September 8-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:1-2, Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
Observe what it is saying.
Over the next several weeks, we will review Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We will discover that the unifying theme is the kingdom of heaven, also known as, the kingdom of God. In this message, Jesus gives us His vision of what this kingdom on earth will become. The "crowds" were introduced in the previous chapter where Jesus is at the height of his popularity. Although Jesus’ ministry included impromptu large gatherings, Jesus intently focused on developing His disciples into the people that would carry the kingdom into the far reaches of the world. At this point in His ministry, the number of disciples were more numerous than the 12 who would be named later. To focus on this smaller number of followers, Jesus went up on a hill with a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee. Please notice that the Scripture says, “His disciples came to Him.” Jesus "sat down" to teach which was the accepted posture of synagogue teachers. Jesus understood the nature of crowds who can gather quickly and disburse just as quickly. He knew if the Kingdom was going to be established on earth, He would have to intentionally apprentice a core group who were committed to following after Him and learning His way. The same is true today. Crowds come and go, but true disciples are “all in” with Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
Am I content to come and go with the crowd or have I intentionally come to Jesus to become His apprentice?
Do something.
Lord God, give me the passion to spend considerable time at Your feet listening to Your every word. I desire to be in Your inner circle where the kingdom is being lived out daily. Amen.
September 9-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:3, He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Observe what it is saying.
Jesus starts His Sermon with what we call the Beatitudes which is the Latin word for “blessed.” Such a blessed person is favored by God and is truly "happy." The blessing is a sign of God’s approval and what He promises to do. The description of the poor in spirit is not just about someone who is poor. It is poverty that has the right spirit. It can be turned to our advantage only if it creates humility before God. To be poor in spirit is not to lack courage but to boldly acknowledge one's spiritual brokenness before God. It is to admit that we are desperate for His grace. The blessing of the "kingdom of heaven" belongs to those who openly confess their spiritual poverty and joyfully accept the Messiah’s rule and participate in the life of the kingdom. This is a promise that begins now. The kingdom has come, is coming, and will come in its fullness when Jesus returns. Regardless of our financial balance, we all need to come to the point that we recognize our poverty and confess our need for forgiveness, healing, and redemption. Such humble confession and renewal of spirit gives us courage to go forward in obedience knowing that we have entered into the glorious kingdom of God.
Relate it to your life.
Whether I am rich or poor, I need to recognize my spiritual poverty so I can receive the wealth of heaven.
Do something.
Jesus, I confess I am spiritually poor. I confess I need You. I need Your help. I need Your grace. I need Your truth. I need Your salvation. I need Your healing. I need Your leadership. I need Your guidance. I recognize Your kingdom is the greatest treasure I can ever inherit. Praise be to Your name! Amen.
September 10-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:4, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Observe what it is saying.
The godly remnant of Jesus' day wept because of the humiliation of God’s people called Israel, but they understood that it came from personal and national sins. Weeping for sins covers national, as well as, personal transgression. Isaiah gives us the context and answer for those who mourn over their sin. Isaiah 40:1-2, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Another word from Isaiah reveals how Jesus fulfilled God’s promised blessing in the first two Beatitudes, Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,” These blessings which have already come partially in Christ bringing His kingdom to earth the first time will be fully known at the return of Christ when He establishes the new heaven and earth. The only way blessing can come to us and our world is through the redemption Jesus offers.
Relate it to your life.
Do I mourn my own sins? Do I mourn the sins of my community, nation, and world?
Do something.
Lord God, I mourn and confess my sin against You. I mourn and confess the sins of my community and nation. I trust in Your forgiveness and the comfort You alone can bring. Amen.
September 11-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:5, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Observe what it is saying.
This verse is reminiscent of Psalm 37:11, “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” The meek or gentle are those who do not assert themselves over others in order to advance their own causes. The image is often given of a horse with a bit and bridle. It has great strength but is under control. This term was used by Jesus to describe Himself, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Such meekness is not weakness for we would never speak of Jesus as such. Meekness requires the recognition, as in the first two beatitudes, that we are poor in spirit and mourn our sins. With such a humble mindset, we express ourselves with a gentle spirit with one another. The verb "inherit" often relates to entrance into the Promised Land. This eventually became how entrance into the new heaven and the new earth was described for those who are not aggressive, harsh, or tyrannical, but, like Jesus, who had all power at His fingertips, choose to relate differently. This inheritance will ultimately be fulfilled in the consummation of the messianic kingdom at the end of time. Meekness requires the greatest strength of all to surrender control and power into the hands of God.
Relate it to your life.
I may have earthly strength, power, and position, but in the kingdom of God, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, I choose to respond to one another with a gentle spirit.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, make me more like You. Dismantle my pride. Give me a mindset that thinks of others first. Bring my tongue under Your control. Let me go about my life humbly serving others. Amen.
September 12-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Observe what it is saying.
"Hunger and thirst" express a deep driving desire. Psalm 42:2 says it this way, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” It is the heart of those who truly love God and desire His will to be done. This righteousness is both personal and corporate. Righteousness is a gift for all who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord to give them a right standing before God. Righteousness, also, includes the work of justice and pleas with God and works for all people to be treated in ways that are good and just. Jesus later says in this sermon, Matthew 6:33, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” God’s kingdom or God’s nation on earth is equated with right living both personally and as communities. We know we are hungering and thirsting for this because all unrighteousness grieves us and makes us homesick for the new heaven and earth. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” What we long for, pray for, and work for will be finally accomplished when Christ’s kingdom fully comes. Until then, may we join the work of God in doing what is right and good for all.
Relate it to your life.
What is that I most hunger for? Food, material things, a bigger bank account, pleasure, family, friends, or that God’s righteousness will be born in my life and will be evidenced throughout the world.
Do something.
Jesus, forgive me when I have not put Your righteousness first, but, instead, put my wants ahead of the greater good of Your kingdom to be realized in my life and throughout the world. Amen.
September 13-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Observe what it is saying.
Mercy embraces both forgiveness for the guilty and compassion for the suffering and needy. As it relates to forgiveness, we find later in Jesus’ sermon, Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” To demonstrate such mercy implies the ability to enter into another person’s world with all its misery, to feel compassion for that person, and to act accordingly to alleviate their misery. The Samaritan showed mercy when he cared for a man left for dead by robbers, without regard to his own safety or convenience. To be merciful, we cannot live disconnected and detached from others and their problems. God, in Christ, did not remain aloof but felt our pain and entered into our world with tremendous mercy to redeem us. When we choose to be merciful in the way see and treat one another, God Himself, who has first shown us mercy in Christ, will show us even greater mercy.
Relate it to your life.
When I have a compassionate attitude and demonstrate care for other’s needs, then I am operating with the same kind of mercy that the Lord has shown to me.
Do something.
Jesus, I praise You for Your mercy that is extended to me over and over again. Give me the strength to show Your kind of compassionate care and concern to others even when it is difficult to do so. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:1-2, Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
Observe what it is saying.
Over the next several weeks, we will review Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We will discover that the unifying theme is the kingdom of heaven, also known as, the kingdom of God. In this message, Jesus gives us His vision of what this kingdom on earth will become. The "crowds" were introduced in the previous chapter where Jesus is at the height of his popularity. Although Jesus’ ministry included impromptu large gatherings, Jesus intently focused on developing His disciples into the people that would carry the kingdom into the far reaches of the world. At this point in His ministry, the number of disciples were more numerous than the 12 who would be named later. To focus on this smaller number of followers, Jesus went up on a hill with a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee. Please notice that the Scripture says, “His disciples came to Him.” Jesus "sat down" to teach which was the accepted posture of synagogue teachers. Jesus understood the nature of crowds who can gather quickly and disburse just as quickly. He knew if the Kingdom was going to be established on earth, He would have to intentionally apprentice a core group who were committed to following after Him and learning His way. The same is true today. Crowds come and go, but true disciples are “all in” with Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
Am I content to come and go with the crowd or have I intentionally come to Jesus to become His apprentice?
Do something.
Lord God, give me the passion to spend considerable time at Your feet listening to Your every word. I desire to be in Your inner circle where the kingdom is being lived out daily. Amen.
September 9-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:3, He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Observe what it is saying.
Jesus starts His Sermon with what we call the Beatitudes which is the Latin word for “blessed.” Such a blessed person is favored by God and is truly "happy." The blessing is a sign of God’s approval and what He promises to do. The description of the poor in spirit is not just about someone who is poor. It is poverty that has the right spirit. It can be turned to our advantage only if it creates humility before God. To be poor in spirit is not to lack courage but to boldly acknowledge one's spiritual brokenness before God. It is to admit that we are desperate for His grace. The blessing of the "kingdom of heaven" belongs to those who openly confess their spiritual poverty and joyfully accept the Messiah’s rule and participate in the life of the kingdom. This is a promise that begins now. The kingdom has come, is coming, and will come in its fullness when Jesus returns. Regardless of our financial balance, we all need to come to the point that we recognize our poverty and confess our need for forgiveness, healing, and redemption. Such humble confession and renewal of spirit gives us courage to go forward in obedience knowing that we have entered into the glorious kingdom of God.
Relate it to your life.
Whether I am rich or poor, I need to recognize my spiritual poverty so I can receive the wealth of heaven.
Do something.
Jesus, I confess I am spiritually poor. I confess I need You. I need Your help. I need Your grace. I need Your truth. I need Your salvation. I need Your healing. I need Your leadership. I need Your guidance. I recognize Your kingdom is the greatest treasure I can ever inherit. Praise be to Your name! Amen.
September 10-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:4, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Observe what it is saying.
The godly remnant of Jesus' day wept because of the humiliation of God’s people called Israel, but they understood that it came from personal and national sins. Weeping for sins covers national, as well as, personal transgression. Isaiah gives us the context and answer for those who mourn over their sin. Isaiah 40:1-2, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Another word from Isaiah reveals how Jesus fulfilled God’s promised blessing in the first two Beatitudes, Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,” These blessings which have already come partially in Christ bringing His kingdom to earth the first time will be fully known at the return of Christ when He establishes the new heaven and earth. The only way blessing can come to us and our world is through the redemption Jesus offers.
Relate it to your life.
Do I mourn my own sins? Do I mourn the sins of my community, nation, and world?
Do something.
Lord God, I mourn and confess my sin against You. I mourn and confess the sins of my community and nation. I trust in Your forgiveness and the comfort You alone can bring. Amen.
September 11-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:5, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Observe what it is saying.
This verse is reminiscent of Psalm 37:11, “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” The meek or gentle are those who do not assert themselves over others in order to advance their own causes. The image is often given of a horse with a bit and bridle. It has great strength but is under control. This term was used by Jesus to describe Himself, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Such meekness is not weakness for we would never speak of Jesus as such. Meekness requires the recognition, as in the first two beatitudes, that we are poor in spirit and mourn our sins. With such a humble mindset, we express ourselves with a gentle spirit with one another. The verb "inherit" often relates to entrance into the Promised Land. This eventually became how entrance into the new heaven and the new earth was described for those who are not aggressive, harsh, or tyrannical, but, like Jesus, who had all power at His fingertips, choose to relate differently. This inheritance will ultimately be fulfilled in the consummation of the messianic kingdom at the end of time. Meekness requires the greatest strength of all to surrender control and power into the hands of God.
Relate it to your life.
I may have earthly strength, power, and position, but in the kingdom of God, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, I choose to respond to one another with a gentle spirit.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, make me more like You. Dismantle my pride. Give me a mindset that thinks of others first. Bring my tongue under Your control. Let me go about my life humbly serving others. Amen.
September 12-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Observe what it is saying.
"Hunger and thirst" express a deep driving desire. Psalm 42:2 says it this way, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” It is the heart of those who truly love God and desire His will to be done. This righteousness is both personal and corporate. Righteousness is a gift for all who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord to give them a right standing before God. Righteousness, also, includes the work of justice and pleas with God and works for all people to be treated in ways that are good and just. Jesus later says in this sermon, Matthew 6:33, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” God’s kingdom or God’s nation on earth is equated with right living both personally and as communities. We know we are hungering and thirsting for this because all unrighteousness grieves us and makes us homesick for the new heaven and earth. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” What we long for, pray for, and work for will be finally accomplished when Christ’s kingdom fully comes. Until then, may we join the work of God in doing what is right and good for all.
Relate it to your life.
What is that I most hunger for? Food, material things, a bigger bank account, pleasure, family, friends, or that God’s righteousness will be born in my life and will be evidenced throughout the world.
Do something.
Jesus, forgive me when I have not put Your righteousness first, but, instead, put my wants ahead of the greater good of Your kingdom to be realized in my life and throughout the world. Amen.
September 13-Sermon on the Mount
Write out the Scripture.
Matthew 5:7, Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Observe what it is saying.
Mercy embraces both forgiveness for the guilty and compassion for the suffering and needy. As it relates to forgiveness, we find later in Jesus’ sermon, Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” To demonstrate such mercy implies the ability to enter into another person’s world with all its misery, to feel compassion for that person, and to act accordingly to alleviate their misery. The Samaritan showed mercy when he cared for a man left for dead by robbers, without regard to his own safety or convenience. To be merciful, we cannot live disconnected and detached from others and their problems. God, in Christ, did not remain aloof but felt our pain and entered into our world with tremendous mercy to redeem us. When we choose to be merciful in the way see and treat one another, God Himself, who has first shown us mercy in Christ, will show us even greater mercy.
Relate it to your life.
When I have a compassionate attitude and demonstrate care for other’s needs, then I am operating with the same kind of mercy that the Lord has shown to me.
Do something.
Jesus, I praise You for Your mercy that is extended to me over and over again. Give me the strength to show Your kind of compassionate care and concern to others even when it is difficult to do so. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals