MEAT FOR MATURITY – DISCIPLESHIP

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” Matt. 19:29 (ESV). Jesus encourages us that God will reward us for sacrifices for Jesus. In the 1st century the extended family was all-important because it was your support network. Most people could not count on anyone else. Some people are in the same position today, though it is easier for many to leave their network of relatives if they wish. But the point of Jesus’ teaching is that making sacrifices for Jesus produces exponential blessings. When we follow Jesus we will have to leave behind the benefit of certain people and things in our life. It may be that friends or relatives reject us or that we will have less connection with them because our values are different. The Continue Reading →

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matt. 9:35 (NIV) This passage reminds us that Jesus brought the good news that the kingdom of God had come to earth and was now available to all people. Finally, 2,000 years after Abraham, God’s realm of reunion, peace and love had come to earth. What could be better news than this for planet Earth? And just in case anyone doubted whether Jesus really brought the kingdom he demonstrated the kingdom with power by healing diseases and sicknesses. This is the good news that we believe in and now taste. Since we are in the kingdom this same power is available to us now! Most importantly, the good news means God gives us the power to be like Christ, to have God’s image restored in Continue Reading →

“You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14, 16). Followers of Jesus provide the illumination of God’s goodness to the world. We are not darkness to them, and we are not affliction to them. God’s light radiates through us so that others can see who God is, what goodness is and how Jesus gives us inner happiness. It’s encouraging to remember that we have the privilege of being God’s light. His light indwells us so that if we abide in him we will naturally light up like a little sun and be a light of the world. And just as the sun creates a gravitational pull, others who seek good will gravitate in your direction. Are you encouraged by the idea that you are a light of the Continue Reading →

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” (Mt. 5:10-12 NLT). Here, Jesus turns the natural world upside-down by teaching us to rejoice in persecution. Why would he do that? There will be times when people will persecute us just for being good. This may happen at your job, school or even at home if people are hostile to God. Sometimes we are marginalized at our church because we are trying uphold higher Christian standards. Some people just don’t like the presence of someone who is good because it highlights their corruption. Continue Reading →

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matt. 5:7 ESV). God promises to bless us and have mercy on us if we are merciful to others. Jesus told a parable about an unforgiving servant who had a debtor thrown in jail even though he himself had been a debtor to a king who forgave his debts. The king heard about it and told the unforgiving servant, “Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” (Matt. 18:33 NLT). The point is that God has been far more merciful to us than we can possibly be to others because he had to forgive so much sin in us. This truth should compel us to be merciful to others. Yet, it isn’t easy to be merciful to others who offend us, and sometimes they do not even appreciate our mercy when we give it Continue Reading →