

My Prayer: Lord, Your creation, Your design, Your Plan are all perfect.  Everything You do and everything You will ever do will be perfect.  Although scripture indicates that I am just how You designed me...I am not worthy of all the blessing You have provided me.  I am selfish, harsh and discouraging with me words.  Yet You love me.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my selfishness, my harshness, and my discouraging words.  Help me be more like You.  Transform both my heart and my life Jesus.  I want Your desires to be my desires.  Help me also to have a bold and daring faith.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. v20

God uses all of who we are and what we do...he forgives sin and he redeems it for His glory.  Here Joseph and Mary are selected by God (there is no randomness about God's plan) to bring us Jesus.  It took a special couple to do this and here you get a sense of the compassion of Joseph:

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. v19

Perhaps Joseph got angry but there is no indication of his anger here...just compassion.  He thought of Mary, even in light of what he perceived as her sin.  While Joseph is of course not perfect, he is who God used as the earthly father for Jesus.  Notice also how Joseph is selfless once again:

But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son.

There is no biological reason why Joseph and Mary had to wait to consummate their marriage but they wait.  Specifically this says that Joseph waited....9 months.  This is certainly anti-thetical to how most men would react - I doubt they would be this patient and selfless.  I suppose fear of the Lord played a factor but this wears off and during the pregnancy Joseph's patience was tested and then some as he was probably the object of scorn and ridicule in his town.

Joseph is in many ways the model of faithfulness to one's spouse.

My Prayer: Lord, Your wisdom knows no limits...there is nothing You don't know and You are able to resolve all challenges big and small.  You are also willing to hear from Your children about all challenges big and small.  You LONG to hear from us.  You are jealous for us.  What a great God You are - so full of love!  I am not worthy of such love - I sin.  I am lazy and harsh with my words.  Thank You that You love me but please Jesus forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me also have a bold and daring faith.