Archive for June 2009

To Love as God Loves

Matthew 5: 43-48 2 Cor. 8: 1-9 / Psa 146 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:44) God loves even those we reject For their perceived inequities; He wants our love to be perfect By loving all our enemies. (Jesus [...]

Getting Even

Matthew 5: 38-42 2 Cor. 6: 1-10 / Psa 98 If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:39) Revenge torments my soul and mind, When justice is all that I seek . . . Help me Lord in my heart to find Your grace to turn the [...]

Taking Oaths

Matthew 5: 33-37 2 Cor 5: 14-21 / Psa 103 I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. (Matthew 5:34-35) Grant me grace, Lord, my tongue [...]

On Adultery and Divorce

Matthew 5: 27- 32 2 Cor. 4: 7-15 / Psa. 116 He who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28) As metal is no match to rust, The most corrosive sin is lust; On your volition put no trust, Shun temptation, run if you must. Jesus [...]

Being Sent on a Mission

Matthew 10: 7-15 Acts 11: 21b-26; 13:1-3 / Psa 98 Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give. (Matthew 10: 8) We’re not asked to give up everything, Or be martyrs in some foreign land, The Word Jesus just wants us to bring: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ Jesus told [...]

Teaching about the Law

Matthew 5: 17-19 2 Cor. 3: 4-11 / Psa 99 . . . whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19) It is not love to spare the rod, Too much freedom, we’ll pay the price; Obedience to the laws of God Will assure us of [...]