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).”
Luke 1:17 “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and Power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous -- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
When guests come over to our house there is usually a bit of effort to make the house ready before they arrive. Due to our busy schedules, sometimes our weekly chores get neglected, and if so, there is an all-out clean-up to make the house ready for guests! Just like our homes, there are times that our hearts need to be prepared as well!
James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
In times like this it helps to laugh. One of my favorite comedy moments is in the 2004 remake of Starsky and Hutch. In this scene, Ben Stiller plays the role of David Starsky and in one hilarious scene he repeatedly says, “Do it, Do it.” As Jesus finishes his sermon on the mount in Matthew 7, he gives us a similar message.
Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not Judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
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.”
Mark 9:24 “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”
There are times in life when it is difficult to fully trust God. In Mark 9, a father is desperate because of a need in his family. While encountering Jesus, he asks if Jesus can heal his son. Jesus responds that “everything is possible for those who believe.” This man gives an honest response that I have thought many times. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
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!)
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!
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
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: