1. Salt and light
Matthew 5:13-16 (New International Version)
Quote:
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
How are we doing in this department? I don't believe we are doing such a good job being salt and light of the world. On the contrary, we seem to be well known as hypocrites.
2. Matthew 5:17-20 (New International Version)
The fulfilment of the law
Quote:
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
We see that most Christian communities are washing down the Commandments because it is not popular to follow them. We are so spoiled that it is very hard to keep God's commandments.
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43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
This is so simple to understand but most trinitarians are disobeying by supporting and joining the military. It is just sad.
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13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Following and serving Jesus with all your might is not easy for most Christians who are so spoiled materialistically. Jesus also says that it is hard for rich people to go to the kingdom of heaven. I believe this verse applies to most wealthy countries' Christians.
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15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
It seems that most of us Christians in wealthy countries will be cut down; that means most of us will not make it to heaven. In my observation we are not producing much fruit in this country, there are thousands of Christian communities yet little fruit.
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Matthew 7:21-23 (New International Version)
7. True followers.
Quote:
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Jesus don't approve of lip servers. It seems that most churches are just serving themselves instead of Jesus. Church communities don't seem to know or care if their church is being fruitful or not.
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24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
It appears that most of us are practicing pick-and-choose type of faith. When we do this, we are being foolish builders and will not be good witnesses for the Lord at all. There is no power of God in half-hearted believers. We cannot mock God.
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35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Jesus is saying that workers are few. How are we doing with the great commission? Most of us think Jesus' messages are spread, yet most church communities don't even know what Jesus is teaching, it seems.
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Matthew 10:11-16 (New International Version)
12. Helping and cooperating with other followers.
Quote:
11"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
When I go to my country for evangelism I have to rely on my non-believing cousin's family for lodging. No one else is willing to help me because I don't belong to their organization.Matthew 10:11-16 (New International Version)
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Matthew 10:34-36 (New International Version)
13. No worldly peace
Quote:
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw—
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
Jesus' followers should not expect worldly joy and peace. His people will get true happiness when we finish our job well done.
Jesus' followers reward is joy and peace come from being faithful to Him.
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14. Love for Jesus should come before anything and anyone with His followers.
Quote:
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Jesus sure is a tough Teacher.
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Matthew 11:25-26 (New International Version)
15. Hidden for learned
Quote:
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
We don't have to have many years of being Christian to be Jesus' faithful followers. All we need is to have childlike mind and sincere desire to be loyal and obedient to His teachings. When we don't appreciate the teachings, we will make it look complicated, make excuses and end up not following them.
hitomi
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Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version)
16. My yoke is easy.
Quote:
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I believe He is saying that if we give up our own ways and follow Him with all our might, our lives will be so much easier. His teachings are for our own good. He is certainly proving that in my own family.
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Matthew 12:43-45 (New International Version)
17. Evil spirit
Quote:
43"When an evil[a] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
I believe Jesus is explaining about our faith. We accept Him as our Lord but we don't follow through with our practices. When we don't take seriously about our faith, our lives will be much, much worse than non-believers.
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Matthew 12:46-50 (New International Version)
18. Jesus' Mother and Brothers
Quote:
46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."[a]
48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus cherishes all His followers. We should be very careful when we ostracizing other brethren because when we do, we are persecuting Jesus. There are many kinds of wrongful ostracism going on in the Christian communities.
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11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
I believe Jesus is saying if we are not wholeheartedly seeking God and serving Him, true knowledge will be hidden from us.
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19. You will be ever hearing but never understanding.
Quote:
14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them
This is what happens when we are not wholeheartedy serving God.
Last edited by joyful on Mon May 07, 2012 1:05 am; edited 1 time in total
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