Life Changing Words from Jesus: A Daily Journey to an Abundant Life

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I want to thank God for entrusting me with the responsibility of writing a second devotional book. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit supplies a daily provision of ideas. As one of my favorite Christian authors said, I thank God for allowing me to be the first person to read this book.

Second, I would like to thank my wife, Vivian, for her prayers, encouragement, and hours spent proofreading. Although we had a couple of disagreements on the wording, her wisdom, insight, and corrections were invaluable.

Lastly, I would like to thank Amy Baumgartner for the many hours she spent editing the manuscript. She readily volunteered, knowing from the first devotional the time and effort it would take on her part. I also appreciate the support given by her family allowing her time to spend editing the book.

Introduction

Paul writing in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 said, All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong with our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. I have always read the Bible through this lens of thought until our Men’s Bible Study group, led by Nathan Sanders, took us on a year-long journey through the Red Words. These are the actual words spoken by Jesus. Although I have read the Bible through a number of times, I had never participated in an in-depth study focused solely on the words of Jesus. It was during this study that Jesus’ words began to speak to me. I found His words to be challenging, controversial, life-changing, and as Peter said in John 6:68 offer eternal life to all who seek Him. I don’t claim to be a Bible scholar or an expert on the words of Jesus; however, following this study, God planted a seed for this devotional book. That seed remained dormant until the fall of 2022, when God put the desire in my heart to begin writing a second devotional.

As you read the daily devotionals, focus on the words of Jesus. Let them speak to you in a new and fresh way. I promise they will change your life for the better. Jesus is coming soon. What better way to prepare for His return than to study and apply His words to your heart? If you don’t know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have picked up this book out of curiosity, learn who Jesus is and His love for you. Find the words of eternal life. If nothing else, read Day 365 and ask Christ to forgive you of your sins and invite Him into your life today.

Prayer: May God richly bless you as you spend time in His Word.

Day 1

Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

Jesus had just been baptized by John in the Jordan River where the Spirit of God appeared and said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This is what’s called a mountaintop experience. Mountaintop experiences are when you encounter the presence of God so fully that your heart overflows with joy and your problems become insignificant. However, after His baptism, Jesus left to go into the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray. While He was there, Satan shows up and begins to tempt Jesus. Being human, Jesus was hungry. Satan uses Jesus’ hunger to his advantage and says, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine, so turning a few stones into bread would be no problem for Him. What would be wrong with creating a little bread to eat on the trip out of the wilderness? This is how Satan operates. You may have experienced God in a mighty way at a Sunday service, at a retreat, or in a Bible Study. However, Monday comes and you are back in the routine and the mountaintop experience begins to fade. Satan comes along and begins to plant ideas in your mind to distrust God’s love for you and that your experience wasn’t really real. Ideas such as, ‘this one time won’t hurt,’ or ‘no one will ever find out’, or ‘has God really forgiven me’ begin to flood your mind. Satan’s aim was to get Jesus to doubt that God could get Him through this time of hunger. How did Jesus answer Satan? He simply said, It is written… quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. How important is it to know God’s word? God’s word holds the answers to our doubts when Satan comes to tempt us. It is our lifeline to God. It teaches us His promises, His love, and His faithfulness. How much time are you spending in God’s word? Are you using it when you are being tempted, or are you finding yourself agreeing with Satan? As you read through this book, you will see how much God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. Don’t allow Satan to plant those seeds of doubt in your mind. Get into God’s word every day. Learn it, use it, and apply it.

Prayer: God give me the answers from Your word, so I can resist the temptations that Satan tries to use on me.

Day 2

Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’

Satan doesn’t give up easily and always comes up with new ways to tempt us. Today’s verse is about the third temptation of Jesus. The first was to change stones into bread. The second, Satan said to Jesus, If You are the Son of God… tempting Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple and have angels catch Him, hoping Jesus would abuse His power. Jesus quoted scripture to Satan, saying You shall not tempt the Lord your God. In the third and last temptation, Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said he would give them to Jesus, if Jesus would bow down and worship him. Satan is offering Jesus power and prestige. Jesus quotes scripture from Deuteronomy 6:13 to resist Satan’s attack. Satan’s attempts to draw us into sin are nothing new. He was pretty successful with Eve in the Garden of Eden where he said to her, You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Sadly, both Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lies and disobeyed God. What Satan had promised didn’t turn out quite like he said. Most of my career, I have worked around money. I can’t tell you the times that Satan has whispered in my ear, you could use a couple of $20’s, no one would ever miss them. It has been tempting, but I reply back, God’s word, says do not steal. What is Satan offering you? Is he offering you a better lifestyle, a promotion, or fame and fortune? The more important question is, what is Satan asking you to give up in exchange for it? Is he asking you to change your morals, values, or to turn your back on family or friends? Is Satan encouraging you to steal, kill, or even destroy your own body? How are you going to respond to temptation? Trust me, like Adam and Eve, wrong choices never turn out like Satan promises. Trust God’s word. As James 4:7 says, Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Prayer: God help me to resist the devil and his clever schemes that draw me away from You.

Day 3

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ ministry had begun to generate very large crowds. He was teaching in the local churches and healing all kinds of sickness and disease. People were curious and wanted to hear more from this new teacher. Seeing the large crowd, Jesus went up on a mountain and began to teach. There Jesus turned the world upside down with His teaching, beginning with the Beatitudes which explains the happiness and joy of living a life according to God’s plan. In the Beatitudes, we learn that God’s way is totally opposite of what our society teaches. Jesus begins with saying the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. The Psalmist writes in Psalms 34:18, The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Who are the poor in spirit, and does the kingdom of heaven only belong to someone who is poor? The poor in spirit understand that life in and of themselves is not enough. They are humble, empty of pride and accept the fact that without God, life is meaningless. One who is poor in spirit acknowledges a sinful nature and a need for God in their lives, humbly seeking God’s forgiveness and His presence. Their trust is put in God for everything, including His provision, and His grace to get them through the circumstances of life. The poor in spirit are not necessarily poor. Someone who is not poor in spirit is one who has a difficult time acknowledging a need for God in their lives. Why? Because pride may have taken root and a feeling of self-sufficiency developed, pushing God out of their lives. Are you poor in spirit and humbly seeking God’s grace and mercy each day? Perhaps you have never trusted God as your Savior or allowed your success to replace your trust in God with your own abilities. If you want to experience the kingdom of heaven, wholeness of life, fulfillment, blessings, and genuine joy then you must acknowledge your complete dependence on Him. Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

Prayer: God teach me how to seek Your kingdom, not my selfish ambitions.

Day 4

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Jesus didn’t waste words as He was speaking to the crowd. Immediately after speaking about the ‘poor in spirit’, Jesus says, blessed are those who mourn. Mourning is more than just crying, feeling sad about something, or moping around. Merriam-Webster.com defines mourning as an act of feeling or expressing sorrow. A period of time during which signs of grief are shown. We mourn over the loss of something such as the death of a loved one, a tragedy, and even the loss of a special pet. In fact, we should mourn these things. In most cases, mourning lets others know how special the loss was to you and helps you cope. You don’t have to know a person personally to express your grief. For example, people all over the world are mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, who recently passed away at the age of 96. In John 11, we read about the death of Lazarus and how his sisters, Mary and Martha, mourned his loss. Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus. However, Jesus is not talking about mourning the loss of a friend or loved one in this beatitude. This mourning has to do with our sin and the loss of fellowship with the Lord. This mourning comes from the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, convicting us of our sin and separation from a loving God. We recognize our spiritual poverty and unworthiness before a Holy and Righteous God. Conviction leads to mourning, which leads to forgiveness. There is no forgiveness of sins without remorse and repentance. We have to come to God and ask for His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. In Psalms 51, David pours out his heart to God, asking for forgiveness and cleansing after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. In verse 17, he writes, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Are your sins causing you to mourn, or are they making your life miserable? Jesus said, those who mourn will be comforted. Confess your sins to Him today.

Prayer: God, please break my heart of pride and an unwillingness to confess my sins.

Day 5

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

How can the meek inherit the earth when they are taken advantage of, pushed around, and submissive? Wouldn’t an aggressive, assertive, dominating personality be better suited to inherit the earth? Perhaps we should take a closer look at what Jesus means by meekness. Meekness does not equal weakness, but it does equate to a quiet and humble nature. It requires us to put everything in God’s hand. It seeks another person’s interest over the interests of our own. The meek understand how God wants them to live and interact with others. James 3:13 says, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. Great leaders can be meek. Moses was a famous leader, yet known as a humble person. Numbers 12:3 says, Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. We read in Numbers 12, that Moses’ authority was challenged by of all people, his brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam. Instead of vigorously defending himself, or launching an attack on Aaron and Miriam, Moses puts his situation in God’s hands. God steps in and confirms Moses as His servant and strikes Miriam with leprosy. Instead of gloating, Moses prays for Miriam’s healing. Meekness is putting our faith in action with the confident assurance that God is in control. No matter our circumstances, God is working things out for our good. Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. When you put others’ interests ahead of your own and allow God to work things out, you will inherit the earth. Jesus said those who are considered last in this world will be first in His kingdom. Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen. One last note about meekness. It should not be used as an excuse to avoid conflict. There are times when it is appropriate to take a stand. God will let you know when that time comes. However, taking a stand does not mean getting even with someone. Trust God for justice. Remember, blessed are the meek.

Prayer: God help me to have a quiet and humble nature, trusting You in all things.

Day 6

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

I enjoy watching survivalist shows. The survivalists’ ability to survive difficult challenges with just the basic necessities is fascinating. However, at some point in their challenge, hunger and thirst set in and the survivalists drink the nastiest looking water, eat bugs, spiders, rats, snakes, and even tree bark. It proves when you get hungry and thirsty enough, things you would never have considered eating or drinking look enticing to you; such as, eating a rat or drinking muddy, warm water. Fortunately, I have never been this hungry or thirsty. However, Jesus said that just as we hunger and thirst for food and water, we should have a spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness. What is righteousness? Merriam-Webster.com defines righteousness as, acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin. How do we achieve righteousness? Paul said in Romans 3:10, As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one;’ Without Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have no chance at becoming righteous. Fortunately for us, Jesus has just spent the last three verses explaining how to achieve righteousness. It starts by becoming poor in spirit, acknowledging the sin in our lives and our need for God. Secondly, we mourn over our sin and separation from God. Our mourning leads to conviction, recognizing our spiritual poverty and unworthiness before a Holy and Righteous God. Lastly, we take on a spiritual nature of meekness, a quiet and humble nature, requiring us to leave everything in God’s hands and seeking another person’s interest over our own. Jesus said we should pursue righteousness every day as if we were starving for it. His promise to us is that as we pursue righteousness, we will be filled. But just like the amount and type of food we put into our bodies determines our fullness, so it is with our spiritual life. You can have a spiritual snack just to satisfy your hunger for God, or you can have a meal and be filled with His Spirit. Which do you want with your relationship with Christ? Do you want enough to get by, or do you want all that He has to offer? It is your choice. The menu is before you.

Prayer: God I want to be filled with Your presence, help me to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Day 7

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

A Biblical definition of mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve for our sins. God demonstrated mercy, by sending His Son to die on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins and saving us from an eternity apart from Him. Paul said in Titus 3:5, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy… However, mercy is not limited to God’s plan of salvation. Mercy extends to anyone who has the power to help or punish. For example, parents have the responsibility of disciplining their children. Determining how to punish, when to punish, or when to show mercy can be difficult. Growing up, I had my share of well-deserved spankings. My parents were very fair when it came to discipline, but on occasion, my bottom wished they had been a little more merciful. In the Beatitudes, Jesus outlines the character traits of those who are ready for the kingdom of heaven. The traits we have studied so far are the inner traits of a believer. Being merciful is an outward or visible sign that someone believes and trusts in God. Why? Because God is merciful and instructs us to be. The more Christlike we become, the more merciful we are. Being merciful is more than just being kind. Being merciful is extending help to those who can’t help themselves; the poor, the sick, the widow, the orphan, the addict, or the prisoner. The list is endless and opportunities are all around us. Jesus speaking in Matthew 25:37,40 said, Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ How merciful are you? Are you caught up in your own life and don’t have time for others? If so, you are missing out on the joy that comes with helping someone and God’s mercy. Be thankful that you have the opportunity to help others and are not the one who needs help. As Jesus said, blessed are the merciful.

Prayer: God help me to show mercy to those less fortunate than me.

Day 8

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Man has invented a number of medical devices to monitor and keep our hearts in rhythm. Without them, a number of people would have likely died from heart disease. Unfortunately, man has not come up with a solution to help our inner heart problem. Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? King David understood he had a heart problem after he had sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed in battle. He cried out in Psalms 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Also, Paul writing in Romans 7:24 said, O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? How are we ever going to see God if we are born with an impure or sinful heart? The answer is Jesus Christ. Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sins and will forgive us if we confess our sins to Him. 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. A pure heart begins with salvation. It is given to us as a free gift based on our faith in Christ. Secondly, we acknowledge the sin in our life that separates us from God. Thirdly, we confess our sins and are truly sorry that we have allowed them to sever our relationship with God. Lastly, like David, we remain steadfast, not falling back into the same sin. Does that mean I have to be perfect to see God? The short answer is no. No one is perfect. But the purer our heart is, the more we will see Him. But doesn’t the Bible say in John 4:24, God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and truth? How are we going to see God who is a spirit? We are quick to recognize God in the beauty of His creation. However, the benefit of a pure heart is that we recognize God is working in our lives by changing circumstances, making a way where there is no way. Even better, the more we pursue God, the more we see Him and His handiwork.

Prayer: God, please open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You.

Day 9

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called the sons of God.

We are learning in the Beatitudes, that Jesus is instructing us on how a Christian should live. Today, we see that peacemakers are called the sons of God. God is a God of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33 states, For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. However, just because I am a peacemaker, it doesn’t necessarily mean I am a Christian. We become the sons and daughters of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26 says, You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Just as we take on the nature of our earthly fathers, as children of God, we take on the nature of our heavenly Father. A friend of mine was telling me how he had begun to hang up a used paper towel to use later. He didn’t realize it until his wife reminded him that his father had hung up paper towels to use again many years ago. My friend was doing the very same thing he had seen his father do. So, it is with our heavenly Father. If we are truly His son or daughter, we are going to imitate Him. What does a peacemaker look like? A peacemaker is one who prays for those they do not like or have had a ‘run in’ with. A peacemaker is one who tries to build bridges between people, seeking reconciliation. They prefer harmony and unity over discord and strife. They take the first step in trying to restore a relationship. Unfortunately, there are going to be people in your life, whether at work, at school, in your neighborhood, and even in your family that you may not like or they may not like you. You are going to have disagreements. Often times, the disagreements start over something very insignificant and can go one of two ways. The first is that the disagreement is able to be worked out and the relationship is restored. Second, things escalate into a major quarrel where things are said and done in anger. Perhaps you have seen or are even in a situation where this has happened. Family members stop speaking to each other. Neighbors build fences. Churches split. Feelings are hurt. Are you a peacemaker or a troublemaker? Do you try to mend relationships or split them apart? James 3:18 says, Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. What type of harvest are you raising?

Prayer: God help me to be a peacemaker, I want to be like You.

Day 10

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecution is nothing new. Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their race, their political stance, social status, and religious beliefs. You can make the case that Cain killed his brother Abel as an act of persecution because of Abel’s faith in God. Abel who offered God the best portions from the firstborn of his flock was looked on with favor by God. While Cain’s offering of some random fruits of the soil, reflected an attitude of a thoughtless and careless offering. Cain was upset because Abel’s offering was accepted and his was not. Jesus said, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, or those living a righteous life. Why would anyone want to punish or hurt someone who is living the way God intended? As my pastor recently taught us from Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Satan and his demons will use every tactic including persecution to turn you away from God. Why are Christians persecuted? Opendoorsusa.com provides several reasons. First, there are governments that see Jesus as competition for power, especially in communist run nations like China and North Korea. A dictator or communist government wants complete allegiance to themselves and views a believer’s commitment to Jesus Christ as a threat. Secondly, Christianity can conflict with the culture of an area where the worship of an idol, or even some type of demonic practice is common. Thirdly, in several third world countries, organized crime controls the country. A believer standing up for what is right gets in the way of their livelihood and exposes their greed. Lastly, in regions of the world where Islam and Hinduism are the primary religion, Christianity is seen as a threat. In these areas, Christians are threatened, jailed, and even killed. What do all these reasons have in common? It is the very thing that Jesus has been teaching us the last several days. As a follower of Christ, we are called to be different from the world and the world doesn’t like it. You may not live in an area where persecution is currently taking place; however, that day may be coming. Be prepared. Pray for those who are being persecuted.

Prayer: God help us to be faithful to You in times of persecution.

Day 11

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Persecution comes in many different forms, from being slandered, ostracized, having property confiscated, imprisonment, physical harm, and even death. Yesterday, we learned that living a Christlike life makes us different from the world. This difference is seen as a threat to the world’s way of life and a main reason Christians are persecuted. Just because you live in an area where Christians are not physically threatened, it doesn’t mean that you will escape persecution. Jesus said, blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. In other words, be prepared, someone is going to talk harsh to you, twist your words, and speak lies about you because of your faith in Christ. Merriam-Webster.com defines revile as, to use abusive language. It was at a local Right to Life event that I witnessed first-hand the word revile put into action. Typically, I am not one who likes to venture very far out of their comfort zone. However, one Sunday afternoon, the churches in our area had planned a Right to Life rally by lining up on several major roadways within our city, peacefully displaying signs supporting the life of an unborn child. Vivian and I volunteered and took our place along with several hundred other people on Oleander Drive. As cars passed by, some were supportive and waved. Others shouted profanity and flashed obscene gestures. It wasn’t difficult to pick out the ones who were just making fun of us from the ones who were truly angry of our support for the life of an unborn child. I also learned that when you take a stand for a cause opposite of what the world supports, people will say all kinds of evil against you. You become a target of their hatred and frustration. Let someone speak the truth in love about God’s word on homosexuality. That person instantly becomes a bigoted, homophobic, intolerant target of that community and the world in general. Your first reaction may be to stay quiet avoiding controversy and conflict. That may work for a while, but I also know that God will give you opportunities to stand for the truth of His word. Are you ready for the blessing of taking the heat that goes with speaking truth? Trust God, it is worth it.

Prayer: God help me to stand firm in the truth of Your Word.

Day 12

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

If you have ever had the pleasure of eating country ham, the first thing you notice is the saltiness of the meat. Why? Because country hams are hung up to dry, wrapped in a salt mixture. This process of curing meat has been around for thousands of years. Before refrigeration, meat had to be cured in salt or dried out into strips called jerky to prevent it from spoiling. Salt has many other uses. Before medical advances, salt was poured into wounds to prevent infection and stop bleeding. It also is used to create thirst and flavor food. In Jesus’ day, salt was mined from the Dead Sea and wasn’t as plentiful and pure as the salt we use. Today, salt can be found on every home and restaurant table. Jesus said that we (His followers) are the salt of the earth. Let’s take a closer look at a couple of properties of salt to see how our role as Christians compare. Salt is a preservative. We live in world where sin is rampant. Psalm 14:3 says, All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. As followers of Christ, we are to preserve or keep ourselves and others from allowing the sin that is all around to infiltrate our lives. We are also called to preserve and spread the message of Christ. Salt adds flavor. Colossians 4:6 says, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. In other words, our conversations should have a different flavor from the conversations of the world. They should be flavored with truth, encouragement, and life. Lastly, salt heals and prevents infection. Psalm 147:3 says, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Jesus is calling us to minister to those who have lost hope. Just as salt heals wounds, He wants us to care for those who are hurting and lost. We are to bind up the wounds of broken relationships, discouragement, and hopelessness. Jesus concluded by saying that salt can lose its flavor and that flavorless salt has no value. Are you a salty Christian, or has your salt lost its flavor? If that is the case, take time today to renew your relationship with Jesus. Get your saltiness back.

Prayer: God, help me to live a salty life.

Day 13

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

One of my favorite songs as a child growing up in church was, This Little Light of Mine. The lyrics are very simple, but have a great message of living for Jesus. We have taught this song to our grandchildren who especially love the verse that says, Don’t let Satan blow it out! I’m going to let it shine. When we get to the part that says blow it out, everyone begins to blow like they are blowing out a birthday candle. This song is not just for children. The last verse says, Let it shine till Jesus, comes, I’m going to let it shine. We should be shining our light for Jesus throughout our entire life. What is the value of light? Go into a room without windows, close the door and cut off the light and you will quickly find out. Without light, there is complete darkness. Without light, you are cautious to move around for fear of running into something. Without light, there is no path to follow. Jesus said in John 8:12, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Jesus said He is the light of the world. He lights the way through the darkness. In Christ, we have that light living within us. What are you going to do with His light? Are you going to hide it under a bushel or are you going to lift it up for all to see? Jesus said, that our light shines through our good works. How we live and act around others is our light. Paul said in Philippians 2:14-15, Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Our light is going to be very dim if we are not living any different from the world. We should be gracious and caring with our words and sprinkle in good deeds along the way. Remember our purpose for doing good works is so that people would be able to see their way to God and give their life to Him. We shine so that people see God, not us.

Prayer: God, help me to shine Your light through my life each day.

Day 14

Matthew 5:23–24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Jesus has a way of pointing out the issues of the heart. In Matthew 5:22, He said, But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Jesus is speaking about the importance of our thoughts toward someone else. The path of anger, hatred, and name calling is sin just as murder is a sin. If we are to be the peacemakers as Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, then we have to be careful of our attitudes towards others. However, in today’s verse, Jesus doesn’t say if you have something against your brother, instead He says, if your brother has something against you, moving the conversation to our actions that may have damaged the relationship. How often has a careless word, or comment made in anger, ruined a relationship? How often has a bad choice split a family? Whatever the reason, the relationship has been damaged and a wedge has come between you. Jesus said that it was more important to try to restore that relationship than to offer sacrifices to God. He is prioritizing reconciliation, restoration and forgiveness over offering sacrifices. Isn’t offering sacrifices an Old Testament requirement? Although we do not offer sacrifices, we have our own set of religious activities that are just as important. We go to church, we pray, we give, we study God’s word, we tell others about Jesus, and we ask God for His blessings and His forgiveness. Do we really expect God to hear us, answer our prayers, forgive our sins, and shower us with blessings all the while we have left a trail of broken relationships behind us? How can we represent Christ, when we are the cause of hurt in someone’s life? Jesus said, go make it right, then come to Me. Is there someone who comes to mind that you need to mend a relationship with? It could be an old friend, a family member, or even someone at church. Take the time today to heal that relationship. If that person is not quite ready to forgive and move forward, pray for them and seek reconciliation as God leads you.

Prayer: God point out the relationships that I need to mend.

Day 15

Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for your that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

I don’t ever recall seeing anyone who has cut their right hand off to prevent them from sinning. If Jesus had meant this literally, most every Christian would be one-handed following this command. To better understand Jesus’ intent, we need to start reading at Matthew 5:27. There, Jesus begins talking about adultery and quotes the seventh commandment found in Exodus 20:14, You shall not commit adultery. However, Jesus tears down another wall by saying, But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. It is easy to hide our true thoughts from the people around us, but not from God. Jesus is letting us know that it is not alright to think and act out in our minds adulterous thoughts even though we may never follow through with them. That is why it is so important to put up a guard to the things we allow into our minds. Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Bad actions start from bad thoughts. If you are like me, it is not easy to keep these thoughts away. We are bombarded by sexual images every day on TV, online, and in social media. How do we do it? Do we pluck our eye out or cut our hand off? Of course not, but it does take a lot of effort and can be challenging. The first step is to pray and ask God’s forgiveness and help. Ask Him to point out the areas of your temptation. Is it places you go, music you listen to, websites you look at, TV shows and movies you watch, or all of the above? Whatever it takes, you have to find a way to separate yourself from them. I can tell you from experience, just saying, ‘I will never do that again,’ doesn’t work. Satan has a way of putting those things within easy reach. Replace the things you were looking at with something more appropriate. Try streaming options that include faith-based movies. Rightnow media and other Christian apps are a great source of uplifting and encouraging material. Pick up and read a book by a Christian author and limit your social media time.

Prayer: As David said in Psalm 51:10, Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with me.

Day 16

Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

According to Surviveddivorce.com, the most common reasons for divorce are financial issues, lack of intimacy, infidelity, abuse, and lack of compatibility. They also noted that the divorce rate has fallen from around 50% of marriages to 40%. They attribute the decline to two factors. First, people are waiting longer to get married and are making better decisions. Second, more couples are now choosing to live together and have a family without getting married. Divorce is nothing new. Moses wrote about issuing a certificate of divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Jesus referenced this scripture in the preceding verse in Matthew 5:31. However, He made it clear that He doesn’t condone divorce. According to Jesus, marriage is a covenant between husband and wife. A covenant is more than just an agreement, or even contract. A covenant is a bond between two people. Jesus speaking in Matthew 19:4 said, So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Vivian and I were married by her grandfather, Rev. Leonard B. Woodall who had a very commanding voice. When he got to the part of quoting Matthew 19:4 in our wedding, he added additional emphasis. I got the message, and thankfully we have been married 41 years. However, we are not untouched by divorce. We have witnessed it firsthand with friends, family, and neighbors. Divorce is painful. It affects not only the husband and wife, but children, parents and friends. Scars of divorce can last a lifetime and impact the next generation. Sadly, divorce seems to be the first answer to marital problems, instead of the last resort. Marriage is not easy. Over the 41 years of our marriage there have times when divorce seemed possible. Selfish choices, the busyness of jobs, children, and church, a poor choice of words, and a lack of communication took a toll on our marriage. Thankfully, we were able to work through those times and love each other more than when we first married. You may be in a marriage that is not going well and considering divorce right now. Just as it was in Jesus’ day, obtaining a divorce is easy. Get a lawyer, sign a few documents, determine custody of the children, split up the assets and move on. It takes hard work, commitment, and perseverance to save a marriage. I can tell you it is worth it.

Prayer: God protect my marriage and help me do what it takes to make it better.

Day 17

Matthew 5:37 But let your Yes be Yes, and your No be No." For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Lonesome Dove, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall is one of my all-time favorite western movies. The story revolves around several retired Texas Rangers driving a herd of cattle from Texas to Montana. In the story, Captain Woodrow Call makes a promise to the dying Augustus McCrae that he would take Augustus’ body back to Texas from Montana and bury him by an orchard near San Antonio. Augustus dies in the dead of winter, so they put his body on ice until spring. When spring arrives, Captain Call packs the body in salt and charcoal, loads the coffin on a wagon and heads south towards Texas on a 1,500-mile trip. Needless to say, there were numerous obstacles that Captain Call encountered along the way. As he was burying Augustus, Captain Call said the following, Well, Gus; there you go. I guess that will teach me to be more careful about what I promise people in the future. What a lesson on keeping a promise. Everyone can probably think back in their life to promises kept and unkept. For those unkept, I am sure there were very good reasons why they weren’t. If you are like me, in many cases it was just that something better came along and took priority over the promise I had made. Although Lonesome Dove is just a fictional story, I often wonder if I would have kept the promise to make that trip. It is for certain that Augustus would have never known. It all comes down to what Jesus is saying in today’s verse, let your yes be yes, and your no be no. Are you a person of your word? When I was growing up, to make sure a person was telling the truth, someone say, swear on a stack of Bibles. Unfortunately, I don’t know if that would make any difference these days. Our yes and no has become a convenient means of getting what we want, instead of fulfilling a commitment. Proverbs 25:14 says, Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give. Are you as empty as a rainless cloud? Jesus can change that. Start by not making promises you don’t intend to keep and keeping the promises you make. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

Prayer: God help me to let my yes be yes and my no be no.

Day 18

Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Did you know that slapping someone on the cheek has now become a sport? Slap fighting is an organized event, where two people stand across a table and take turns slapping each other. Obviously, this is not what Jesus meant by turning the other cheek. Also, turning the other cheek doesn’t mean we can’t defend ourselves. In Luke 22:36 Jesus tells the disciples to sell their cloak to buy a sword. Let’s dig deeper into what Jesus is teaching here. In verse 38, Jesus said, You have heard it said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ He is referring to Exodus 21:23-25, The Law of Retaliation, given as a rule to help regulate the decisions of a judge or magistrate. This law was designed to prevent excessive punishment. Jesus is primarily talking to the Pharisees who had twisted the meaning of this law to personally seek revenge on someone. Jesus uses an example of a backhanded slap, which is meant as an insult. (A right-handed person slapping someone on the right cheek.) Several verses earlier, Jesus said in Matthew 5:11, Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Today, He is telling us how to respond to that persecution. Jesus said we are to turn the other cheek. The Sunday that Vivian and I were standing on the side of the road, supporting the Right to Life cause, my sinful nature wanted to take over and return the same gestures back to those passing by shouting obscenities at us. Putting our faith in action is not easy. Human nature