Kim and I were talking this week and she told me that one of
her goals for this year was to focus more on Jesus. The interesting thing to me
was I had been having a very similar feeling of something aching down deep
inside of me that I couldn’t put into words and she just did. I want to focus more on Jesus and what is
important to him.
So I found one of my Bibles that has the “red letters” (you
know the things that Jesus said) and I started reading in Matthew. My thought was if I look and what Jesus said,
and why He said it or what He was talking about I can learn some things about
how I should live. Seemed rather simple!
Matt. 3:15 – First
recorded words of Jesus are his response to John the Baptist not wanting to
baptize him. Jesus said, “We must do
this to fulfill all righteousness.” What could I learn there? It’s important to
follow God’s teaching and to do the right thing.
Matt. 4:4, 7, 10 – Jesus
responds to the temptation from Satan with quotes not just from the Old
Testament, but from the Torah, central to the Jewish heritage of faith. What could I learn there? When confronted by
Satan or any evil in the world, go straight to the word of God.
Matt.4: 17 – Jesus’
first words of teaching were “repent for the kingdom of God is near’. What could I learn there? The kingdom of God is not about a date in
history but about a spirit in your heart.
Matt. 4:19 – Jesus calls
disciples with three simple words, “Come follow me”. What could I learn there? Quit making life so hard. Just drop
everything and put Jesus first.
Matt. 5:1-12 – Jesus
first sermon describes “happiness”. What could I learn? He is the author of happiness, do what He
says.
Matt.5:13 – He talks
about “remaining salty”. What could I
learn? Following him is not a part-time game.
It’s all in!
Then he comes to this
section about a “city on a hill”. It is
the first time he talks about a community and how important it is to reflect
the light of God to all who can see.
What good is light if it doesn’t shine so people can see?
