Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 6:5-15 The Model Prayer

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Ah, Jerusalem! Such a holy city! And if you don’t believe it, just wait a little. Avram, the Pharisee, is coming to stand on the street corner to pray so that everyone can see him and admire him. Surely the prayers of an outstanding religious person such as Avram will sanctify the city even further…..won’t they….or will they? And even if you miss Avram’s performance on the street corner, you can still catch it inside the temple, for Avram promises to proceed into the temple and stand where everyone can see him and hear him while he prays some more….actually, a lot more.  

The names don’t matter, but when Jesus begins teaching about prayer, everybody in the crowd knows what he’s talking about because they have all witnessed the professional religious people showing off, displaying their piety. Not only do such people select heavily trafficked public places for their prayers, but they also pray LONG prayers, quoting as much Scripture as possible to demonstrate their grasp of holy writings. Those unfortunate enough to enter the temple during one of these performances are in for a long siege before they too can pray and then go.

Jesus is encouraging us to speak with God simply and quietly in a private location. If you wanted to talk with your best friend, you won’t do it in the middle of a busy street, but in a quiet place where you have time to communicate. And when you speak with friends, you don’t repeat the same phrases over and over, but you state things plainly, knowing your friend will understand. You also use a normal tone of voice, not some “woo-woo” sanctimonious quaver; neither do you scream. Why scream at someone sitting right next to you? How rude!

Now Jesus turns to the content of the prayers. We are to regard God as our Father, the most perfect Father there is. The fatherhood of God is a tough concept for many people because they’ve had bad or disappointing experiences with their earthly fathers. Some fathers are weak or emotionally absent. Some fathers have only served as sperm donors, deserting mothers and children. Other fathers have been verbally, emotionally, or physically and sexually abusive. But in the Jewish culture, a good father provides for his family, protects his family, and guides his family. As the ultimate perfect Father, God can do all these things better than anybody else.

We are to call God’s Name as holy, sacred, not something to be mishandled or to be used in casual expressions such as “OMG!” We are praying to a perfectly pure and holy God, not one of the pagan deities noted for sexual or other immorality. During the conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus tells her that “God is a spirit, and they who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” If we want the very best for ourselves and for others, we should be longing for God’s kingdom to come and for His perfect will to be done in all things, for then everything will work properly and will be peaceful. When faced with a conundrum, it is helpful to ask God for His perfect will to be done in a situation. As we make this request, we are handing over our right to decide what’s best, trading it for God’s best instead. We are acknowledging that God knows the facts of the situation better than we do and that He can handle things far better than we can. You can’t go wrong making such a request.

“Give us this day our daily bread.“ Here we are acknowledging our total dependence on God for everything, including our food. No matter how much we choose to ignore this fact, none of us are self-made individuals. If God does not supply us, we will have nothing.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Why is this statement an important part of the prayer? We must first forgive before God can forgive us. If we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we block God from forgiving us. When we forgive freely, then God can freely forgive us. One of the fundamental laws of the Kingdom of God is that the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. We limit God’s forgiveness for us when we harbor unforgiveness.

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” God does not lead us into temptation but we court temptation ourselves. We constantly need deliverance from Satan and only God can protect us.

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Here we acknowledge God as Sovereign of the universe, almighty, all-powerful, all-glorious, and ruler of all. “Amen” translates to “Let it be so!”

Large numbers of books have been written about this prayer and studying it in depth is very worthwhile. But we miss a great deal if we ignore Jesus’ instructions that precede it. These days, there are many prayer meetings that go on for hours while people scream at God as loudly as possible, repeating their petitions as rapidly as possible. Sometimes people claim to be waging spiritual warfare; however, when Jesus confronted demons, he simply told them to leave and they did. While there is nothing wrong with praying for long periods of time, the content of the prayers and the mode of delivery are important. Prayer is a two-way conversation, not a monologue. We should listen far more than we should speak. God is not deaf, and He knows our hearts; however, when we speak out our petitions and even record them, we can later record God’s answers. This practice will build our faith. When Jesus is advising us to go into a secret place, he is not advising that we copy the Pharisees or any other group.  We need to be careful, lest we find ourselves copying the wrong model for prayer rather than the one Jesus has advised. May God help us, so that our prayers will glorify Him and not us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to pray as You want us to, realizing that You always hear us. We ask this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Do Good to Please God

Matthew 6:1-4 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

It was our first year in Ghana and we were just getting used to the local language and to long worship services. We were impressed that each Sunday, the pastor would solemnly give a “mini-sermon” before his official one. Only when we learned more of the local language did we realize that this was no sermon! The pastor was announcing special contributions from rich people so that everyone in the congregation would appreciate their generosity. When we attended funerals or weddings, we swiftly learned that unless we quietly dropped our donations in a general fund, those collecting donations would ensure that the amount of our donation be generally announced. For many of those donating, the motto seemed to be “If you’ve got it, flaunt it!”

These days, fund-raisers in churches will start by asking those donating large amounts of money such as 1,000 Ghana cedis or 500 Ghana cedis to bring their money forward so everyone can applaud them. These announcers will then work their way down until they allow those with small amounts to come forward and give anonymously. We simply wait until the general offering is taken and then donate.

Things were no different in Jesus’ day. The professional religious people donated all right; however, they wanted to make sure that EVERYBODY knew exactly how generous they were. Lacking spotlights, these people settled for sounding trumpets as they processed to the temple or as they handed over their donation inside the temple. What God-fearing rabbis thought of this horrific practice can only be imagined.

Sometimes culture and Scripture clash, and this is a prime example. Jesus is telling a shocked crowd that they have a choice: do they want God’s approval or man’s? Publicizing donations may get popular praise, but enjoy it for that’s all you’re going to get. On the other hand, if you keep your charity secret, God will reward you openly.

We have seen church elders praise wicked people who abuse their house help and practically starve their families so they can make a good showing publicly. Here Jesus is saying, “Better enjoy whatever people are saying, because that’s all the reward you’re going to get.” The law of the Kingdom of God is that the measure you give out is the measure you will receive; however, when you give anticipating a lot of praise, you are determining your own reward. People will say anything to manipulate on behalf of their organization, but praise is ephemeral with a life-span shorter than that of a May-fly that barely lives 24 hours. On the other hand, God’s rewards might last a lifetime.

If we are to truly be disciples, we must abandon the idea of adulation and fancy speeches. But charity does have some instant rewards. We routinely assist poor patients with medical bills, and they frequently return with guinea eggs, guinea fowls, or tubers of yam. We are helping because we don’t want the rest of the family to starve, but these people want to demonstrate their gratitude. We receive these gifts gratefully, recognizing the sacrifices these families are making, and then pass them on to others to bless them as well.

In 1992, we were leaving the U.S. for Ghana. One family needed a vehicle and we gave my small car to them. Another family needed living room furniture and we donated that as well. That car has since blessed two or three other families. Our advice after years of ministry: Don’t be afraid to give. God keeps the books.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to give freely as You have given to us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Go the Second Mile Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

For those listening to Jesus, the quote about “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is a familiar saying, but where does it come from? Exodus 21:22-23 tells us, “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Although that statement appears harsh, it is actually a step forward. Previously, people took any revenge they wanted to, including murder, for a relatively minor injury. All these years, the crowd has been following the tenets of Moses, but now Jesus is saying that retaliation in any form has no place in the Kingdom of heaven.

Many in the crowd must be growing restless, wondering why Jesus is saying these things. Some of these people are so poor that they only have one tunic or one cloak; if they give those things away, they will walk around naked with no protection from the cold. And what is Jesus referring to when he advises to go an extra mile? Remember that Israel is under Roman occupation. It is common for Roman soldiers to demand that ordinary citizens drop what they are doing to carry the soldiers’ equipment. Jesus is advising that if a soldier compels you to carry his equipment one mile, you should offer to carry it a second mile as well, doing more than has been expected or asked.

Sharing is another difficult concept for many in the crowd. Money lenders have existed ever since money has been used, and the regulations for these people have been spelled out in the Law of Moses. But Jesus is advocating sharing without collecting interest or even expecting any return and allowing people to borrow freely. The beggars are always present; is Jesus demanding that the crowd give everything away to beggars?

Jesus habitually makes radical statements to shake up the crowd and to grab their attention. Just as Jesus has advised dismemberment rather than disgrace, now Jesus is advising radical sharing rather than greed.

These teachings have always troubled missionaries who find themselves as wealthy people in poor countries where needs are overwhelming. Questions come quickly: “Must I give away all my child’s toys, leaving my child with nothing? Is Jesus really demanding that I give away all my clothes and walk around naked? What about the vehicle I use for ministry?” There are no cut and dried answers to these questions. The only answer possible is to view all one’s possessions as belonging to Jesus and then asking Jesus to direct the giving. We have given away vehicles to others in ministry and have been blessed in doing so, for those recipients are routinely sharing their God-given resources with others. On the other hand, there are those who will visit us and then ask for everything in the house, even though we know that they may have better possessions than we do. We try not to give to leeches or to create dependency.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Here is a teaching which brooks no argument. God hates revenge. How many people curse God and do everything to provoke Him; meanwhile, God continues to send sunshine and rain impartially? Why should we love our enemies and bless them, doing good for them, and praying for them? This teaching is one of the thorniest teachings of Jesus, but it is necessary. As long as we are plotting revenge, we are digging an ever-deepening spiritual hole for ourselves. When we pray for our enemies or for those who spitefully use us, we release God’s power to change them. There are many testimonies from those working in companies that when they began praying for their difficult bosses, their bosses changed. Think about it: if you don’t intercede for people, how will they ever change for the better? The more irritating someone is, the more you need to pray God’s richest blessings on that person, for only God knows the way to that person’s heart and only God knows their circumstances.

How can you pray for someone who is spitefully using you? Here is a model prayer:

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are surrounded by critics and enemies. We pray Your richest blessings of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control on all these people. You have told us in Galatians 5:22-23 that these are the fruits of Your Holy Spirit; if their lives are full of Your Holy Spirit, they will be transformed. . We pray that You send the Love of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, and the Fire of the Holy Spirit upon our critics and on us as well. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

 Matthew 5: 31-32 Marriage Is Sacred and Binding

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

Jesus Forbids Oaths Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Huge amounts of been written about divorce, but it’s helpful to examine divorce as it was practiced in Jesus’ day. Even Pharisees could simply hand their wives certificates of divorce, forcing the women to leave the house and face an uncertain future. The reasons for divorce were myriad. The Hillel school of rabbinic thought included the poor woman burning the dinner, the husband seeing another woman he liked better, the woman “causing embarrassment,” or “for any other reason.” A second school of rabbinic thought, the Shammai school, only countenanced divorce on the grounds of sexual unfaithfulness or adultery; however, the men were the ones who could demand divorces while women could not. Unmarried women or widows frequently found themselves at the mercy of the men around them, so divorce robbed a woman of social and physical protection, as well as throwing her into poverty.

Here Jesus is advising those around him that if they want to be his disciples, they must honor all the covenants they make, including the marriage covenant. Jesus goes on to forbid oaths and to urge people to keep their word when they make an agreement. Disciples must be trustworthy, and someone who will break a marriage covenant on the slightest pretext is not.

But what about the issue of divorce? Many churches take this particular statement of Jesus without examining the rest of the New Testament and use it to attack divorced people. But there are as many reasons for divorce as there are couples, and such harsh judgements have frequently resulted in people rejecting God because those claiming to follow Him have behaved viciously.

Phil Whitall pastors Grace Church Stockholm in his blog thesimplepastor.co.uk describes 4 Biblical reasons for divorce as described in this illustration: Adultery and sexual unfaithfulness, Abandonment or desertion, Neglect, Abuse. It should be noted that abuse can be physical, mental, emotional, or some combination of all three. What do we say to the man or woman who faces daily doses of vitriol pouring from the mouth of their spouse? What about women who must go underground with their children in hopes of escaping physical abuse or even death? What about the man whose wife has become so addicted to drugs that she has impoverished the family, leaving her children to face ridicule wherever they go? And what about women who have given everything they can to their marriages, only to find that nothing is enough? Some Christians appear more willing to accept a murderer who has repented than a divorced man or woman who has suffered abuse, desertion, neglect, or other suffering? Is divorce really an unpardonable sin? The short answer is “No!”

One of the problems we face when discussing sin is the question of which sins are worse? Are addictions to drugs, gambling, food, shopping, etc. worse than gossiping or betraying one’s friends or co-workers? Is homosexuality or lesbianism worse than murder? Again, the answer is “NO!” God does not grade on a curve or rate some sins as worse than others. Romans 3:23 tells us “For ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Some of us have sins that are more visible than others, but all of us are sinners in need of a Savior.  

God has instituted marriage so that men and women and children can live in a loving environment. Jesus adds his teaching against oath taking or breaking to his discourse on divorce because marriage is a covenant relationship, one that should not be broken if at all possible. But bad things happen to good people. Some of us may marry someone, believing that we understand their personality, only to find that we have created a false figure that has little relationship to reality. Sometimes a spouse may prove to be bipolar or psychotic, with ever-worsening behavior. Other times, the same spouse who appeared incredibly attentive and affectionate during courtship turns out to be obsessively controlling and physically abusive after marriage. Only God really knows the human heart sufficiently to judge; the rest of us need to leave judgment to God.

Years ago, we worked in a mission group with a woman who was very difficult. At one point, I was venting to one of our friends, complaining at length about this woman. Our friend looked at me kindly and then said, “Well, I have noticed that suffering is 100% for everybody.” This statement is one of the wisest I have heard. Things that bother me don’t bother others and vice versa. That statement illustrates the fact that none of us are qualified to judge or criticize.

Here Jesus is trying to urge his disciples to honor covenants but also to act in love, both in their families and with their neighbors. Jesus is actually protesting the harsh attitude of the Pharisees and scribes against women. It behooves all of us to act in love, comforting rather than viciously pronouncing judgment. Am I in favor of fidelity? Absolutely! I have been married more than four decades and my husband is my best friend. But the longer I go on this journey of faith, the less qualified I feel to judge others. Am I advocating divorce? No. But I recognize there are times when that is the only option left to someone who has already suffered much.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be compassionate but to honor covenants and to let our “yes be yes and our no be no.” In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Murder Begins in the Heart

Matthew 5: 21-26 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says,  ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery in the Heart

27-30 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

Well, Jesus has just quit preachin’ and gone to meddlin’. As long as someone is simply preaching, we can listen or not, and remain unchanged. But when anyone begins truly proclaiming the Word of God, we will have one of two reactions: either we will be changed or our hearts will become even harder.

Here Jesus is telling us that anger begins with the little things, calling someone “Raca” or “empty head” or proclaiming him as a fool. We must continue to watch our hearts closely for sin begins in our hearts. The more we feed our anger and resentment, the stronger it will become until we will do something regrettable.

Now Jesus moves into another area: worship with a dirty heart. Jesus advises that if we want to worship God and we know we have sinned against someone else, we must go and apologize to that person and make things right. Failing to reconcile means our worship will be worthless.

What if someone has a legal case against us? Again, Jesus advises to settle the matter before it reaches court. Evidently, even in Jesus’ day, the only people who were really winning in court cases were the lawyers and not the plaintiffs.

Now Jesus moves into another problem area: SEX. Lust has been around as long as the human race. Jesus is advising not to allow lust to even get going, for once those lustful ideas start, it will be very difficult to stop them, particularly if they are entertaining. Those who have struggled with addictions to on-line pornography can testify to the truth of Jesus’ teachings.

Is Jesus really advocating that we maim ourselves? No. But Jesus wants us to realize just how serious these heart matters are so that we will be serious about repudiating bad thoughts as soon as they appear. If we begin to be entertained by thoughts of revenge, we may progress to physical acts of revenge. Far better to confess our problems to God and allow Him to handle them.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and cannot help ourselves change. Please cleanse our hearts and minds with Your Holy Spirit power. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

BELIEVERS ARE SALT AND LIGHT

Matthew 5: 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Christ Fulfills the Law

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus is conducting spiritual boot camp for his disciples while thousands of others listen in. NOBODY is teaching anything like this in the synagogues and these people are amazed at what they are hearing. “You are the salt of the earth.” Say what? Sure, everybody knows about salt, uses salt, and looks for salt in the market. Caravans bring salt to areas that don’t have it. Salt is such a precious commodity that sometimes people pay debts with salt. Now Jesus is saying that just as fresh salt flavors food and makes it satisfying, so disciples must bear the flavor of God wherever they go. But what happens if salt draws moisture, cakes, and loses its flavor? Every housewife knows that salt is worthless and must be thrown away. Believers lacking the flavor of God’s presence won’t have any effect on the world.

”You are the light of the world.” About now, the disciples are thinking, “Who? ME?” These people are nothing if not realists, and they know just how sinful they really are. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Now the disciples are really worried. These guys know what others think about them, and they know they fall far short of God’s glory. And if they are worried now, they’re going to be more worried in a minute.

Jesus tells his people that he has come to fulfill the law, not to set it aside, that he is so concerned about fulfilling the law that not even the tiniest brush stroke of a letter will be ignored. This pronouncement might be disappointing for some who are hoping that Jesus is going to preach an easier way of salvation. And it gets even worse.

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Well, now the disciples are truly discouraged. The scribes and Pharisees are professional religious people who spend all their time observing minutiae and arguing over it. Common people who have to work have no time for that stuff. Is Jesus giving a glimpse of heaven, only to snatch it away from his listeners?

The short answer to that question is “No.” Jesus is not a wicked man who dangles glory in front of people, only to disappoint them. The point of this teaching is to lead people to consider their sinful state and then to show them how God wants to change them. Jesus is fully conscious that none of his listeners can possibly achieve holiness by themselves, and that’s why he is teaching these things. Jesus wants to lead people into a far higher way of life, one in which they serve God out of love and not out of fear. The righteousness about which Jesus is teaching can only be achieved with God’s help, not by observing a myriad of petty rules.

Perhaps you too have struggled with some of the same problems those people are considering on that hillside. Somehow, you have gotten the idea that God is a wicked old man, sitting in heaven and prepared to punish anyone who puts a foot wrong. Jesus wants you to know that idea is completely wrong. God knows we are weak and that we cannot help ourselves. The first three steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Steps say:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Over the years, these affirmations have led millions of people to victory over alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other addictions.

Jesus is not preaching the Sermon on the Mount to accuse people, but to demonstrate what can happen when God’s Kingdom becomes a reality in the lives of individuals. God stands ready to help anyone who will appeal to Him for help, for He longs for fellowship with us and will bend every effort to assist us if we only ask. But we must be sincere in our asking. James warns us that when we pray, we can’t be like the waves of the sea, going back and forth, back and forth. We must trust that God hears us and that God will help us.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we know that we are sinners and cannot free ourselves from those sins that wrap around our hearts and minds and bodies. Please deliver us from ourselves. Help us to truly become light and salt, true citizens of Your Kingdom. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”

Is Jesus impressed with these early results? No. Jesus fully realizes that in a culture with little entertainment, these miracles and healings have become the biggest thing around. Matthew 5:1-2 tells us, “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…”

Jesus knows enough to realize that God the Father has blessed his early ministry. But now it’s time to begin teaching his followers and anyone else who shows up. The teachings Jesus shares on that hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee are now known as the Sermon on the Mount. In that discourse, Jesus covers several important points.

Jesus begins by teaching the Beatitudes, those qualities that God calls blessed. These foundational truths are necessary for the disciples because Jesus isn’t worried about turning them into a bunch of miracle workers but rather into citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus first teaches that his followers are not to “get uppity,” that is to become proud of themselves in any fashion. While disciples are to value themselves as people whom God loves, they must realize that this does not make them more special than anybody else. George Whitefield and John Wesley were both at the forefront of revival in England in the 1700’s; however, they had strong theological differences. Whitefield was one of the most successful preachers of his day, preaching to as many as 20,000 people at a time in open fields. Tony Cooke tells us, “One of Whitfield’s followers (who obviously still held great animosity against Wesley) said to Whitfield, “We won’t see John Wesley in the heaven, will we?” Whitfield humbly replied “Yes, you’re right, we won’t see him in heaven. He will be so close to the Throne of God and we will be so far away, that we won’t be able to see him!” https://tonycooke.org/articles-by-tony-cooke/wesley-whitfield

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  Jesus already knows that his followers are going to suffer for their faith in him and wants to assure them that they can withstand any sorrow, knowing that God will comfort them.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Followers of Jesus must not be push-overs; however, they also must continue to look to God for approval, not flaunting themselves as do the professional religious people. God can’t use someone with a bad attitude.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” No ministry can last if its proponents do not strive for righteousness, and Jesus’ followers must long for righteousness as much as they do for food and water to sustain their bodies.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Jesus wants his followers to be known for their mercy. Why? Because the professional religious people are some of the most intolerant, unmerciful, and judgmental people in existence. Later, Jesus will tell a story of a Pharisee who goes to the temple to pray and spends all his time praising himself. The Pharisee begins his prayer by saying, “God, I thank You that I am not as other men!” Those listening enjoy the story particularly because they have all witnessed something similar.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Jesus knows those who are listening and realizes that many of them are anything but pure in heart. At the same time, many of those same people are longing to become pure in heart and have no idea how to go about it. Here Jesus is not proposing an unreachable standard but is encouraging those who truly desire purity that indeed, purity is achievable and that God wants to help them.  

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”  Jesus wants his followers to be peacemakers and to be known for their ability to bring peace into conflict situations. Being a peacemaker is no easy task, for sometimes the two factions to whom you are trying to bring reconciliation choose to unite in their anger at you. Once you are eliminated, the two factions resume their fight. Peacemakers are sons of God because the mark of the Holy Spirit is peace, not conflict or confusion. We must ensure that we are bringing God’s peace to a situation and not simply imposing our ideas on others.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Here Jesus is warning all listening that following him may result in persecution or even death. Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor who was tortured for his faith, suffered such beatings on the soles of his feet that later when speaking with friendly audiences, he generally sat down because standing was too painful. Korean friends have described North Korean authorities plowing over Christians with bull dozers to discourage others from following Jesus.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” During one high school shooting in Colorado, the shooter queried a young woman as to whether she was a Christian. The young woman knew that to admit to following Christ would mean instant death; yet, she said so anyway and was shot immediately. Through the years, many Christians have endured slander and ridicule without breaking down. Jesus is warning his followers that being a disciple will be anything but a walk in the park.

12 “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.” Jesus is saying these things to Jews who remember the horrible fate of people like the prophet Isaiah who was murdered by wicked King Manasseh. Isaiah foretold more about the Messiah than any other prophet; yet, he suffered terribly. Jeremiah nearly died several times, once being thrown into a well full of muck from which he was rescued just before suffocating.

Anybody who has assumed that following Jesus is going to be lots of fun should be re-thinking that assumption by this point. Now Jesus is starting the process of turning a mixed group of men into a cohesive ministry unit. More than that, Jesus also wants to teach all those around him about the Kingdom as well.

What’s fascinating is that the crowd on the hillside listens raptly, and Jesus’ teaching stirs many hearts. These people have been spiritually hungry and the weekly recitations in the synagogues have failed to satisfy that hunger. Why are these words so compelling?

Many people choose to ignore the Holy Spirit, failing to realize that the third member of the Trinity is just as active as the other two. While Jesus is speaking, the Holy Spirit is convicting hearts. Those recording Jesus’ teachings are also being led by the Holy Spirit to record them precisely. Anyone coming to Jesus spiritually hungry is leaving satisfied, for the Holy Spirit never does anything half-way.

Those of us reading these words are hampered by never having witnessed Jesus speaking them. The film series The Chosen is remarkable for its truthful portrayal of Jesus; yet, even that series, well done as it is, simply falls short because it is only a video imagining what it must have been like to be with Jesus. But we can ask God to reveal Himself to us as we read His Word, and He will do so.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please open the eyes of our hearts so that we may truly see You and understand Your calling for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.   

Matthew 4:23-25 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them. The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.”

Jesus has just started his ministry, teaching in synagogues and preaching. If we overlook that simple statement, we miss a great deal. Heads of synagogues don’t let any old person barge in and teach-what if they teach heresy? Obviously, at this point, Jesus has impressed a number of religious leaders and those listening are perking up. Much later in Jesus’ ministry, soldiers sent to arrest him refuse to do so, stating “No man has ever spoken like this before.”

Now the word about Jesus is spreading, and huge crowds are gathering wherever he goes. Some of these people are spiritually hungry, some of them are simply curious, and some of them are desperate for healing for themselves or for family members. The first time Jesus casts out a demon, the first time he heals epilepsy, the first time a stroke victim walks off waving his hands in the air, some of the crowd gasp in surprise while others run off to tell their neighbors. “Avram! Quick, take your son who keeps throwing himself into the fire and get over to that new preacher. People are getting healed and delivered!” “Hannah, get some men to help you carry your paralyzed husband to that carpenter who’s preaching down on the seashore! Remember Isaac, the cripple from the next village? That carpenter has laid hands on him and he is running around praising God!”

Before you know it, the crowd has ballooned to five times the size it was in the morning, and more people keep coming. Word of the miracles and healings begins spreading, carried by itinerant tradesmen and merchants at caravansaries. In a time when many people never leave their home towns except for attending the feasts in Jerusalem, people are streaming from everywhere, including the land beyond the Jordan River. Jesus is rapidly becoming what we in our time would call a mass media event with the news spread only by word of mouth.

At this point, Jesus might be excused if he decides to simply settle for a ministry of miracles and healings. Why not? Things are going swimmingly, and even the local religious authorities are praising him for the incisive teachings he is bringing in the synagogues. All Jesus has to do is to remain in the villages, going up to Jerusalem only for the feasts like all other Jewish believers, and he can have a long and happy life. But….

But Jesus has already faced the three major temptations regarding ministry out there in the wilderness-the temptation to be his own amateur providence, to tempt God’s watch-care, and to enjoy unparalleled earthly success-and has settled the matter in his heart. Jesus knows his main purpose in life is to be born as a man, to make disciples and teach, and to eventually die for the sins of the world. No matter how successful Jesus becomes, he keeps those purposes in mind.

Many years ago, a wise Bible teacher taught us that one of the keys in ministry is to “Keep the main thing the main thing,” that is, not to become distracted and to begin pursuing side-paths when you need to focus on your original calling. William Carey, one of the first missionaries to India, had an incredibly successful career as a minister and Bible translator; however, he also founded schools, was a social reformer and a cultural anthropologist. For part of his career, Carey supported himself by managing an indigo plant and later managed a large botanical garden. Despite all temptations to enrich himself, Carey persisted in using these various opportunities to spread the Gospel. Carey’s first wife suffered a complete nervous breakdown and required constant care. Somehow, Carey was able to combine seeing to his wife with all his other activities. Throughout Carey’s career, his focus remained on evangelism by any means possible.

Centuries before Jesus appears, the prophet Isaiah foretells the single-mindedness of the Messiah in Isaiah 50:7 “The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn’t go back to sleep, didn’t pull the covers back over my head. I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, Didn’t dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I’m not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I’ll never regret this. My champion is right here. Let’s take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try! Look! the Master, God, is right here. Who would dare call me guilty? Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths! “ (The Message Translation)

Jesus does not allow early success to dissuade him from his main purposes but keeps moving steadily. If we are to be true Jesus-followers, we too must keep the main thing the main thing, not becoming legends in our own minds.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, not becoming distracted if we briefly enjoy earthly success. Thank You for calling each one of us to new opportunities to serve You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

The First Disciples (Matthew 13:47-52; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-42)

Matthew 4:18-22 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.”

Before Jesus ever moved to Capernaum, he spent a lot of time in prayer, asking his Heavenly Father for guidance. On the face of it, Capernaum didn’t seem like a profitable base for ministry; however, God assured him that it had to be Capernaum. Now Jesus has moved to Capernaum and is walking along the Sea of Galilee, watching the fishermen casting their nets. The fishermen are busy and have little interest in this stranger walking along the shore. Everybody has heard about this carpenter who has moved in from Nazareth, but nobody knows what he’s up to. So far he hasn’t opened a shop, and he just seems to walk around town. But those who have met him can’t stop talking about him. There’s something about this man that draws people to him, especially children and animals, any kind of animal.

Now Jesus stops to watch as Peter and Andrew repeatedly cast their net into the sea. Peter straightens up and looks into a face with the most loving expression he has ever seen. Seeing that Peter is standing still, Andrew also looks at Jesus and is immediately entranced. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus says, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Suddenly, nothing seems more appropriate to Peter and Andrew than dropping their nets, bringing the boat to shore, and leaving it to follow Jesus.

A little further down the beach, James and John are sitting with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. As Jesus, Peter, and Andrew walk by, Jesus calls out to James and John, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Amazed, Zebedee watches as his two sons carefully finish mending the holes on which they have been working, lay the nets down, and kiss him on the cheek before following Jesus. Their fishing careers are over, and they are walking into their future.

This story is so short and so simple that it almost seems ridiculous; yet, this is the way God sometimes moves in people’s lives. One moment, those people are going about their routine tasks, and in the next moment, their lives have changed forever. When Saul the ultimate Pharisee encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, the glory of the risen Christ was so magnificent that Saul was struck blind for three days and had to be prayed for by a believe in Damascus.

One October Sunday in 1981, I walked into a double wide trailer in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. I thought I was there simply to visit that mission congregation; however, God had selected me as their pianist. A few days later, I met the man who would become my husband, and God kept bringing both of us to more decision points where He provided quiet guidance. You know when God is calling you because suddenly there seems to be only one decision you can make, and you have peace about it.

Much has been written about Jesus’ actual appearance-was he swarthy? Was he short? Was he handsome? As a Jew, Jesus probably had dark hair and black eyes and an olive-skinned complexion. As a carpenter and a stone mason, Jesus would have been muscular, although not possessing the kind of physique that would win body building contests. None of that speculation is actually important. What’s really important is that the man Jesus was one of the most charismatic figures ever known. When Jesus called people, there was an instant connection. Later we will see this same thing happen with Matthew and the other disciples, and it is Matthew, the former tax collector, who is recording this story for us.

Why did Jesus choose fishermen for his first four disciples? Those fishermen were hard-working, successful, independent businessmen who were used to rough conditions and facing all kinds of problems. But more than those physical attributes, God the Father was advising Jesus all the while. “Jesus, why not walk down by the shore? Jesus, see those two men in that boat? Call to them. Jesus, see those two men mending nets? Call them as well. These men will be your first disciples. Just wait and see what I am going to do with them! You won’t believe it.”

What’s important about this story? When you are entering a ministry, you need to be careful about your helpers, praying and asking God for guidance. You also need to realize that God’s choice of helpers and yours might be radically different. God is always working in people’s lives and He wants to bring people out of themselves so they can fulfill His perfect will for their lives. Sometimes God gives people opportunities when we would rather leave them alone! God knows the potential each person has and He is always trying to prod that person into being better than they think they can be.

These verses tell the very beginning of the story of Peter and Andrew and James and John as disciples. At this point, nobody knows that Peter will become one of the respected elders of the church, eventually being crucified upside down, or that John will write one of the Gospels and some of the most glowing letters in the New Testament, plus experiencing a revelation that will be recorded for all time. Anyone looking at the group would simply see four guys from Capernaum plus a carpenter from Nazareth. These guys certainly don’t look as if they are going to change the world, but when God begins moving in their lives, they will.

Jesus is calling each one of us to be his disciple. No matter what your profession, your level of education, your social standing, your income, your physical attributes, your talents, Jesus is calling you just as he called those fishermen. How will you answer?

 PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are afraid of Your call, not realizing that You want the very best for each of us. Help us to trust You and follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Jesus Begins His Ministry (Isaiah 9:1-7; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15)

Matthew 4:12-17 “When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

David Guzak in his Enduring Word Commentary has this to say about these verses:

a. When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee: John 3:22 and 4:1-2 indicate that the first ministry Jesus did with His disciples was a baptizing ministry at the Jordan. Sometime after that and after the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus went to Galilee to begin His itinerant ministry in that region.

i. John’s Gospel (John 1:19-2:12) records an early ministry in Galilee and in Judea before Jesus went to Galilee as mentioned here. This early Judean ministry included the earliest call of the disciples and the wedding at Cana (in Galilee), and the first cleansing of the temple followed by His interview with Nicodemus (in Judea). Then John tells us what happened when Jesus traveled north to Galilee through Samaria, and met a Samaritan woman at a well.

ii. It was the imprisonment of John that prompted this. “Galilee was the tetrarchy of Herod, who had imprisoned John. Into that region, our Lord went to continue the ministry of the man thus silenced…Thus it has ever been, and still is. Evil may silence a voice, but it cannot prevent the proclamation of the Word. If John is imprisoned, then Jesus takes up the message.” (Morgan)

b. He departed to Galilee: The region of Galilee was a fertile, progressive, highly populated region. According to figures from the Jewish historian Josephus, there were some 3 million people populating Galilee, an area smaller than the state of Connecticut.

i. In an area of about 60 by 30 miles, Josephus says that there were some 204 villages with none having less than 15,000 people. That gives a population of more than 3 million for the region.

ii. Galilee was predominately Gentile in its population, but with a large number of Jewish cities and citizens. Also, Galilee was known as an incredibly fertile region. Many successful farms took advantage of the good soil.

c. Leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum: This was because the people rejected Jesus in His own hometown (Luke 4:16-30). It was significant that Jesus made His home in Capernaum and not in Nazareth.

i. Matthew may have been particularly interested in Capernaum because it was where he himself lived (Matthew 9:1-9). Peter also had a house in Capernaum (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:29 and 2:1).

ii. Yet leaving Nazareth, Jesus did not go to live and make His home in Jerusalem or Judea. Going to Jerusalem would seem to be smarter career planning for the Messiah, but Jesus dwelt in Capernaum. “This migration to Capernaum is not formally noted in the other Gospels, but Capernaum appears in all the synoptists as the main centre of Christ’s Galilean ministry.” (Bruce)

iii. “Here he dwelt in a house, either let or lent him; for of his own he had not where to rest his head, Matthew 8:20. Here he paid tribute as an inhabitant; and hither he resorted and retired himself, when he was tired.” (Trapp)

d. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet: As is his custom, Matthew sees Jesus’ ministry in Galilee as a fulfillment of prophecy. Light has come to this region, largely populated by Gentiles, and Isaiah 9:1-2 predicted this of the ministry of the Messiah.

i. “In despised Galilee, the place where people live in darkness (i.e., without the religious and cultic advantages of Jerusalem and Judea)…here the light has dawned.” (Carson)

ii. “Galilee of the Gentiles was now an even more appropriate description than in Isaiah’s day, as successive movements of population had given it a predominately Gentile population until a deliberate Judaizing policy was adopted by the Hasmonaean rulers, resulting in a thoroughly mixed population.” (France)

One of the songs in The Cotton Patch Gospel musical says of the place where the Messiah is born that “it’s a hell of a place to be heaven-sent.” That’s probably the way some people were thinking about Jesus basing in Capernaum. As far as Jewish religious leaders were concerned, the Messiah would certainly have the good taste and discernment to appear first in Jerusalem, rather than in a Gentile-dominated area. But Jesus was taking orders from his Heavenly Father, not from the high priest in Jerusalem. After centuries of suffering religious discrimination, the people in Galilee of the Gentiles were spiritually hungry and ready for the Gospel. Jesus began by preaching to anybody who would show up, and he preached on hillsides and at the seashore. To avoid being crushed by the crowds, Jesus frequently sat in a boat floating in the shallows. Jesus even preached to the fishermen mending their nets, to the women coming to buy the fish, and to anybody else who showed up.

When Jesus traveled, he preached in every village that would receive him and also dispatched his followers to preach in other villages. Had Jesus tried to begin his ministry in Jerusalem, he might have been crucified very quickly.

Notice also that Jesus did not begin preaching about the Kingdom of God until his cousin John was imprisoned. John’s ministry prepared the way for Jesus, and Jesus was willing to wait. Timing is critically important; Herod may have been distraught about being forced to behead John and may have let Jesus alone once Jesus came preaching a message similar to that of John’s.  

Timing and location are fundamental to a successful ministry. Anyone choosing to become a disciple of Jesus Christ has no right to dictate when and where he/she will work. In February 1992 we visited a tiny clinic in a remote village in northeastern Ghana. There was no electricity and only eleven workers. I was a fully-trained general and pediatric surgeon, and my husband was an EMT. We were prepared to visit and be polite, and then to tell the national church that had invited us, “Thanks, but no thanks.” But when we set foot on the clinic property, the Holy Spirit descended, wrapping us in a warm spiritual blanket. We KNEW we were called to come to that place. We came to that town in January 1993 and one year later, a tribal war broke out. Suddenly, that small clinic became the only source of medical care for nearly 100,000 people with nowhere else to go. We had to begin hospital-level work in a health center building. We had no idea what would happen, but God did.

“Little Is Much When  God Is In It” Kittie L. Suffield 1924

In the harvest field now ripened  

There is a work for all to do
Hark, the Master’s voice it’s calling

To the harvest, calling you

Chorus: Little is much when God is in it
Labor not for wealth or fame
There’s a crown, and you can win it
If you go in Jesus’ name.

Does the place you’re called to labor

Seem so small and little known?
Well, it is great if God is in it
And He will not forsake His own.

Are you laid aside from service

Body worn from toil and care?

You can still be in the battle

In the sacred place of prayer.

And when the conflict here has ended
And our race on Earth is run
He will say, “If you’ve been faithful
Welcome home, My child, well done”

Little is much when God is in it
Labor not for wealth or fame
There’s a crown, and you can win it
If you go in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help all who read these words to realize that You have selected their places of service and that as long as they are where you want them to be, they will be blessed. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.