Tag: Disciple

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Mixed With Contaminates

 FEBRUARY 10

MATTHEW 5:13_if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

It is my understanding that on its own salt will never lose its flavor, even with a long amount of time. However, salt can lose its flavor if it is mixed with something that contaminates. 

James 1:8 (KJV), “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” What is a double minded man? A person who attempts to live the Jesus-disciple life while satisfying desires with the world’s ways. You’ve heard of someone living a double life? Some criminals have lived it for a long while before being caught. They usually live like this because they cannot be satisfied in either life. In the long run they fail in both.  

Contaminated salt is not good for anything. It is neither a preservative, a flavor enhancer, nor a thirst quencher. All its wonderful potential was lost by contamination. Jesus is a restorer. Jesus can restore all the original qualities to a contaminated soul who comes with a repentant heart. Jesus is all about forgiveness, new life, and peace. 

Now how do you feel about being called the salt of the earth?

  PRAYER

God of my Life, Thank You that You can restore me from any contaminates I have allowed in my life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.               

Christ is a restorer – He can restore all my past!

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You’re Not the Only One

FEBRUARY 6

MATTHEW 5:12 _for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Do you ever feel like you’re the only one? Everything that has to do with suffering, trials, and persecutions always comes to you. Everybody else has it made. Even if they do suffer for their Christian values, it’s short lived. You’re the only one for whom it goes on and on. Whenever something bad or hard comes around, it always falls on you. If someone gets the blame (for something they didn’t do), it’s always you. And, you’re the one who was doing right. The ones spouting the blame are the ones in the wrong.

According to Jesus, not only are you not the only one – but it has been going on since long before you were born. Jesus goes back to the Old Testament prophets and points out they, too, were persecuted for standing up for God’s truths. It is not something new. It is something that has been and always will be a part of a disciple’s life. 

Go ahead and rejoice – you’re in good company!

 PRAYER

God of comfort, I’m sorry for the times I whine, when I should praise. Help me thank You when I am persecuted for Your sake. Help me know the difference when I am persecuted for my own sake, and help me change my path. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.              

Christ knows who is persecuted—I’m not the only one!

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What Do You See?

FEBRUARY 5

MATTHEW 5:12_for great is your reward in heaven… 

Here is what Jesus knew was in store – great is your reward in heaven. Awesome! He didn’t keep this as some kind of mystery to be revealed after your death, but said it plainly.

Jesus-disciples have something to ponder: Do you believe in heavenly rewards? If you do believe, you have another question to ponder: Do you believe this life can result in heavenly rewards?

If you have never considered this, go to a Bible reference and see how many times heavenly rewards are mentioned. If you are only interested in the rewards of this life, which you can also find reference to in the Bible; make a change in your thought pattern. 

Think this way. Compare your time on earth, even if you live a hundred years, to time in eternity. Now compare a hundred years of earthly rewards to an eternity of heavenly rewards. Read that last sentence again. What do you see?  

Don’t overlook Jesus’ description of your reward – great!

 PRAYER

God of promises, I want to know all the truths You teach in the Bible. I know my earthly life is very short in comparison to eternity, and I know I can’t make myself good or clean or righteous, but I know You can do it all. I praise Your name! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.              

Christ holds heaven’s rewards—For eternity!

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When Actually…

FEBRUARY 3

MATTHEW 5:11_and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

A new light is shed on persecution. This is not persecution because you think you’re right and your persecutor is wrong. This is persecution because you believe Jesus is right! This is about being falsely persecuted. This is about having all kinds of evil lies spread about you because your enemies hate Jesus and His teachings … and His disciples.

Who was lied about more than Jesus? From the time of His conception to His ascension into heaven He was maliciously verbally attacked.

Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath, when actually He was the Sabbath. Jesus was accused of blasphemy by claiming to be the Son of God, when actually He was God in the flesh. Jesus was accused of being out of His mind, when actually He possessed the very mind of God. Jesus was accused of demonic possession, when actually He freed captives and put demons to flight. Jesus was accused of inciting riots to overthrow the Romans, when actually He taught His disciples to pay taxes to Caesar and obey their authorities.

The One who promises the blessing is the One who understands everything about persecution.

 PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I praise You for all You suffered in order to teach me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.              

Christ was falsely accused—He bore it all for my sake!

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Can You See God?

JANUARY 25

MATTHEW 5:8_for they shall see God.

Just like the negative things we dwell on are in embedded in the heart, Jesus’ teachings cleanse the heart. When your heart is purified; you will see God.

You see God when you fill your heart with the truths of His principles found in His Word. You see God when you make sacrifices in your life in order to help someone weaker or needier than you. You see God when you stand for truth even in the face of ridicule, scorn, and lies. You see God when you make choices for righteousness and purity over self-satisfying indulgence.

You see God because your heart has been purified by agreeing with His truths over the world’s lies. You have made decisions in your heart to walk that road, follow that path, take up that cross, and become a disciple of Jesus.

You will never purify your heart by agreeing with the world’s standards. This means looking at images of impurity, speaking words of impurity, engaging in acts of impurity, reading novels filled with impurity, watching entertainment full of impurity, or listening to music about impurity. You are not going to see God on any of those roads.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have chosen impurity over purity and the times I have agreed with lies because I didn’t want to walk the road of truth. Help me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                    

Christ’s truths are the road to purity—He will lead me!