Matthew 22:34-40, I Thessalonians 2:3-8 In Matthew 22 the Pharisees and Herodians come up to Jesus to entrap him asking him if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. You see to agree would be against the Jewish Nationalists – the Zealots while not to agree would be a crime of state. Jesus answers cleverly saying “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Now if I would have been in that crowd I would have asked, “What are the things that are of God?” Later in chapter 23 Jesus will tell the Pharisees that they’re concerned with insignificant things yet neglect the weightier matters of the law which are justice, mercy, and faith. This is a common theme you will read throughout the Old Testament which is summarized in Micah 6:8 as it tells what is required of you – what are the things of God that we are to give back. These are to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. These are the weightier matters of the law th...

  Psalms 106:19-23; Philippians 4:1-9   Psalms 106 is full of praise for the Lord for God’s enduring steadfast love and for his mighty doings. However, there is something we should be to make us able to fully praise the Lord. It includes those who observe justice and do righteousness at all times. Also included is having a penitent heart. The psalmist here confesses that they themselves have sinned and committed iniquities along with their past ancestors. He brings up the account of the making of the golden calf the Israelites did and worshipped while being impatient with Moses’ delayed return. They again forget about all the awesome deeds the Lord had done parting the Red Sea and providing food and drink for them. Thank goodness Moses stood up for his people and turned away God’s wrath. In Philippians Paul is urging two women to get along – to be of the same mind. These are women who worked hard beside Paul but their disagreement with each other was affecting their minist...

Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105:1-6,37-45   Was it only in the last chapter of Exodus we studied how the Lord delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea. One thing we learn about this group is they are ones to complain. Instead of waiting for God’s provision they are hungry and look back to all the food they had in Egypt, forgetting the oppression. It is easier to get the people out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the people. So, God intervenes again. God sends them quail in the evening – meat to eat and in the morning provides bread in the form of manna. They are delivered from hunger pangs. Unfortunately, there will be other times they will complain forgetting the provision of the Lord. It is vital for God’s people to live in a moment by moment relationship of faithful obedience to the Lord. This is built on trust in the character and faithfulness of the Lord demonstrated through God’s actions on behalf of Israel. Psalms 105 is a Call to Worship telling ...

  Exodus 14:19-31; Exodus 15:1-11, 20-21 This is the account of the miracle of God splitting the Red Sea so the Israelites, being pursued by the Egyptian army, can pass through on dry land. Can you imagine the anxiety they have, the fear the water might not hold or that the Egyptians too are coming behind them on the same dry land? Has Moses led them on a wild goose chase? But God doesn’t let any of the Israelites perish. It’s a different story for the Egyptians who get stuck. Their path was not so clear, and the entire army drowns when Moses stretches out his hand again. Not only is trust in the Lord achieved but renewed trust in Moses that the God he listens to is more powerful than the Egyptians. This is a lesson to the Israelites that they should not be rooted in fear, but in a deep trust in the Lord to save and provide for them. Also, to trust in the leader God has appointed. When Israel sees the great work the Lord did against the Egyptians, their fear changes into a wors...

  Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:18-20 In Romans 13, Paul is summing up all the Mosaic laws by saying all these are possible by following the greatest commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. He says that one who loves has fulfilled the law. If one loves they will not commit adultery, murder, stealing, or coveting. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Thus, all the commandments are summed up in this greatest commandment to love one another. So, this is the only thing we owe someone – to love them. Knowing this we are to throw off the works of darkness – works not driven by love and put on the armor of light. We are to walk decently, not in the flesh or in quarreling or jealousy. Jesus in Matthew 18 tells how to resolve disputes lovingly. In owing nothing but love to each other we can resolve differences. Perhaps agree to disagree but still own the greatest commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. Remember how Jesus promised Peter the keys to heaven? Well in this pa...

  Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21   In Matthew 16, Peter who was praised for knowing Christ was the Messiah is now being rebuked by Christ. When Jesus tells the disciples he must suffer and be killed, Peter’s reaction is very human, “May it never be.” To this Jesus replies, “Get behind me Satan – you are setting your mind on human things not divine things.” We are surprised at this rebuke thinking Peter said this out of his love for Christ – that no harm would come to him. Yet Jesus talks about a genuine love of sacrifice – of Christ needing to carry out his mission of salvation and Jesus talks about taking up one’s cross and following him. In Romans, Paul talks about genuine love that holds fast to what is good and hates evil. We are to love each other with mutual affection, rejoice in hope and be patient in affliction. We are to persevere in prayer and contribute to those in need and pursue hospitality to strangers. But in verse 14 comes the “carrying your cross” requ...

  Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:4-8 In Matthew Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is. Good ‘ole Peter had the answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.” To this Christ praises him and changes his name from Simon to Peter which means rock. Jesus proclaims that he will build his church upon him. Peter goes on to convert thousands of Jewish people into Christ’s church and after a dream he is told that Gentiles can also become Christ’s church. Well God chose another to spread the gospel throughout the land and the entire world at that time. This one would never pass a resume for this position today. You see he was a zealous hater of Christians and went about arresting them. But Jesus saw the potential in him and in a dramatic conversion turned Paul from hunting Christians to becoming one and recruiting – making Christians. Paul in our Romans passage talks about what makes up Christ’s church. He talks about the many members and what gifts they have to contribute to the b...