I’ve been in Matthew for a while now, here are a few things God has shown me…(it’s amazing how personal God’s Word keeps on getting for me, this week He REALLY did rock my world with several things!)
- Matthew 1:3-5, two names are mentioned in this genealogy that definitely raised an eyebrow to Matthew’s Jewish audience, Tamar and Rahab. WOW—-God really can use anyone!
- Matthew 2:1-2, Wise men (astrologers) came from the East because a star appeared pointing them to Jesus. A STAR! Amazing, God reached these men through “secular means” to draw them to Jesus. I’ll bet the bloggers went nuts!
- When Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4, all three times He answered satan, “It is written.” THAT is a model for knowing how to resist temptation—knowing God’s Word!
- Matthew 5:11-12, On the day I read this it was really needed!
- Matthew 6:7-8, Prayer should not be used to impress people!
- Matthew 6:21, This one gets me every time! Money speaks truth.
- Matthew 6:33, YES!
- Matthew 7:6, this is a reason I do not get involved in these!
- Matthew 9:9-12, Jesus was criticized for who He hung out with—BUT the people who criticized Him knew Him the least…and the people He was with needed Him the most!
- Matthew 9:37, The harvest matters to God; therefore, it should matter to His church! (Thank you NewSpring that it matters here…our best days are ahead of us!)
- Matthew 10:34, Jesus didn’t promise that following Him would be easy.
- Matthew 11:18-19, someone will always dislike the way I do something, that is why I am asking Jesus that He would allow me to have a continual and intense focus on Him…pleasing everyone is just impossible and should not be my goal.
- Matthew 12:3, Jesus offended the Pharisees of the day by asking them, “Haven’t you read…” That was literally one of the most offensive things that anyone could have said to them—Jesus was not afraid to offend the religious!
- Matthew 12:32, I must be careful with what I speak against because, according to Jesus, IF the Holy Spirit is in it and IF my words condemn it then that just isn’t a good thing.
- Matthew 15:10-14, This passage just made me smile.
- Matthew 16:18, This verse sets me on fire every time I read it! Jesus said He will build HIS church and we are seeing that very thing take place!
- Matthew 18:15-17, I prayed that I would always have the guts to do this.
That’s about it for now!