What? Who said that? … Jesus did, in Matt. 5. How is it possible?  What was He trying to say.

Firstly, this challenge is given in the context of how we treat each other. Don’t treat each other as mere humans do, but treat them as Your Heavenly Father does.  “Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.”

My earthly father built his life on the teachings of Jesus from Matt. 5-7, and I have never known a more Godly man. I am grateful for a wonderful role model. To me, he approaches perfection in this sense. I, too, want to be perfect.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we come so short of Your true glory, but in our weakness and shortcoming, Your strength and perfection must shine through. We want to be like You.

DAILY READING: Matt. 5,6

The animosity we see toward Christians from elected officials is nothing new. Herod wanted to kill Jesus and instructed the Magi to tell him where the child was. He said, “I want to worship Him.”  Really, he wanted to eliminate the rival to his power. Again, this is nothing new.

We who love Christ will continue to serve the Lord in faith, protected from His enemies by listening to the Lord’s voice of leading. God’s angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt. The same God will be faithful to instruct His people on how to cohabit in a spiritually resistant culture, yet carry out their ongoing assignment … to evangelize the world.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we know You have enemies, but we also know You have lost sheep who need to enter the fold. Empower us by Your Spirit to be faithful, flaming evangelists in this sin-laden society.

DAILY READING: Matthew 1-4

Happy Mothers Day!

Mothers, do you realize that only YOU can give God one of His most desired things?  He wants GODLY OFFSPRING! [Malachi 2:15] He wants children birthed and raised to serve Him. Your home is the best place on earth to cultivate godliness within the heart of a child. Sunday school, Christian schools, Bible clubs … they are all merely tools God has provided to assist in this process, but the core impact for spiritual formation happens at the side of the bed, at the meal table, in the myriad of situations each day presents where God’s ways can be taught by mothers who, like Hannah, are raising young Samuels to serve the Lord faithfully.

Mothers, you have possibly the most important role in the universe!

DAILY PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for mothers. Bless each of them today in a special way. Make them know Your approval for their labor of love in birthing and raising children.

DAILY READING: Malachi 3,4

Thursday was the National Day of Prayer, and in my preparation for our school assembly I had been reading about the prayer life of George Washington. His prayer custom was morning and evening. Daniel and David both prayed 3 times a day. The featured verse for today at http://www.Biblegateway.com actually encourages constant prayer.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 16-18

There you have it. God wants continual prayer.  I’m in.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, continual fellowship with You is what I desire. I want to always please You, stay in Your presence, and experience the fullness of Your power in my life.

DAILY READING: Malachi 1,2

Zechariah prophesies that Jerusalem will experience the opposition of all the nations of the earth. Yet, she shall be an immovable rock, and all that try to move her will injure themselves.

Surely there are events prophesied that have yet to be experienced, but believers can take hope that when all around seems to press in, we are safe.  Christians ARE the City of God. Jesus will come again and put his foot on the Mount of Olives, split it from east to west, and become our Eternal Ruler here.

The most important thing, then, is to stay IN THE CITY.  Also, we can invite others to get into the City. That’s called “soul-winning.”

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, in You we find our safety. So, we will not live in fear, but in Hope, and we will be Your ambassadors to this generaion.

DAILY READING: Zechariah 10-14

As prophesied by Zechariah, Jesus would come.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey.

I so remember this passage as there is an aria from Messiah using this text. It is one of the exciting passages in all the Bible.  Our King has come, and He will come again.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we await Your return. You came once in a lowly manner. You will come again in all the majesty and glory that can be realized. You are our King.

DAILY READING: Zechariah 7-9

Zechariah prophetically referred to “The Branch.” This is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Who else could match the description described in chapter 6?

“… The man whose name is the Branch … and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne.”

The writer of Hebrews declares, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” [4:14]

DAILY PRAYER: Jesus, You are the Branch Zechariah spoke of. You are our High Priest who continually makes intercession for us.  We walk today in the sinless purity that only Your blood sacrifice can offer.

DAILY READING: Zechariah 3-6

As Zechariah related, God’s angel asked Him how long He would withhold His mercy from Jerusalem with whom He had been angry for 70 years? It’s as if the angel full well knew how strong and prevailing God’s merciful nature was and wondered how long it would be until the merciful nature would again overrule His judgement nature.

James recognized this same characteristic when he declared, “[God’s] mercy triumphs over judgement.”

God’s anger only lasts a season, but His love and mercy endure forever.

DAILY PRAYER: Father in Heaven, we trust in Your merciful nature even as the Psalmist said, “The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.”

DAILY READING: Haggai 1,2; Zechariah 1,2

After God’s “Day of Wrath” judgements in the earth, He will restore His people and remove all fear. This was the message through Zephaniah.

Although the nation of Israel is the intended subject, the term Zion refers to God’s inhabited city.

If you are a Christian, you are an inhabitant of that city and thereby receive the blessings spoken of in this book. We are Abraham’s seed by faith.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, thank You for dying for me, for making me a part of Your Church here on earth. I receive the promises You have given to Your people and will share this blessing with others through the Gospel.

DAILY READING: Zephaniah 1-3

Similarly to Job, Habakkuk demonstrated and sang about his trust and hope in the Lord.

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, may we have the faith to pray and believe like Habakkuk did. You have always been faithful to us, and we look to our futures with a trust in Your Hand of provision and protection.

DAILY READING: Habakkuk 1-3