Sharing Faith in Christ in my Sphere of Influence

2 Corinthians 5:20 - “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’”

I have a friend that serves as an ambassador in a foreign country.  One day we were talking about his work and he shared how he had a “house” in another country but his “home” was in America. His work was to connect with foreign leaders and groups who could become hostile to the US Government. He developed relationships with these leaders in an attempt keep peace.

Tags:  Sharing Faith in Christ in my Sphere of Influence, Sharing Faith, Sphere of Influence, 2 Corinthians, Ambassador, Ambassadors for Christ, Matthew, Ephesians

God with Us

Matthew 1:22-23 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us).”

Tags:  Merry Christmas, Christmas, God With Us, Matthew, Immanuel

Trade Worry for Peace

Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Tags:  Worry, Peace, Trade Worry for Peace, Matthew, Treasures

Did Jesus Really Say That? The Best of Enemies

Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

One of the most popular bible verses in the world is John 3:16. People hold up this verse at ball games, put it on bumper stickers, and have committed it to memory.  But what about Matthew 5:44?  I have yet to see anyone hold up that verse at a game: “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!”  (Especially at a Browns-Steelers Game!)

Tags:  Did Jesus Really Say That, Enemies, Matthew, sermon on the mount

Did Jesus Really Say That? Core Strength

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” 

A few months ago, I discovered in a painful way that my core was not that strong.  When, after a day of moving some boxes and materials as my local church, I couldn’t get off the couch because a disc in my spine herniated and pinched a nerve.  Ouch!  A surgery and months of PT later I now know the importance of core strength! 

Tags:  Did Jesus Really Say That, Core Strength, Matthew, Spiritual Core

Did Jesus Really Say That? Qualified.

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” 

Interest rates have been at historic lows lately, so you might see a billboard advertising an amazingly low rate.  But often, if you look at the fine print, it will say “For qualified borrowers” – the rate is not available to everyone, just a select few.  That won’t shock many of us, because we quickly learn that the world works on qualifications:

Tags:  Matthew, sermon on the mount

Keeping Our Friendships & Resolving Conflict

Matthew 18:15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point our their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you havewon them over.” 

Have you ever made a trade or purchase you wish you could take back? Maybe you thought that car would make you feel amazing but after the second payment your thought: “Why did I buy this?” Or maybe the FFL trade made sense but after one week you thought: “Why did I give up my best running back?” 

Tags:  Friendships, Conflict, Matthew, Romans

Humbling

Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

Pride makes us do silly things. I was consulting with a company a number of years ago when one employee discovered that another employee was making a little more than him. He requested that his salary be raised to one dollar higher than his co-worker. The marginal increase made virtually no impact on his standard of living so I asked him why he made this request. He said that it was a matter of pride. 

 

Tags:  Humbling, Matthew, Pride