Luke 1:46-55 (CHRISTMAS Devotion)

MARY'S SONG OF PRAISE: THE MAGNIFICAT - "And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.'"

The Christmas story is full of intrigue, excitement and anticipation. When we think of Christmas, various images come to mind of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; angels, shepherds and wise men; and a stable manger, because there was no room at the inn. However, tucked within the pageantry on display and imagery we envision are raw emotions the characters must have been feeling in the moment. The story begins as such: "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be" (Luke 1:26-29). The beauty of the Gospel is that it aligns not only with our psyche, but our emotions. We can relate to the shock and amazement Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel stood before her and foretold she would give birth to God's own Son. Similarly, our logical minds likely would have been troubled just as she was, because embracing the impossible forces us to reconcile who we know God to be. In particular, our skepticism would undermine the message being given and cause us to wonder whether we were dreaming or experiencing a delusional moment. "And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?'" (Luke 1:34). Yet despite all the reasons why Mary could have doubted, the angel further intrigued Mary by announcing that her elderly, barren relative named Elizabeth would also conceive a son. Not only was the Lord poised to perform one miracle but two, for Gabriel affirmed to Mary, "Nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). 

It is easy to read the Christmas story and determine that if we had been chosen in Mary's place, our response would have been no different than hers—but would it really? "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:38). Keep in mind, hindsight is 20/20. We have the benefit of being bystanders to this narrative and knowing how it all plays out. Mary did not. She had to make a choice BY FAITH that the words promised to her were true. She didn't have time to think on it or ask Gabriel a laundry list of questions before making a decision. She simply trusted and obeyed. In retrospect, we know she was chosen primarily because of her faith and obedience to the law. "And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God'" (Luke 1:30). The character and countenance Mary possessed, in addition to the fact she was a virgin, all contributed to her selection by God for this monumental task, but it was her devotion to obeying God's Word in her personal walk of faith that presupposed her acceptance of God's will for her life. No doubt Mary conducted herself accordingly to the wisdom of Scripture which declares, "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:30), but we cannot forget she was a sinner as well, of the lineage of Adam. As a devout Jew, obedience to the law was absolute and non-negotiable, so we are not surprised that her religious devotion had sufficient merit in the eyes of God. However, as we consider ourselves compared to Mary's example, would we be as easy a selection if God presented the same miraculous opportunity to us?

Keep in mind, Mary had to weigh the consequences of this decision as well. As a young woman betrothed to be married, she understood the ramifications of her decision. Contrary to present-day, American culture, showing up on the doorstep of your fiance's home whom you hadn't seen in six months—supposedly a virgin, but now PREGNANT—was an opportunity for any myriad of potential outcomes. Public shame and humiliation, being disowned, or even death were all potential consequences of action for the revelation of her pregnancy out of wedlock. Mary knew there would be no denying or hiding her pregnancy, yet to the dismay of her faith community it did not deter her resolve. She trusted what the angel Gabriel proclaimed—that she would not simply be pregnant, but would give birth to God's Son and name Him, Jesus. Nine months of sacrifice would culminate in the birth of a miraculous baby, the Savior of the world. Therefore, she had all the assurance she needed that despite the mockery, ridicule, persecution and chastisement she would receive, God's will would be done regardless of the consequences which inevitably surrounded her. It is as if the words of King David echoed in her heart: "Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD" (Psalm 27:3-6). No matter what mankind could do to her as a result of her premarital pregnancy, Mary trusted the Lord would guide and protect her, just as He did for David on countless occasions.

The raw emotion Mary experienced as a result of her encounter with Gabriel is captured by Luke in what is referred to as the "Magnificat," our highlighted Scripture passage. While typically glossed over within the Christmas pageantry, it encapsulates Mary's joy, praise and adoration for who God is and what He has done for His people. In many ways the Magnificat echoes that of "Hannah's Song" (1 Samuel 2:1-10), when the Lord had mercy on Hannah's barrenness and opened her womb, enabling her to give birth to a son (the prophet Samuel) whom she promised to dedicate to the Lord for ministry service. For our personal reflection, Mary's song of praise is a tremendous example of humility and reverence to God. In no way does Mary deify herself in this psalm. Rather, she conveys a sense of innocence that the words Elizabeth proclaimed to her would be true. "And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'" (Luke 1:41-42). Undoubtedly, Mary's example of piety is worthy of respect and admiration throughout all generations, but it should not be misconstrued as an opportunity for us to deify her. For as John MacArthur once wrote, "Those who channel their religious energies into the veneration of Mary would do well to learn from the example of Mary herself. God is the only One she magnified." Mary's entire focus within her song of praise was to glorify God for using her as an instrument of His love, because through her the Savior of the world was born. Her recognition of her lowliness and unworthiness as a sinner compared to the splendor of God's majesty is perhaps the greatest takeaway we can glean from the Magnificat and apply similarly in our prayer life, just as Mary emulated from Hannah's example.

As we conclude, an interesting question to wrestle with is how we would remember Mary if her identity had been different. In other words, would we have the same reverent sentiment toward her as the mother of Jesus Christ if for instance she had been a prostitute prior to Gabriel's visitation? Hypothetically, it forces us to reconcile whether we justify one sin over another. Keep in mind, the Lord used Rahab (the prostitute) for His glory when she protected the Israelite spies who escaped Jericho under her protection. "By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies" (Hebrews 11:31). Why then could the Lord not have chosen Mary if her background were different? Granted, the miracle of a virgin birth would not be as compelling, but God could have re-written the story if He wanted to in another miraculous way. What we must distinguish is that Mary's virgin identity of sexual purity does not mean she was perfect and lived a sinless life. Only God is perfect and worthy to be praised! In many ways, the veneration of Mary over the past 2,000 years has evolved into a forgetfulness or disregard that she was indeed a sinner, just like Rahab or anyone of us. Let us be clear: The "humble estate" Mary refers to in her Magnificat is her own recognition that God did not have to choose her. She understood her need for a Savior just as we should. There was nothing in and of herself that deserved to be chosen for the task, for she was merely a young girl of lowly social status. Rather, it was her humility and faith which allowed her to accept the specific role He desired for her life, and consequently allows us to share in the celebration of God's redemptive plan of salvation of which she played an important role.

Therefore, as we celebrate the choice Mary made to accept God's will for her life, let us not lose focus that God similarly has a unique will for us as well. Granted, what God desires for us to accomplish may not be as grandiose as Mary's, but undeniably we will be blessed for our obedience just as she was if we submit our personal will for the Lord's service. God always uses imperfect people to accomplish His will. Look no further than King David's murder of Uriah, Paul's approval in the stoning of Stephen, or Peter's threefold denial of Jesus before His crucifixion as prime examples. What we must remember is each of these characters owned up to and repented of their sins, and God used them mightily to impact the world for Christ. Therefore, let us not compare the unique purposes God has placed on each of our hearts as if some are less important than others. For the apostle Paul reminds us, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). We go no place by accident because the Lord's hand is constantly at work, bringing to fruition His sovereign will for our lives wherever we go. Therefore, let us rejoice and praise His Name for the gift of salvation He provided through the willing sacrifice of a young girl who accepted her unique purpose and mission to bear the Savior of the world. May we emulate the same willingness to submit and obey the Lord's calling on each of our lives when the Spirit prompts us to act. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Matthew 6:16-18 (Devotion)

FASTING - "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

If there is one spiritual discipline that has fallen out of fashion in the Christian church, it would be fasting. It is not that people struggle understanding what fasting is, but rather many possess a lack of trust that fasting produces a substantial benefit worth the effort. Fasting helps a Christian's spiritual walk in many ways. It brings clarity of mind and builds discipline of the mind, body and soul. In many ways, it places us in a position of necessity by voluntarily withholding ourselves from basic, dietary needs for survival. What we crave is intentionally avoided in order to shift our attention toward a greater purpose, but fasting is not merely an abstention from food. Fasting involves prayer and meditation in an intimate, private setting where we communicate freely with God. In Old Testament times, fasting was not a suggestion, but a command straight from the mouth of God. "And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever" (Leviticus 16:29-31). It is interesting to note that "affliction" is used to describe fasting. God commanded the nation of Israel on the Day of Atonement to not only abstain from work, but to intentionally deny fleshly cravings by afflicting themselves for the purpose of purity. We would classify it today as a spiritual holiday reserved for those who proclaim themselves as sons and daughters of the Most High God, because it has become a blueprint for future generations to emulate and institute within their spiritual disciplines. However, fasting is no longer a once-a-year mandate, but a privilege we can take advantage of as frequently as we prefer. 

We must not overlook in Matthew 6:16-18 that Jesus expects us to fast. His words, "When you fast," cannot be misinterpreted as "If you fast." For many this command brings conviction, because fasting is not something we practice—ever! This should compel us to examine why we avoid fasting. Perhaps it is not taught from the pulpits of our churches or emphasized within Bible study classes and small groups. Perhaps we have avoided the topic because we have no construct of personal application experience to elevate its importance. Perhaps we view it as archaic and outdated. Or perhaps we simply do not practice fasting because we lack understanding. Be encouraged! Not everything we read in our Bibles is easy to wrap our heads around. But if we are willing to humble ourselves and allow the Spirit to guide our actions, we will begin to witness the fruits of our labor if we submit to the expectation Jesus has for us to make fasting relevant and applicable in our lives. The real key is not to distort or minimize Jesus' command under the justification of ignorance. We do not have the right to ignore or even twist it under compulsion of guilt or self-glorification. That is why Noah Webster defines fasting as a "voluntary abstinence from food, as a religious mortification or humiliation; either total or partial abstinence from customary food, with a view to mortify the appetites, or to express grief and affliction on account of some calamity, or to deprecate an expected evil." If fasting was originally instituted by God as a tool to invoke cleansing and purification, we should embrace humility and self-mortification to remind us who we are as sinners, and how desperately we need reconciliation with our Father in heaven.

Self-mortification cannot be misconstrued though. Jesus pointedly judges those who use fasting as a public expression to garner attention from others as to how righteous they think they are. When we do this, all the focus shifts off God and onto ourselves. Fasting is twisted into a weapon of manipulation rather than a pathway to purity, and we who practice this level of deviance will be punished by God. That is the reward Jesus promises in this passage, but how seriously do we heed His warning? Jesus once said to those who doubted His authority, "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood" (John 7:17-18). Glory is not something God is willing to barter with, and those who attempt to negotiate personal glory at the expense of God's glory are foolish. Yet perhaps some wonder if there is truly anything wrong with publicly proclaiming to others when we fast. Keep in mind, fasting is a discipline of the heart. When we fast privately, outside distractions are kept at bay from influencing our intentions. In many ways, people can ridicule or mock us when we choose to live counter-culture in order to lessen the conviction they feel for not following the same example. Or plainly stated, Satan can leverage the opinions of others to condemn or distract our efforts to obey God's command. That is why we must maintain the same perspective King David had when he said, "Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment" (Psalm 6:8-10).

Praise God that Jesus offers specific advice regarding how we should fast. The instruction of "anointing our heads" and "washing our faces" is in stark contrast to the unrighteous mockery of fasting He condemns. In order to garner attention and sympathy, hypocrites would dress themselves in sackcloth and leave their faces unwashed and dirty with ashes to convey publicly that they were intentionally fasting and in communion with God. However, Jesus offers no such command for the righteous, but instructs us to cleanse ourselves outwardly in order to prepare our hearts internally. It is no different than how we dress ourselves for attending church on Sundays. We prepare our bodies physically, but we must be vigilant to not become legalistic and judgmental of others in the process. The heart's intent must be our primary focus, which cannot be limited by personal preference. Consider Peter's encouragement to wives as a guide to what truly matters to God: "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Let us be clear. Is Peter condemning cosmetology or wearing jewelry? No. Is Peter stating that there is only one acceptable fashion style that is acceptable to wear? No. Is Peter even saying that what we look like on the outside even matters at all? No. What Peter is emphasizing though is that the condition of our character and countenance far exceeds the outward adornment we wear and portray. For if our hearts and souls are pure, we will allow the Spirit who dwells in us to shine forth as the most important outward adornment we convey publicly; because that is beauty which is imperishable and pleasing to God, and one that honors the true intent of what fasting was instituted to illicit within the hearts of the Lord's beloved children.

The reasons why we fast are just as important as how we fast. Fasting allows us the opportunity to express our hearts to God, but in a more intense and focused manner. It is first bathed in humility with a reverence to God's holiness, that He may expose the condition of our hearts. It is an opportunity for clarity and discernment, healing and transformation, conviction and reconciliation. Even more so, it is a period of time when we turn from our love of self and allow the Lord to embrace us with His grace, mercy and love. "'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.' Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster'" (Joel 2:12-13). Yet perhaps our greatest reason for fasting is simply for strength and fortitude to live on mission to accomplish God's will, despite the spiritual warfare which opposes us. Before Jesus' ministry began, He departed alone into the wilderness and fasted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-11). And when He was physically weary and exhausted, Satan used the opportunity to tempt Jesus to abandon His mission and reject His Father's will. Even the discipline of fasting itself placed Jesus into a position where His lack of physical nourishment left Him weak and vulnerable, but it would not deter Him from rebuking each of Satan's temptations by reciting God's Word. This should help direct our attention when we fast to not only prayer and supplication, but meditation and memorization of Scripture. Without God's Word, Satan would not have relented his attack on Jesus, because Scripture is the only offensive weapon available that is adequate enough to combat the forces of evil. "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:16-18).

The reward that awaits every follower of Christ who implements the discipline of fasting is truly dependent on the individual.  Like any quality relationship or practice, we get out what we put in. If we are unwilling to relinquish the time and effort needed to properly fast, we are missing out on incredible blessings God has in store for those who prioritize this practice. Therefore, let us not feel guilted by compulsion, but inspired to fast according to Jesus' instruction. It is a shift in perspective that takes a spiritual discipline rarely spoken of and turns it into an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. For just as Paul said, "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27), we must be prepared to discipline our faith walk by leveraging fasting as a means to an end for God's glory. No doubt, it may be difficult to get accustomed to if we have never done it, but repetition and consistency breed discipline if we apply ourselves accordingly. For just as we learned studying the book of James, surrendering our lives to God means taking a step back and acknowledging who we are as sinners compared to the holiness of God—and fasting allows us the intimate time needed with the Lord to mourn over our sin, that we may find our joy again in the love of our Savior whose eternal sacrifice cleanses us. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you" (James 4:7-10).

Matthew 6:14-15 (Devotion)

THE LORD'S PRAYER (Part #3) - "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

The final piece of the Lord's Prayer is truly where the rubber meets the road for a Christian. Jesus began His teaching by calling out the do's and don'ts concerning how we should pray, then provided a complete example on what prayer should look like, and finished with a stern warning. The exhortation is simply this: If we want our prayers to be heard and answered, we must avoid the common pitfall of forgiveness which has been plaguing man since the beginning of time. Honestly, how many of us even realized this 2-verse passage is the bookend for the Lord's Prayer? When we think of forgiveness, we typically focus our attention vertically between ourselves and God, rather than horizontally toward our fellow man. It is easy to wrap our heads around asking God to forgive our sins because that is the reward for genuine repentance, but do we fully grasp and embrace every step along the path of reconciliation? The recipe for repentance contains admission, guilt/shame/regret, sorrow, confession, and acceptance of consequences. It is the foundation God requires in order to transform these ingredients into forgiveness, and we are wise not to neglect any component if we desire the end-result. Picture baking a cake or a loaf of bread. Would we expect that omitting flour but maintaining all the other recipe ingredients would still result in a finished product? Of course, not. Therefore, how can we experience forgiveness if we're willing to admit we made a mistake but are not truly broken over our sin or willing to accept the consequences? The final product will never be what it should if we leave out a key ingredient, and such is the case with forgiveness.

In many ways, we must recognize whether we're going through the motions or not when we seek forgiveness of sins through repentance. "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). We are fooling ourselves if we believe we can hide our true feelings and intentions from God, but often times we fail to recognize how worldly grief has infiltrated our prayer life. The ESV Study Bible offers the following commentary regarding this issue: "Grief that comes from God is characterized by repentance, (i.e., remorse caused by having lost God’s approval and the consequent resolve to reverse one’s conduct and live for God). Grief that comes from the world, (i.e., a remorse brought about by losing the world’s approval), leads to a resolve to regain that approval, and this produces death, or divine judgment." If we desire the fruit of healing through forgiveness, we must begin our repentance with godly grief which saves us, rather than worldly grief that deceives us into thinking we're safe and secure in our own strength. It is no different than what the prophet Obadiah wrote concerning the Edomites who pridefully trusted in their inaccessible location as their ultimate security, rather than the Lord almighty. "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD" (Obadiah 1:3-4). In the end, we will always be disappointed when we place our trust in the security of the world, because the world is in constant opposition to God's sovereignty.

Scripture warns, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17). When we consider the topic of forgiveness, we quickly realize that God's will for our lives is counter-cultural. Those who love the world are enticed by instant gratifications and personal retribution. Forgiveness is not a first reaction nor even a last resort, because holding a grudge and inflicting vengeance is more pleasing to the flesh. The flesh craves divisiveness because it fuels animosity and elevates us into a position of power and dominance over those who have sinned against us. In many ways, withholding forgiveness is more comfortable because forgiving others of sins committed against us brings more uncertainty than it's worth. We would rather bask in the misery of our bitterness than relinquish control of our fear or anger. "The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy" (Proverbs 14:10). That is why Jesus sternly warns of the consequences that await when we choose to satisfy our flesh rather than obey the Word of the Lord. Bitterness leads to hardheartedness, which binds our hearts under the stronghold of slavery. No good comes from bitterness—only the desire to lead others down the same destructive path, like a contagious sickness that plagues the soul. Therefore, "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:15).

What we must personally wrestle with is why we would ever consider NOT forgiving others of their trespasses. When we became born-again, we pledged allegiance to the Lord because of the wrath He took upon Himself for the forgiveness of our sins. He didn't have to die—He choose to die! Yet if we're honest with ourselves, the eternal sacrifice Jesus made is rarely real to us. We take for granted the unfathomable anguish he endured because our salvation is secure in Christ. Like reading the end of a novel without reading the majority of the book, we trust more in our superficial knowledge of the Gospel story rather than the life-giving instructions contained throughout appx. 1,300 pages or 750,000 words of the typical Protestant Bible. Brethren, how can this be? Have we truly become so numb to the reality of what Scripture says that the manifestation of God's Word, Jesus Christ, has become merely words on a page? Remember: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:1-5). If we are to understand the depth and breadth of how critical forgiving others is, the prophetic words Isaiah wrote 700 years before the birth of Christ must transform our perspective and awaken our hearts to the sacrifice God made to forgive our sins.

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:3-12).

No one said forgiving others was easy. If we have been grievously sinned against as in the case of physical abuse, adultery, etc, the thought of forgiving seems unbearable. The wounds are too deep, the scars are too fresh, and not enough time has passed to allow healing. On the other hand, others may be experiencing the struggle of an unrepentant offender or a missed opportunity due to the person being deceased or unavailable to reconcile with. In any case, the instruction Jesus gives is simply to forgive. We cannot be held captive by fear of reoccurring sin nor withholding forgiveness based on personal judgment regarding whether the grief we see is godly or worldly. Jesus said, "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him" (Luke 17:3-4). If we want our prayers to be heard, our supplications answered, and forgiveness showered down upon us when we confess our sins to the Lord, we must forgive others unconditionally. There can be no strings attached or negotiations made as if suddenly we have the right to enact a zero tolerance policy with forgiving others. The Lord does not treat us that way, so we should freely forgive others through the power of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can make adjustments to protect ourselves from future harm, but forgiving others is non-negotiable. Therefore, let us heed Jesus' warning, inspired to forgive others based on the promise God declares in His Word for our salvation: "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him" (Psalm 103:10-13).

Matthew 6:9-13 (Devotion)

THE LORD'S PRAYER (Part #2) - "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'"

The Lord's Prayer is by far one of the most common passages in the entire Bible, and arguably one we gloss over more easily due to its familiarity. It is a tutorial on what to say and how to say it, when we find ourselves caught in the unfamiliarity and awkwardness of praying. In many ways, the Lord's Prayer is far more than just an example to follow. It provides perspective and clarity for those of us who need a daily reminder of who we are in respect to God's supreme authority. In a world where celebrities are idolized and post-modernistic thinking is widespread, we can rest assured that the Lord is still sovereign and hears the cries of His people. Therefore, we confidently exalt, "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11). God not only hears our cries but has the power to meet our needs, albeit not what we prefer at times because His will is not fully visible for us to comprehend. He chooses what He wants to share with us, just as we choose whether to submit to His authority or not. No man can admit to being held captive against his will when the Lord is involved, for we have free will to embrace or reject His gift of salvation. But to those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, blessing and honor arise as we embrace the call to fulfill His great commission throughout the world. "You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you" (John 15:14-16).

As we break down each stanza of the Lord's Prayer, we must realize this format is a tool to build off of, not an end in and of itself. There are indeed times when we struggle with what to say to God in prayer. Our emotions elevate to the point where words simply fail to convey what's on our heart, and we're left silently frustrated by our inability to express how we're truly feeling. In those moments, God's Word teaches: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27). How amazing is this promise! No matter what we face, we can know with complete certainty that God hears our cries and more importantly, understands how we feel. There is no wondering whether God is listening because the Spirit intercedes for those who trust in the name of Jesus. Friends, this should liberate us; for no longer do personal fears and insecurities have any authority to hinder our prayers. Rather, we are empowered to take the Lord's Prayer and use it as a launching pad to freely express our hearts to the Lord, under the guidance and direction of Christ's teaching and the Spirit's intercession. Contrary to popular "religious" belief, Jesus never intended this teaching to be a mantra used by certain denominations as an all-encompassing prayer to eliminate the need for creative expression. No, the Lord's Prayer is rather like a map chartering our course along the seas of life—stopping at key ports along the way in order to equip us with needed supplies for the spiritual journey ahead.

Jesus emphasizes adoration as the quality we should begin our prayers with, giving praise to God for who He is. "The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!" (Psalm 99:1-3). Often times, we judge God and determine our level of respect for His authority based on the outcome of our prayers. In other words, we trust His sovereignty more if our prayers are answered as we see fit, compared to mistrust when things don't go our way. We must understand that adoration conveys sentiments of love, reverence, worship and respect. None of these qualities are conditional opportunities for doubt, but assurances that God is worthy to be glorified because His hallowed name speaks for itself. Therefore, we can boldly proclaim, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2). Beginning our prayers by referring to God as "Abba" or "Father" sets the tone for personalizing our prayers, yet does not undermine our respect for His authority. God desires for us to come to Him as little children who long for the guidance and protection of their heavenly Father. Even "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven'" (Matthew 19:14), in order to emphasize the importance of approaching God's throne with complete trust in the Father's love, just as a child would. Therefore, who are we to elevate ourselves in any way that undermines the Father-son or Father-daughter relationships we are freely given in Christ? It is important to point out that "hallowed be your name" is also translated, "Let your name be kept holy," or "Let your name be treated with reverence." The name of the Lord affirms His character and integrity, and we wise to recognize how revering His name (and not using it in vain) establishes our submission to His sovereign authority. "There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might" (Jeremiah 10:6).

Keep in mind, the holiness of the Lord is so immense that the prophet Isaiah immediately professed when He saw God in a vision, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5). The holiness of the Lord magnifies our sinfulness as sons and daughters of Adam, and whether we trust the Lord more than ourselves. Calling for God's kingdom to reign is one thing, but aligning our hearts with the will of the Lord is where we step forward from adolescence to adulthood, spiritually-speaking. We need not look any further than Jesus' example in the garden of Gethsemane to understand what it means to relinquish control of our lives for God's will. "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will'" (Matthew 26:36-39). If there is one aspect of prayer we often miss, it is relinquishing control of our lives and allowing God to use us for His glory any way He sees fit—which may thrust us into trials, calamity or persecution. For if we desire for the glory of heaven to displayed, our prayers must compel us into faith application where humility and reverence testify to our salvation. "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence" (Hebrews 5:7). 

Similar to surrendering our personal will, Jesus encourages us to relinquish selfish desires and embrace contentment. This plays out by asking the Lord to simply provide for our daily needs, that we may be well equipped to serve Him to our full potential. Of course, this casts an overwhelming shadow on how comfortable or content we are with God's provision in our lives, and even more-so regarding what we petition God for during prayer requests. The apostle Paul wrote, "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:6-9). We should never be afraid to present our desires to the Lord, but we are encouraged to pray with proper perspective and wisdom, because the treasures of this world can become a stumbling block if we are not careful. Moreover, we must continually recognize how indebted we are to the Lord for the price He paid for our salvation. Entitlement is a dangerous cancer in the life of a Christian. It pridefully declares we are owed something and have the right to judge the motivations of others as we see fit. The minute we begin feeling entitled, we become lazy admitting our sins but keenly aware of the sins others commit against us. How ironic! Therefore, we must shift our focus inward by seeking forgiveness for our sins and freely forgiving others because of the debt Christ paid for us. "How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye" (Luke 6:42).

The final conclusion to the Lord's Prayer is a sincere plea for God to protect us from evil dangers which seek to destroy our faith. Notice that Jesus does not model a request for God to dispel every spiritually compromising and tempestuous situation that could potentially come our way. He did not spare (Simon) Peter by foretelling his denial (nor will He spare us as well), because He knew the testing of Peter's faith would produce perseverance (just as it will ours). "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32). Therefore, we are encouraged to posture our hearts in such a way where we embrace trials and tests of faith the Lord allows, and trust He will never leave us or forsake us despite our struggles and failures. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). The more we understand the meaning behind each stanza of the Lord's Prayer, the better equipped we are to pray without ceasing, empowered by the Spirit, and with thanksgiving for who He is and what He has done for us. May we never forget the immeasurable love God has for those of us who trust His Word with confidence, submit to His authority without reservation, and obey His commands unconditionally. For we are loved by our Father in heaven with words inexpressible, proven by the sacrifice of His Son for sinners who least deserve grace and mercy. "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:1-2).

Matthew 6:5-8 (Devotion)

THE LORD'S PRAYER (Part #1) - "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Prayer is an essential, spiritual discipline of the Christian faith, yet many of us struggle with how to pray. In truth, the problem lies more in "why" we pray than "how" we pray, or even "what" we pray about. We fail to maintain the prayer life we should have and aspire to because we lack understanding, for what good is it to have knowledge without application? Of course, technique and skill evolve over time the more we exercise our freedom to pray, but we typically fail to exude a fervent prayer life because we lack wisdom. Wisdom affirms the role prayer plays in connecting our hearts to the heart of God. Like a child in the womb connected to its mother by an umbilical cord, our spiritual health and existence are dependent upon daily fellowship with God through prayer. Without it, we cannot survive. Therefore, if we are to live abundantly in Christ, we must address the elephant in the room that can make or break our journey of faith like no other. Jesus said to His disciples only moments before He was betrayed, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). If we confess the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must be keenly aware that opportunity abounds for weeds of temptation to take root in our hearts and choke out the good work produced in us at salvation. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15). Therefore, we must be diligent to resist Satan's attempts to distract us from making prayer a spiritual discipline in our lives, because our flesh is quick to abandon our post in favor of more enticing desires.

Before we address Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:5-8, we must take a moment and reflect upon our attitudes toward prayer and the fruit (or lack thereof) we are experiencing. Are we content with our prayer life? Does it even exist outside of great need or catastrophic moments? Charles Spurgeon offers incredible perspective that not only has stood the test of time (written 156 years ago), but echoes the heart of man and his struggle to find contentment in prayer. "There are so many persons who complain that they don't enjoy prayer. They don't neglect it, for they dare not; but they would neglect it if they could, because they don't find any pleasure in praying. And don't we all have to admit that sometimes when we pray, that it is very difficult work and seems to be almost drudgery? We spend the allotted time, but we rise from our knees unrefreshed, like a man who has laid on his bed but has not slept, so he hasn't really recovered his strength. When the time comes around again, conscience drives us to our knees, but there is not sweet fellowship with God. There is no crying out of our needs to him with the firm conviction that he will supply them. After having gone again through a certain round of customary utterances, we rise from our knees perhaps more troubled in conscience and more distressed in mind than we were before. There are many Christians, I think, who complain of this—that they pray not so much because it is a blessed thing that allows them to draw near to God, but because they must pray, because it is their duty, because they feel that if they did not, they would lose one of the sure evidences of being Christians" (Spurgeon, C.H., "True Prayer—True Power!" 1860).

The sheer accuracy and conviction of Spurgeon's words cannot be denied, especially considering how fast-paced and demanding our world has become on time management. Our attention is swayed in countless directions, and God is typically caught in the whirlwind of functional duties or squeezed out of our daily routine altogether. How can this be? Have we truly drifted so far off-course that the Spirit's conviction is but a faint voice in the distance? How can we expect to defend ourselves from spiritual warfare when quality time with the Lord is not prioritized with proper perspective, transforming duty into privilege and halfheartedness into complete abandon and surrender? Peter pleads with us, " Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" (1 Peter 5:6-9). Prayer is the funnel through which we cast our anxieties, fears, trials, etc., at the foot of the cross, and it keeps our posture low in humility to avoid being attacked and destroyed by our enemy. Therefore, we have all the urgency we need to understand why prayer is such an integral part of our faith walk, and why ignoring the Spirit's conviction to maintain constant communication with God through prayer is so dangerous.

However, Jesus does not appear to focus on a non-exisistent prayer life in Matthew 6:5-8, but rather a hypocritical version despised by God. Those who posture and position themselves as righteous in the sight of man are regarded in Scripture as fools, because their motivation is rooted in selfish desires and fear of man. The Pharisees were called out by Jesus because they used prayer as a tool to exploit their personal agenda, cast a favorable light on their self-proclaimed righteousness, and masquerade themselves as pious, "for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:43). However, God's Word is clear: "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe" (Proverbs 29:25). We cannot allow ourselves to be motivated by the world's expectations and definition of prayer, nor adore any deity as Supreme except the Lord Almighty. He alone is worthy of our adoration and praise, and only He can wash away our iniquity when we confess our sins and seek reconciliation with Him through repentance. The Lord declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). When we acknowledge who we are as sinners and who God is as sovereign and holy, we quickly grasp the importance of preaching to our own hearts, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

We simply cannot wear Christian masks and publicly portray a life of righteousness and servitude to Christ while secretly harboring lusts of the flesh and elevating their authority and influence over God Himself. Otherwise, we risk alienation and eternal judgment because of our pride and hypocrisy. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21-23). That is not to say we must live a perfect life devoid of sin in order to enter the kingdom, but we cannot assume we understand the mind of God when our lives are devoid of studying His Word and fervent prayer. Prayer is the means by which we commune with God by releasing our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and allowing His Spirit to bring healing and wisdom to our weary souls—but it must be genuine. Jesus warns that empty phrases do nothing more than exploit our spiritual immaturity and quench the Spirit's fire. Therefore, we are wise to think before we speak and guard our tongues to ensure our words are bathed in obedience to Scripture and surrender to Christ. "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Proverbs 10:19).

Bottom-line, prayer is not easy. It takes time and effort to build consistency and an understanding of who God truly is to find joy and contentment, but we must shift our view of prayer from something we have to do, to something we get to do. It is nothing short of miraculous considering common man has 24/7/365 access to intimate fellowship with the Creator of the universe, and Jesus shed His blood and gave His life to provide that opportunity to those who are born-again. We tend to lose focus of how privileged we are, like a man who disrespects the immeasurable sacrifice military veterans or active duty make on our behalf to preserve our freedom. Therefore, revival must take place, and that begins with every follower of Christ prioritizing quality time with the Lord and shifting our perspective upward instead of inward. We simply cannot approach the throne of grace through prayer under the pretense of, "What's in it for me?" Fellowship with God is a privilege, not a duty we perform begrudgingly or with varying levels of disbelief. May we never forget that God not only hears our cries, but He has the power to meet our needs when we call upon His name and surrender our personal will for His own. We must stop placing expectations on God that He must answer our prayers as we see fit, otherwise He is not trustworthy. Friends, if we believe that lie the enemy has already won, because that is beginning of the end of our prayer life as we know it. No wonder many of us lack joy and enthusiasm when we pray! The Bible reminds us, "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7b). Therefore, we cannot hide our heart's intentions from the Lord, but we can begin to allow His Spirit complete access to convict and heal us so we can be made whole again through the power of prayer.

Matthew 6:1-4 (Devotion)

GIVING TO THE NEEDY - "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

When the sun sets upon the landscape and tenure of our lives, what legacy will we leave? Will we be labeled as a giver or taker, selfless or selfish? Giving is a critical component within the foundation of faith we commit to as born-again Christians. Giving allows us the opportunity to share in the bounty of what God has graced us with, and the satisfaction of knowing we are doing something good for others. Where giving becomes twisted and misconstrued lies completely on the heart's motivation. For we can easily donate our time, energy and finances to churches, missions and other charitable organizations, but is the source of our compulsion rooted in the idea, "What's in it for me?" We must ask ourselves introspective and convicting questions in order to reveal whether we're giving to be recognized, to receive praise or reward, or to appease guilt. Jesus said, "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45). The fruit we bear provides testimony to the inward change produced in our hearts at salvation. Therefore, from God's perspective there can be no mistaking those who are genuinely transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ, because the heart's motivation is pure and selfless, just as He was.

When we last studied the book of James, we learned that the relationship between faith and works is paramount to the Christian faith. "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17). We must be clear though that works do NOT play a role in saving a person from eternal separation from God. Works testify to the fruit produced as a result of our salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). Allowing works to have any influence whatsoever regarding whether we spend eternity in heaven diminishes the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross when He shed His blood to pay the penalty of our sins. It is perhaps the most prideful statement we could ever make! Therefore, let us not be baited into doing good works as if they had any power to save us. They don't! Only Jesus can. "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).

Assuming we have a proper perspective concerning works, we can now shift our attention toward the manner in which we express our faith. Jesus' primary focus in Matthew 6:1-4 is hypocrisy and the impact it has on our personal relationship with God. Indirectly, it has everything to do with how we express our faith in a world that is closely monitoring our every move. Unbelievers typically view self-proclaimed, born-again Christians through the lens of authenticity/genuineness to determine whether we practice what we preach (and rightfully so!). Therefore, if we say we are sold out for Christ and seek praise and glory for ourselves by manipulating spiritual disciplines to shine a more favorable light on our benevolence, we have lost our moral compass and inflicting more damage than good. Scripture reminds us, "If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3), in order to amplify the heart's condition and sift it's true intent. But Paul also warns, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9). Consequently, we must determine the root of our rebellion which twists saving faith into religious hypocrisy, for "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).

Keep in mind, Jesus does not condemn giving. He simply rebukes those of us who do the right thing for the wrong reason. Giving is an expression of our faith, poured out in thankfulness because of what Christ has done for us. It should never be expressed with selfish intent, but to bless others. Our responsibility as Christians is to wisely manage and administer the resources God has given us, and determine how and where they may be best utilized. However, we must be aware that with great wealth comes great responsibility. "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more" (Luke 12:48). The Lord's provision is intended to both provide for our needs and test our priorities. For if our motivations are selfish, we will hoard God's blessings for ourselves with little to no regard for the overwhelming need and evangelistic opportunity surrounding us. But if our intentions are pure and our giving rooted in unconditional love, God will provide multiple avenues of expression for grace to abound far beyond our comprehension. "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). 

When we allow God to work in us and through us for His glory, miracles happen. Hearts are changed, needs are met, and blessing overflows, yet many of us are reluctant to allow God full access to our checkbooks, bank accounts, etc. We doubt whether choosing to tithe is a wiser decision than holding back our resources to cover down on practical needs (which monopolize our attention). In those moments, we must remember that God is faithful and His Word is absolute, challenging us to step outside our comfort zone and trust His promises. For the Lord declares, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Malachi 3:10). Most likely, this covenant compelled Jesus to use the widow's offering as an example of what our hearts should look like if we proclaim ourselves as Christians. "Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on'" (Luke 21:1-4). The widow did not give to be praised and adored for what she did. She simply obeyed God's Word and quietly gave all she had. 

We must be keenly aware that giving exposes our hearts. What we typically overlook is that when our hearts are exposed, the genuineness of our faith is on full display for all to see. Make no mistake, hypocrisy is a cancerous sin within the body of Christ, constricting light and exposing darkness to those who are lost and skeptic. That is why Jesus amplified His message on giving; not as an exhortation to give more, but a warning to give selflessly. Far too often we quench the Holy Spirit by seeking recognition for what we've done, completely clueless that we're actually robbing God of His glory. May this never be! Rather, let us repent of any inclination within our hearts that seeks glory for ourselves when we give, that we may be cleansed of our impure motivations and made whole by the gracious forgiveness of our Lord. The church of Jesus of Christ will forever be constricted from reaching its full potential if we allow hypocrisy to reside in our hearts. But if we cast off selfish intent and embrace our fears by quietly giving far beyond our comfort level, we will begin to experience healing and transformation from the inside out that will impact the world around us and proclaim the Gospel to lost souls. Humility is the key. May we never lose sight of how critical genuine submission and obedience to Scripture truly are in the life of a Christ-follower, when we freely give of ourselves and our resources for God's glory. "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).

Matthew 5:43-48 (Devotion)

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES - "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Similar to His teaching on retaliation, Jesus expounds upon man's fleshly inclination to self-protect by charging him to step outside his comfort zone and do the unthinkable: Love thy enemy. In truth, we live predominately within a defined set of boundaries, strategically placed and positioned in our lives to guard and protect us. We extend grace and mercy as far as we're comfortable and see fit (which brings personal judgment into play), but our heavenly Father does not limit or cap the amount of grace He willingly extends us on a daily basis. In fact, the Lord declares in His Word, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25). Those who testify to the saving work of Jesus Christ for their personal salvation are covered by the promise of this everlasting covenant. No matter how guilty we feel about our sin, how far we run from the Spirit's conviction, or how regretful we are for the consequences of our sins, the Lord promises to graciously forgive and cleanse us if we humbly repent of our sins and turn from our wicked ways. There is no maximum quota we can exceed on the grace He freely offers, because the same Word that condemns our sin extends an unfathomable lifeline, which allows us to rest in His presence. "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).

What Jesus clarifies in Matthew 5:43-48 is not an "either/or" ultimatum. The Old Testament law He references is absolute truth we are called to live by, just as it was for the nation of Israel. "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:17-18). Loving our neighbor is not an instruction to be applied in lieu of loving our enemies, and that is the basis for Jesus' amplification of His Gospel message. When we love as Jesus loves, we are pulled from the safety and security of our self-protecting bubble into a world of uncertainty and risk. If we're being honest, many of us shudder at the mere thought, and get nervous, anxious and stressed over how we should respond to an ever-changing world spiraling deeper into depravity. What we must recognize is that when we strip away the facade of pride and insecurity we cling to in those moments, we begin to see with clarity as Paul did on the Damascus road that we have been led astray by our own volition. Temptation preyed upon our weak propensities, and we chose the security of idleness and comfort over the immeasurable risk and reward of living for Christ. It is no different than how Proverbs describes a man who does not resist the adulteress' temptation, but suffers the consequences of submitting to an idol of his own making. "With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:21-23).

Keep in mind, the instruction to "love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy" is not a directive made in Scripture, but a misrepresentation of who God is and His will for our lives. David affirms, "For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" (Psalm 5:4-6). It is sin and wickedness that kindles the Lord's anger toward those who vehemently oppose His sovereign authority and holiness; however, the righteous are spared not due to perfection, but the blood of Jesus. Nonetheless, "The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence" (Psalm 11:5). God provides opportunities to test the spiritual maturity of His children in order to sift our hearts and determine where our true allegiance lies. For it is easy to say we are Christians, but to what extent are we willing to obey the Bible's teachings? Are we theoretically in agreement with Matthew 5:43-48, but secretly harboring unrighteous anger and hate toward those who oppose our theology and beliefs? Scripture affirms the sun will rise and rain fall on BOTH the believer and unbeliever, so what difference does it make whether we choose to love or hate? Truth be told as Jesus conveys, even unbelievers are extended common grace in order to compel their hearts toward repentance, for "the LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made" (Psalm 145:8-9).

Identity is the key to unlocking our ability to embrace love and cast off hatred. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:9-12). Love is the great equalizer and differentiates Christianity from all other religions. The Bible states, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19), and that is what inspired God to sacrifice His own Son on our behalf, despite the fact we were once His enemies. Let us not forget that God first demonstrated what it means to "love thy enemy" by choosing to love us despite our persistent wickedness. "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:9-10). The Lord does not ask anything of us that He has not already modeled by His Word. Therefore, we are without excuse as we wrestle with the truth of Matthew 5:43-48 in our own hearts, and how we might emulate the example provided for us. How then does love compel us to action? By remembering who we once were apart from Christ, and how we are made new IN Christ. 

We love our enemies by looking back into our past and recognizing how hostile we once were toward the throne of grace. For if God chose to save sinners by willingly offering grace through faith, how can we continue to live hardhearted toward our enemies? In essence, are we not requiring a price be paid for the grace we extend others, all the while receiving grace for ourselves free of charge from the Lord? May it never be! We must remember where we came from, for that is the only way we allow God to perfect our character and countenance as we live out the Gospel by loving our enemies. "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he (Jesus) has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven" (Colossians 1:21-23a). Keep in mind, not every enemy of ours will come to recognize the love of our Savior when we extend love, grace, mercy and forgiveness toward them, but that is not the point. We are called to "be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving (our)selves" (James 1:22), for that is what differentiates a false believer from one who has been humbled by the enormity of his/her sin and need of a Savior. 

Therefore, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32). Bottom-line: Loving our enemies is not a suggestion Scripture alludes to, but a command. There is no fine-print escape clause that makes obedience to Scripture non-binding, because the blood of Jesus shed on our behalf to fulfill what God's divine law demands, bought our salvation. "For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men" (1 Corinthians 7:22-23). When we accept the free gift of salvation paid in full by Jesus Himself, we are no longer slaves to our flesh or the world, but bond-servants to Christ. What this means is we are set free from the crushing weight of our sin, and released from the prison of our self-imposed, self-sufficiency; indebted to Christ for the price He paid for our ransom, to bring glory to His name by submitting to, obeying and applying what the Bible teaches. Therefore, we cannot continue to be consumed by hatred for our enemies, but compelled to lay down our pride and extend love by faith, so that our obedience to the Great Commission might win souls for Christ. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a).

Matthew 5:38-42 (Devotion)

RETALIATION - "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."

There is something deep within the human psyche that demands justice be served when wrongs are committed. When we have been hurt, insulted, violated, mocked, injured, falsely accused, persecuted, etc., we typically turn inward and focus on the impact suffering has upon us, first and foremost. Abuse can take on many forms and easily morph into an all-out attack on us emotionally and spiritually, more so than even physically. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world where evil and injustice take place, and we are left with a simple choice given the circumstance to either retaliate or forgive. What complicates the situation even more is when those who offend us have little to no remorse over sins they have committed, reject owning their sin, have no desire to truly change their foolish ways, and/or continue their pattern of abuse with no consideration or contrition for damages caused. It is easier to forgive those who sin against us when they recognize their sin and ask for forgiveness. However, how are we to respond to those who show no remorse for sins committed against us? How are we to forgive others when abuse continues without heart change? How long-suffering should we be? Scripture is clear: "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times'" (Matthew 18:21-22). In other words, true forgiveness does not have a maximum threshold that cannot be exceeded.

In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus quickly debunks any rationale man could come up with to justify personal retaliation. The mandate (eye for an eye; tooth for a tooth) found in Leviticus 24:17-21 was instructed by God for the judges of Israel to use as a method of administering fair and equitable criminal justice. However, the religious leaders of Jesus' day twisted it as a weapon to enable a man to execute personal revenge. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Jesus' teaching on retaliation is what He doesn't say. He fully understood how the Pharisees manipulated this Old Testament teaching to justify their personal sins, but He didn't address its misuse at all. Why? Keep in mind, Jesus affirmed earlier in His sermon, "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" (Matthew 5:17). What this tells us is there was no issue with the law of retaliation decreed in the Old Testament for systematic justice. Jesus endorsed it. But because Jesus knew man was using it for personal revenge and retribution (punishment inflicted as vengeance for sins committed), He flipped the script and encouraged His followers to choose love and forgiveness over retaliation as a method of reconciliation. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

It must be clarified though that choosing to love and forgive does not endorse or justify sin. For example, enabling a drug or alcohol addict, turning a blind eye to criminal activity, or remaining in a physically abusive or adulterous relationship is not wise. In those instances, separation is a necessary means to allow intervention, counseling, healing and treatment, NOT taking personal vengeance to repay the abuser for sins committed. Those of us who are caught in such unfortunate circumstances must never lose focus of what Scripture teaches regarding vengeance. "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all" (Romans 12:17). For regarding the temptation to retaliate and pursue personal retribution, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:19-21). This is not an easy teaching in the slightest, especially for the innocent caught in a vicious cycle of abuse and personal danger, but the call to resist retaliation is a powerful instrument of grace God allows us to grant one another when we choose love over hate.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). This is a critical lesson on relinquishing control to Christ when we wrestle with temptation to react vs. respond toward those who hurt us. Often times, we are left to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts when trampled on by those we love the most. For a wife bearing the immeasurable weight of spiritual warfare brought on by her adulterous husband, the insatiable desire to retaliate is overwhelming; or for a son thrust into the role of protecting his mother when his drunken father becomes abusive, personal revenge can seem justifiable. In any given situation, the opportunity to obey fleshly desires is confronted by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in every born-again Christian, exhorting us to relinquish personal rights for the sake of the Gospel. The choice is not easy though, for the world would convince us that in order to find peace in the midst of a storm, we must take it upon ourselves to self-protect and ensure justice is served. That is why John reminds us, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

If we are to do the will of the Father, is resisting retaliation sufficient? Not entirely. Jesus affirms going above and beyond the call of duty to magnify the grace of the Father which transcends human understanding. In other words, when we choose to love when love feels like the most illogical decision we could ever make, we are beginning to understand what it means to endure persecution for the sake of the Gospel and win souls for Christ. Countless martyrs who were beaten, tortured and imprisoned before execution because they identified themselves as Christians came face to face with the absolute truth of Matthew 5:38-42, yet they chose to not only forego retaliation but love and forgive as Jesus did, even unto death. Therefore, who are we to hold fast to unrighteous anger and/or hatred toward others when our Lord and Savior chose to not forsake us, but forgive and embrace us as His own beloved? "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8). 

What Jesus teaches goes far beyond retaliation itself, transcending our perspective to one that identifies the opportunity before us to make radical choices contrary to our fleshly inclination. Our primary purpose in life is to do the will of our Father in heaven who calls us to walk in His Word and live the Gospel out in our daily lives. Therefore, we are to discern every situation through prayer and petition so as to not enable or justify sin in others, but in wisdom apply love where love is the most illogical choice we could ever make in order to save others from eternal destruction. "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).