January 6 - Matt. 5:17-32 - A Spiritual Upgrade

Every day my computer searches for upgraded software. Sometimes it does this to enhance Window and other times it is receiving new virus information for McAfee. Usually this happens while I am not there so I do not even notice it until I return and see the pop-up that it is finished. It is a handy tool that keeps my computer up to date.

Jesus continues teaching his followers by saying that the Law is being enhanced. It is not enough to not commit murder, but you are breaking the law if you hate. Being faithful to your wife by not having an adulterous affair is good, but that does not mean that you did not commit adultery by looking lustfully at another women. Jesus shows us that the very thoughts in our hearts separate us from our Holy God not the actions.

As you read today, look for ways that God wants to upgrade your relationship with Him.

January 5 - Matt. 5:1-16 -- Challenges from God

What is commonly referred to the “sermon on the mount” in actuality was more like the tutoring session on the hill. Jesus sees the many people following him and decides to sit on a hillside and teach his followers. The teaching that he has for them is more of a challenge to grow deeper in their spirituality. Many in his audience were faithful to God, but their spiritual life boiled down to following a set of laws without a change of their hearts.

Jesus starts his teaching by setting up what had to be contradictions to the hearers. In this time closeness to God was seen through wealth and good fortune. If you were sick or disabled then it had to be your relationship with God. If you had a good yield of crops then you must have been close to God. Jesus was showing in these statements that God is looking for His people to have the same attitude about others as he has. His people should be lights in a darkened world.

As we continue reading this chapter let Jesus’ words challenge your heart to see which areas you need to correct to grow closer to Him.

January 3 - Matt. 3 - The Theme of Your Life

One thing that I have learned by observing many different preachers is that each one seems to have a singular theme that they continually fall back to when needed. It is the topic that they seem to always preach on. It becomes the cause for which their ministry is derived. For some, like Billy Graham, it is salvation. Others, it is living a better, more complete, life in Christ (Ed Young Jr.), or building stronger families (Kevin Evens the early years), or International Missions (Kevin Evens more recently). Their theme has come from the skills/talents they have, the knowledge they have attained in life, and the passion of their hearts. Their theme is seen by them in every verse they read and every illustration that they see. It becomes the place that they are most comfortable speaking about. For John the Baptist, his theme was repentance. He told everyone and anyone about their need to repent because the day of the Lord was near.

God has placed inside each of us skills, knowledge and passion can be used for his glory. What is the theme of your life? What is the issue or thought that you continually come back to? What has God placed on your heart that you can not help but think about? Pray that you will see your theme used by God to bring others closer to Him.

January 2 - Matt 2 - The Best Gift Ever

Have you seen over the past month the Lexus commercials with the child reminiscing over a toy that they thought was the best gift ever? The three that I have seen involved a pony, a big wheel, and an Atari 2600. I can relate to these commercials. Those gifts of my childhood still are in my memory. The joy that I felt when ripping open the gifts with anticipation of what was hidden, being revealed. My young mind believing that these moments were the height of joy.

In Matthew 2, the Magi came to give gifts and worship the new born King. I wonder if they knew that this baby was God’s gift to the world. That present to humanity was His presence with us. Never before in history would God be as close to his people as he will be in the future. King David had not been as close to God as His people would have the opportunity to be. This closeness continues today. His presence is with us in our darkest times and at our most joyous times.

Those gifts that we received in the past on Christmas, and the joy that we felt were just a foretaste of the joy that we can have when we have the presence of God in our lives. God wants to be with us and pursues us. This brings me great joy, even greater joy then any gift that I can receive under the tree. Remember that He is with you today.

January 1 - Matt. 1 - Greater Things are Yet to Come

Israel had not had a prophet in 400 years, since Malachi. Though God had been moving in their midst throughout this time in wars and miracles (i.e. Maccabean Revolt and Hanukah), the people began to be dismayed with their prospects of seeing the Messiah. They were ruled by an oppressive Roman government and their religion had become no more then a list of rules and traditions that needed to be kept. Their desires to see God change their country prevented them from seeing that God had greater things yet to come.

Matthew is not the earliest gospel, but it is the first written for a specific audience. Mark, the earliest gospel, is more of a collection of vignettes of Jesus’ life, but Matthew intended for his gospel to be read by those who were Jewish. Matthew wants to introduce his audience to the long awaited Messiah by connecting him to the history of the Israel. The people were anticipating a king, a ruler, a conqueror, but the Messiah did not come as expected. He had a greater plan.

As you begin this year, know that God has greater things yet to come for you. As good as life can be with your family, career and marriage, God wants to make it greater. If you believe that your greatest days are behind you then be encouraged that greater things are yet to come. He is not done yet with your family, career, or marriage. Be encouraged that God’s plan for you will not be what you are anticipating, but it will be greater then you can ever imagine.