LIVING FOR JESUS --- Daily Devotional
April 15 / Day 47
365 Prayers to JESUS
Jesus, each day the sun rises and I awaken to the “Hope” that is Christ Jesus. My soul is expectant, for I know that You are FAITHFUL in Your Promises and I know You have plans for my good stored up for me. Your Word teaches “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22). Lord, I know I deserve “punishment” and I give thanks that I am “not consumed” and acknowledge that my punishment was paid for on the Cross because of Your Compassion and Great Love for the “unloveable” and that with each new day I can look to the faithful rising of the “Son” to “Light” my new day with Your Mercy and Grace!
The Jesus Questions
JQ#10 — As the context of JQ#10 is studied we will find that the deeper we dig in God’s Word the more “spiritual” gems and treasures we will uncover. Jesus had already taught us in JQ#2 & JQ#3 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…” which are not lasting but Jesus pointed us to the lasting value of gathering spiritual gems when He continued commenting on “treasure hunting” … “…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” then Jesus added the bonus gem, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) This great jewel of a lesson came sandwiched between the reward for praying “for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” which is “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” (JQ#2 - Matthew 5:44-45) and “…is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (JQ#3 - Matthew 6:25) Remember Jesus shows us where to look to find our “spiritual treasures” as He pointed out how to prioritize our earthly desires and our heavenly opportunities: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these [spiritual gems/truths] shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Therefore let us dig into the “treasure filled” Chapter 10 in the Gospel of Matthew and see what “spiritual gems” will surface! Matthew Chapter 10 begins with Jesus calling His twelve hand-selected disciples (Matthew 10:1-4) and then gives them their first “assignment” (Matthew 10:5). Again, if we just read the first 5 verses in Chapter 10 and note the obvious we are actually robbing ourselves of “spiritual treasures” that are reserved for those that dig below the surface of the obvious because they know that “treasures” are always “buried” and that in itself will include “some digging” if we are to “uncover the treasure”. Jesus had taught in JQ#8 that thinking about digging never gets the hole dug, if we are to grab hold of the treasure we must put “feet to our prayers” and “action to our words” therefore I paraphrase Matthew 9:5 “Arise and [dig]”. Digging into Matthew 10:1-5 I notice that (1) Jesus called each disciple where that disciple lived. (2) None of the callings came as the disciples were getting out of their Mercedes in fancy clothes in the church parking lot or in air-conditioned sanctuaries with padded pews. (3) Jesus knows each of their names, and not just their names but Jesus called them by their first names. (4) By example of His Personal Invitation to each disciple individually, Jesus demonstrated that He wants a personal and intimate relationship with each individual and is willing to come to us where we live, dressed the way we are, doing the things we do on a day-to-day basis. (5) In other words, Jesus wants us to “Follow Him” just the way we are and He knows our name! (6) In verse 5 we read, “These 12 Jesus sent out and commanded them…” which says that Jesus will teach those that answer His individual call, that His teachings have purpose, and (7) Jesus trusts us to share His message with others. That’s a lot of treasures but heaven is big enough to store them all!
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