JANUARY 25 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#01-04 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<< JQ#01 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?” (Matthew 5:13)

LIVING FOR JESUS --- Daily Devotional

JANUARY  25  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#01-04 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<<   JQ#01  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?” (Matthew 5:13)

Daily Prayer to JESUS    

Jesus, praise the Name above all names, for You Jesus are the Only Door that opens into Eternal Life! Lord Jesus, guide us in Your Ways that we can with all confidence know that if we walk in Your Light that the “darkness of this world” will never overshadow us and make us lose the path to Your Kingdom. Lord we are caught up this year especially in trying to return our nation back to the greatness  we had as “One Nation Under God”. You have already proven that the nations that follow You will be led to the Only True Peace. Lord Jesus, forgive our nation for straying from the path of Righteousness You have laid out before us, and forgive me for hiding my Light for the darkness is great in America — here I am, Lord use me!     AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

JANUARY  25  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#01-04 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<<   JQ#01  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?” (Matthew 5:13)  Jesus was shown to be the Messiah by the fulfilling of prophecies through circumstance of His Lineage, His Birth from a “virgin” womb, and being identified as the Messiah by John the Baptist who was the prophesied “forerunner” of the Messiah and by the way King Herod reacted to the wise men when they asked, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2) — all circumstances beyond the control of Jesus to manipulate or for the disciples to manufacture after Jesus was crucified. These external circumstances documented by St. Matthew in the first three chapters of his Gospel of Jesus Christ declared Jesus to be the Messiah but at the end of chapter 3 Jesus began demonstrating by His Actions that Jesus is the Messiah by allowing Himself to be baptized by John and by declaring to John the Baptist (when John was unsure that he should baptize the Messiah), Jesus clearly stated the importance of this Baptism of Jesus by John in regards to Messianic prophecy when Jesus told John “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) Then starting with chapter 4 Jesus begins to demonstrate by His “Actions” that He IS the Messiah. A quick list of the first Actions by Jesus reveals His Lifestyle is the Perfect Example of living our day-to-day lives in such a way that every thing we do and say should “glorify God”. Here is a list of the First Actions of Jesus recorded by Matthew and how Jesus responded to His day-to-day circumstances (ACTION 1) — “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1) Jesus was tempted by the three temptations that are common to man and Jesus responded thusly: (1A) “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)  (1B) “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” (Matthew 4:7) (1C) “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Matthew 4:10) Matthew records that when Jesus avoided temptation by using the Word of God that “Then the devil left [Jesus] and behold angels came and ministered to Him.” (Matthew 4:11)  This first Action of Jesus was truly the Action of the Messiah as Jesus demonstrated that He was well versed in the Holy Scriptures and relied completely on the Holy Scriptures to resist temptation and in so doing Jesus “Glorified God” and showed that He would do nothing without having a solid Scriptural background to justify His Actions — again Jesus from the very beginning was all about living in a way that Honors God! (ACTION 2) — Matthew records next: “Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naptali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:12-16)  Matthew writes: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”(Matthew 4:17) (ACTION 3) — Matthew records that Jesus then began to call His disciples and declared to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-22) (ACTION 4) — Matthew then records “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.” (Matthew 4:23-25) With these actions Jesus showed by His life that He was the Messiah and that indeed Jesus had the AUTHORITY and POWER of God for Jesus did nothing that did not GLORIFY HIS FATHER! Then Jesus gave His “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:1-12) immediately after which Jesus began using Questions to focus our attention to the TRUTH of GOD contained in every Lesson that Jesus Taught with such Great Authority! Immediately after delivering the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus asked His first Question JQ#1  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?” (Matthew 5:13) Why should we study the Questions of Jesus? Why should we give Jesus an honest answer? Personally, this “JESUS Questions” blog began because the Holy Spirit made clear the need for me to dig deeper and to encourage more people to dig deeper into their personal relationship with Jesus — this blog is written to encourage all believers to consider the possibility that we are guilty of what was spoken by Jesus in Revelation to the angel of the church at Ephesus: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Revelation 2:1-4) Jesus spoke these words in the book John the disciple of Jesus wrote while John “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10) The Holy Spirit urges all “Born Again Believers” to return to our “first love” and TRUST that Jesus is the Only Way! This study of The JESUS Questions has been initiated by the Holy Spirit and is to be shared with everyone; therefore I will challenge everyone that reads this daily blog to dig deep into their relationship with Jesus and consider your current personal day-to-day relationship with Jesus — The Holy Spirit asks: “How’s your ‘Love’ life?”