Saturday, June 26, 2010

Matthew 7

4 comments:

Unknown said...

verses 21 through 23 confuse me. We are taught elswewhere that we are saved by faith and not by works, but this passage always seems to be hinging our salvation on our works. I will have to do an indepth study on it.

For me personally I was challenged by "you will receive what you give, you will receive what you ask for and you will have done to you as you do to others."

I've been wrestling alot with my friendships. Am I a good enough friend? Do people feel cared for by me? If I feel a void in my own life in that area, maybe I need to look at my own investment into others and step it up a notch.

Unknown said...

woops. proof reading typed text is always good.

Interesting. Just opened up my Daily Discipler for today's teaching and it was on repentance. This part caught my eye in light of my earlier thoughts.

"Paul reaffirmed the necessity of repentance: " I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21).

Later he wrote, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds" (Acts 26:20).

Repentance means you are renouncing sin and false beliefs and turning toward faith in God....

If you really believe (have faith) in God, it will affect your walk and your talk."

So I guess it's another case of your "faith will be made known by your actions".

Mac an Rothaich said...

21 to 23 always remind me of the busy person who is so busy doing (in their mind for God) they aren't living for God or with Jesus. 'Be' not 'do' for Christ.

Our relationship with the Lord will change how we are in every situation (he will become our very being) and will change us spirit, body and mind... not the other way around...our doing for Christ will not alone create a relationship with Christ.

21 says we have to do the will of the Father to enter heaven and that was to love and live in His Son.

It is all about getting our focus right. How many people burn themselves out because of miss guided good intentions? Putting stuff at church and in ministry ahead of their family and firstly their relationship with Jesus?

Burn out isn't the only danger when you focus on the wrong things first. Even good things become bad, godly looking acts become idols if they take away from our time loving and being with our Savior...

Unknown said...

Great points, Becky. Totally hit the mark.