Matthew 9:9-13  In one verse Matthew gives his testimony.. " And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' And he rose and followed Him." 

Matthew was employed to gather taxes from his fellow citizens as well as from travelers who brought in goods to sell in Capernaum.  He would have been well aware of who Jesus was.  He probably would have been surprised by this calling from Jesus.  The tax-collectors were despised by their own people.  They were known to fatten their own wallets at the expense of others.  We don't know if this was true of Matthew or not.  He could have been an honest taxman  and would still have been despised by the Jews.  

Yet, when Jesus called him, Matthew was ready.. he left everything and followed Jesus.  He was there through the end.  He was there in the upper room. He was thought to have been martyred as he ministered in Ethiopia. 

According to Mark 2:14 Matthew was also known as Levi the son of Alphaeus.  In Matthew 10:3 Matthew is listed right before "James the son of Alphaeus".  Brothers?  Half-brothers?  We also know that James' mother was one of the Marys who stood with the women at the cross and brought spices to the tomb. (Mark16:1)  Could she also be the Mary in John 19:25 "But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." ?  If so... there is quite a family connection in all of these people who ended up following Jesus.  Interesting...

Anyway.. Once Jesus calls Matthew it appears that others who had also been excluded from the Jewish fellowship realized that they too could follow Jesus.  "And it happened that as He was reclining at the table in the house, behold many tax-gatherers and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples." ( v10)  The door had been opened.. Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life had come "not to call the righteous but sinners." ( v13)  Hallelujah!

The Pharisees were quite unhappy about this.  They did not have any compassion for the lost. They had no love for anyone but themselves.  They took no time to share the Love and truth of God's Word with anyone.  The words that Jesus quotes, "I desire compassion and not sacrifice" come from Hosea 6:6.  In verse 3 of that chapter the prophet wrote: "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord."  And this is what the Pharisees lacked.  They did not know God. They didn't know His love - for all mankind.  They didn't know His compassion for the lost and the helpless.  They were so wrapped up in their own ways that they completely missed the True Way. 

Father in heaven,  help us to KNOW You and to keep pressing on to know You more. Help us to be filled with Your love.. to know the power of love that reaches out to the lost, no matter who they are.  Thank You for calling us to follow You.. and for giving us the faith to do so.  We pray for perseverance and strength in our weaknesses.. to abide with You, to serve You faithfully and to love others with the love that You give to us.... every day, until the day You call us home.  Thank You for Your all sufficient grace.. that Your "going forth is as certain as the dawn;  and  [ You] will come to us like the rain; like the spring rain watering the earth." ( Hosea 6:3b) In the name of Jesus we come before You today.. asking for  Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in us today. Amen. 

 Matthew 9:1-8  Jesus left Gadara and went back across the sea of Galilee to Capernaum.  As people came to Him again, a paralyzed man was brought in "lying on a bed".   Mark and Luke tell us that this is the young man who was lowered down through the roof of the house because of the great crowd that blocked their entrance.  Matthew gives us the essence of this encounter...

"Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven."  Jesus says to him.  It is a bold statement.. not because He couldn't do it.. but because He knew that it would cause some controversy.  But, perhaps, that is the point. Jesus was acting according to the Father's direction.. proving His authority over all things.. including the forgiving of sins.  Oh Hallelujah!  "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.. "

Authority - ability, force, capacity, competency, freedom, mastery, jurisdiction, power, right, strength, control.   Jesus has revealed His authority over nature - commanding the wind and waves;  He has revealed His authority over disease - healing the leper and Peter's mother-in-law, and the centurion's servant;  He has revealed His authority over the demons - freeing Legion from their grasp.  Here,  He is revealing the greatest extent of His authority - over sin; the greatest need of all mankind!

"Which is easier to say.. ?"  Jesus asked them.  They needed to see the authority in action with their own eyes.. so He told the paralytic to get up and walk.. and he did.  What they really needed were the spiritual eyes to see what is unseen - a soul saved by the authority of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  This is the greater work.. the eternal work of God. 

Father in heaven, we are so thankful for so great a Savior! We thank You for the love poured out to us through the love and power and grace of Jesus Christ.  All authority has been given to Him.. the very One who died on a cruel cross so that we might be saved, forgiven forever!  Every offense, every fault, every trespass, every error.. every time we have fallen short of Your glory - has been put away, laid aside, let go - buried in the deepest sea- by the Savior's sacrifice.  We exalt You, Lord Jesus, our King forever!  May the whole earth be filled with this glorious Truth!  Jesus Christ came to seek us, to find us, and to bring us into His Kingdom of Light!  Hallelujah ! Amen!

 Matthew 8:28-34  This is one of my favorite stories of Jesus' ministry.  Jesus gets in a boat and sleeps through a horrific storm.. calms the wind and sea with His voice and lands in a... graveyard.  He is met by two "exceedingly violent" demon possessed men.  In Mark's gospel, one of these men was called "Legion" for he was filled with "many" demons.  He was so strong that not even shackles or chains could hold him. 

The demons instantly knew who Jesus was and they pleaded with Him to be sent into the herd of swine. Jesus answered their pleas with one word.... " Begone".   Mark and Luke tell us that after the demons left, the man called Legion was completely changed.  He was in his "right mind".  He put on clothes. He sat at the foot of Jesus. He wanted to go with Jesus.  The Kingdom had come to that man that day!   The reign of Jesus was clearly demonstrated.. darkness had to flee in the presence of the King. Hallelujah!

The herdsmen saw everything and ran into town to report it. The "whole city" came out to see what happened.  Their reaction to what they saw was one of fear and dread. They begged Jesus to leave.. and so He did.  Before He left, He gave Legion some new instructions.."Return to your house an describe what great things God has done for you." ( Luke 8:39) And he did!

So, why do I love this story so much? Because Jesus crossed a storm-tossed sea.. to meet one man.  A man so demon filled and hopeless that he lived in the graveyard.  A man who was the most unlikely to become a follower of Jesus as any of us can imagine.  Jesus went to him anyway.  One man.. one divine appointment.. to bring light into great darkness.. to set free one soul from a legion of demons.. to transform one man from death to life.  To give one man a purpose and mission.. to tell his people about what God did! 

Gadara or Gerasa.. were gentile cities in the area called the Decapolis.  Jesus returned there one more time as recorded in Mark 7:31-37. He had been to Tyre and had healed the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman.  He had told her that it was "not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."  And she had asked for the crumbs.. with bold faith.  Tyre is on the Mediterranean coast, north of Galilee and the Decapolis was an area east of the Sea of Galilee.  It was quite out of the way for Jesus to travel there on His way back to Israel. But, He went anyway.. and this time a "multitude" met Him.  Perhaps.. the testimony of the man formerly known as Legion.. had traveled all through the area? I like to think so..  We are only told of one man being healed.. "one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty".  Jesus told them to not tell anyone about this healing.. but they did anyway.  "He had done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." ( Mark 7:37)

Father, thank You for going out of Your way to bring us salvation!  Thank You for making a divine appointment for me.. for each of us.  Jesus came to each of us.. one by one.. to shine the Light into each of our hearts, casting out the darkness and filling us with Your Spirit.  Yes, He does "all things well"! Praise to You, our Father, for Your Name is great and greatly to be praised.  Praise to the Son, our King forever!  Praise to the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Guide into all truth. Thank You for the Word in which we abide. Fill us again! We love You, Lord our God, for You have first loved us.. Amazing grace!

Amen.

Matthew 8: 18-27  What does it mean.. really.. to be a disciple of Jesus?  Matthew tells us that the crowds were beginning to surround Jesus.  He had healed so many.. He had cast out demons.. He had preached the good news of the kingdom.. and it all sounded so good! But, were they willing to be true disciples?

Even a scribe wanted to join Jesus and follow Him.  But, Jesus told him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."   Jesus never owned His own home in Israel. He didn't own land.  He had no earthly resources to offer.  To follow Him means sacrifice and even suffering. To follow Jesus.. we have to not follow any other way. We don't know if the scribe followed Him anyway.. or if he turned back from the narrow way. What about you?

Another man wanted to follow Jesus, but he asked, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."  Sounds like a reasonable thing to ask.. but Jesus makes it clear.. we must put first things first. To follow Jesus is to seek His kingdom and His righteousness.. before every worry.. before every need.. and before every other person. Even family..  Later Jesus would say, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.. " ( Matthew10:38)   Luke uses even stronger words.. "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. " ( Luke 14:26)   I recently read a story that talked about this.. that helped me understand this a little better..  for this is a difficult thing to grasp. The author put it this way.. to "hate" as used here is to hold lightly..  as if there is no account.. to let go of whatever and whoever would come between us and following Jesus... even our families.. even our own lives.  

Jesus got into the boat and His disciples followed.  Everything was good.. until the storm came up.  It was a terrible storm!  Even the fishermen were scared.... "the boat was covered with the waves"!  But, Jesus was sleeping!  Unbelievable to the frantic men.  So they woke Him up, "Save us Lord; we are perishing!"   They had enough faith to believe He could save them.. but not enough to be unafraid.  "Why are you so timid, you men of little faith?" 

Jesus "rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm."  They marveled that "even the winds and the sea " obeyed Him.  Did their "little faith" grow a bit more?  Did they understand the authority of Jesus any deeper?  Do we? Have we learned to trust Him in the storms of life?

Father in heaven, bless Your holy Name, we pray.... so that the whole earth would see Your greatness and Your glory.. that the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ would shine forth!  Help us.. the disciples of Jesus Christ..,to lay aside every encumbrance and run the race set before us. Give us greater faith.. to lay down our lives and take up our crosses and follow Him.. no matter what the cost.  O, we have no power to do this on our own.. so we ask for Your Spirit to strengthen us for what ever storms we might be facing. May we stand firm and keep on standing.. in truth.. in righteousness.. in peace.. in the Word and by the Spirit.   Jesus, be our helmet of salvation and our shield of faith we pray, in Your holy name. amen. 

 Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus came to Peter's house.  He came into a home that He knew well and to a woman that He knew well.. Peter's mother-in-law.  This woman was "lying sick in bed with a fever.."  Perhaps it was just a virus or an infection.. perhaps it was something life-threatening.  We don't know.  But it must have been serious enough that she couldn't get out of bed... for a woman at that time would not be found lying around if she could help it!

 Notice.. She never asked for help.  Nobody else asked Jesus to help her.  He simply saw the need, went to her and "touched her hand".   Immediately the fever left, she got up, and she started serving dinner!  I just want to stop and savor this moment.  Can you feel the love that Jesus had for her?  He has the same love for you! Can you feel the love that she had for Him?  Picture her bringing Him some bread.. setting food before Him at the table.. picture her face.. glowing in love and thanksgiving.. Picture her hands.. gently touching His shoulder as she places the food in front of Him.  What love these two would share in these intimate moments!  And the rest of the family.. Peter's wife.. seeing her mother healed completely.. raised up from what could have been her death bed..  Oh the joy on her face!  And Peter, wrapping his arm around her and tears of joy flowing freely.. 

Wish we could see with our own eyes what these verses so simply summarize and move on from.. maybe we would put ourselves into this event.  Maybe we are the woman, sick.. without hope.. and Jesus comes in and everything changes!  Maybe we are Peter or his wife.. seeing our loved one raised up by His gracious Hand.  Maybe there were grandchildren there.. given back their precious grandmother.  Oh what Good News! 

And before the day was over.. everyone else heard about it.. "they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill..."  The kingdom came into that little house that day.  God's Son was willing.. and He met each need.  Jesus revealed His authority over every evil spirit and over every illness that night..  "He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases."  Oh Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

Father in heaven, let Your holy Name be praised and lifted up in all the earth!  Let Your Kingdom come in all its fulness..  so that our King Jesus reigns and all evil comes to an end. Let Your righteous will be done, here on earth as it is always done in heaven.  Lord, we ask for daily bread.. for You are the giver of life.. and we are helpless without Your grace.  We ask for forgiveness of every sin.. our own.. and for those who still do not know You.  This world.. this country.. O Lord, it breaks our hearts to see such destruction and hatred.. to know such despair and poverty and desperation.  How many more are being possessed by evil spirits.. doing unthinkable things.. killing the innocent, destroying what is precious in Your sight.  Help us, Lord God!  May the love and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ "spread rapidly and be glorified" through Your people. Our world is in desperate need of Your Truth.. . Let the church rise up in boldness, in love, and in Truth.. we pray in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Matthew 8:5-13  Jesus traveled back to Capernaum, the place that had become His home base.  As He reaches His home town He is met by a Roman centurion.  This man was captain of 100 soldiers.  He would be a powerful figure.  He apparently was head of the contingent in Capernaum.  He had risen up through the ranks to a position of authority.  Yet, his concern was for a servant boy.  His request is surprising.  "Lord, my  servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering great pain." 

Think about that.  This busy, powerful, and Roman soldier thought enough of his servant to come to Jesus on his behalf.  And, not only that, but he humbles himself before Jesus.. "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof.. "  This is truly a man who has come to know Jesus in a way far greater than the Jewish people.  

The centurion asks Jesus to "just say the word".  He understands that Jesus has the authority.. to heal.. to speak.. to save.  He believes it!  Jesus says.. " I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel." 

Is our faith as great as the Roman centurion's?   It needs to be.  Jesus teaches that "many shall come from the east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out... "  The difference is this "great faith".  

Great faith, Jesus says, can be as small as a mustard seed.  It just has to be faith in the authority of Jesus Christ.  That is what it means to pray in His Name.  It is to believe in our hearts that He can just "say the word" and He will answer our prayer.. He is willing.. He is able!  

There is a song on the radio that talks about this.. sorry I don't know the name or artist.. but it says something to the effect.. He did.. He does.. He can!  O what a wonderful God we serve!

Lord,  "just say the word" and touch those who need healing today.  Say the word.. and meet our deepest needs.  You are the God of comfort.. You give grace that is sufficient.  You give hope to the hopeless. You show compassion on those who are suffering.  You love us with a greater love than we can grasp with our finite minds.  Give to us that peace that passes our understanding and that faith that can move mountains.. in Your Name we come, Jesus. Praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

 Matthew 8:1-4  When Jesus was finished speaking to the crowd, He came down from the mountainside and was met by a man who had leprosy.  This man came boldly, though he shouldn't have been that close to anyone.  He didn't as much ask for help as he stated his belief that Jesus could help him. "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean." 

What is it that we need.. that we could bring that need to Jesus with the boldness and faith of this poor man?

Lord, if you are willing.. You can:

heal my disease..

give me a greater love for others..

open my eyes to truth in my circumstances 

restore  my broken relationship.. 

give me wisdom in this decision I need to make.. 

provide money for my bills.. 

whatever it is.. we can bring it to Jesus!

We know what Jesus said to the leper.. "I am willing.. " 

Has He changed?  No

Does He desire to help us?  Yes!

No fancy words needed.  No particular posture or sacrifice or whatever.. just a honest, yet bold, statement of need to the One who can help us.. Is He willing? I believe so. 

Father in heaven, You know our needs even before we ask.. for You see us and know us and love us. We praise You, Holy God, for You are good and gracious and kind.  Teach us to come to You in prayer, bringing every need.. making every request to You.. in faith, trusting in Your perfect will.. Be our help, be our everything!  Let Your Kingdom come.. King Jesus, reign in us today.  Let You will be done. We give You thanks for Your love that keeps us resting in You and for knowing Your perfect peace that guards our hearts.   May we be faithful to testify to those who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.... to  confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and that He is willing to save those who will turn to him.. like a poor leper... like us.  Thank You Jesus. Amen. 

 Matthew 7:24-29  Jesus finished speaking with this final warning... "therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain descended and the floods came and the wind blew, and burst against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock."  But, the foolish ones, the ones who "hears these words .. but does not act upon them.." .. built his house on the sand.. "And it fell, and great was its fall." 

The narrow way or the wide one?

The good heart or the bad one?

The treasure in heaven or the treasures on earth?

The anxiety of temporal things or  the peace of trusting the Father ?

Practicing "righteousness" before men.. or personal relationship and worship in private with the Father?

Doing the works of the Law or doing the true purpose of the Law from the heart?

Trying to meet impossible standards of holiness on our own.. or surrendering it all to Jesus

.. knowing our own poverty of spirit

.. mourning our state of sinfulness

.. humbling ourselves before Him in truth

.. hungering and thirsting for His righteousness

Being transformed by His mercy so that we can be merciful.

Being made pure by His cleansing sacrifice so that we can see God!

Becoming peacemakers.. as He is.. to bring His peace to those who have none.

Choosing to live in His ways.. even though persecution should come.. so that we can have His Kingdom!

Jesus tells us to choose. Take these powerful words and act on them.. or don't.  The one way leads to life and the other to destruction.  

In the last days of Moses' life, the Lord spoke to Israel, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgements, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you .. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him.. " ( Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 19-20)

Father in heaven, we choose life. We choose to live according to the Word of Truth. We choose to build on the Solid Rock. We choose the narrow way and trust You to fill us with Yourself.  Your Kingdom is within us. Reign and rule.. cleanse and fill us with Your Spirit continually. Your will be done! In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Matthew 7:13-23 "Enter by the narrow gate... "  There are only two possibilities offered to every individual - life or destruction.  The choice we make in this world determines our eternal future. 

Jesus tells us that the "gate is small" and the way is "narrow" that leads to life.  The  Greek word here indicates that the way is narrow due to obstacles that stand close about.. The fact is, Jesus says, "few are those who find it."  In Luke 13:24 Jesus says, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." 

The "wide" gate and the "broad way"  lead to destruction.  "Many are those who enter by it."  Those who do not choose the narrow way are left outside of the Kingdom.  Jesus says that it a place where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Luke 13:28)

The narrow way, then, is the way we want to go.  To do so, we need to be aware of the obstacles.  First of all, Jesus says, we need to be "aware of false prophets..."  Not every preacher preaches the truth.  Some are like "ravenous wolves".  Those are Jesus' words.. not mine.  Those who have not chosen the narrow gate, who are not striving for the narrow way.. are those who have not discerned the truth.. who are swept up in the lies of the the false prophets of this world.  We can see it happening in our world - people swept up in the lies of "wokeness".  People swept up in the lies of false religions.  People swept up in the lies of materialism.   People who think that nothing really matters so why bother with doing what is right.. just do what ever you feel like. etc..etc..etc... 

Jesus tells us that we need to be discerning. "You will know them by their fruits."  We need to look beyond the words, even beyond the actions of others.  We need to look for "good fruit".  Only those who  do the "will of My Father who is in heaven.. " can produce good fruit, Jesus says.  Only those who KNOW Jesus and walk in His ways.. having entered the small gate..and are walking the narrow way.. can produce good fruit. 

There are two greek words used for our word "good".  The first is agathos- meaning an intrinsic value - it is a "good tree" that produces good fruit. It is out of a good heart that a man can speak what is good. (Matthew 12:33)  The second word is kalos - meaning beautiful, valuable, virtuous, honest.. worthy.  The fruit of our lives is determined by the substance of our hearts...which is determined by the treasure that we hold there. Only then will we see the worthy, beautiful, valuable fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control produced.. by His Presence.. His Spirit in control.. at work in us.  Thank You Jesus!

 It matters that we strive for the narrow way.. and that we overcome the obstacles that try to block our way to the truth! As the writer of Hebrews said, ".. let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...." ( Hebrews 12:1-2)

Let us strive- struggle, compete, contend, fight, labor fervently -  for the way of Jesus. 

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  We are so aware of our helplessness before You. We are so easily encumbered with the things of this world.. our worries and fears.. our aches and our pains.. our hopes and our pleasures.. Help us to continually  discern the narrow way. Help us to put on the belt of Truth and stand firm against all the schemes of the devil and the struggles against the powers of the world forces.  Our world has fallen away from You.. from Truth.. and is in desperate need for the Good News.. Good news that needs to come from hearts made good by Your Spirit in all who believe that Jesus Christ is King.  Make our ways straight, Lord.  You are the Vine and we are the branches.. let Your fruit flourish in us so that the world will see Your glory and repent and be saved.   Thank You, Jesus. Amen. 

 Matthew 7: 1- 12  "Do not judge lest you be judged."   Here is another kingdom truth... "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."  

To judge is to criticize, try, condemn, punish, or declare guilty or unfit. It is to look at another person's faults and form your own opinion regardless of the facts.  It is holding another person up to standards that we can't even keep.. 

Jesus is teaching His disciples.. the kingdom citizens.. that there is another way.  It is the way of love.  It is the way of mercy and kindness and gentleness. And.. it starts by being honest with ourselves.  A "hypocrite" is one who holds someone else up to a standard without looking first at his own life.  If we are overlooking the "log" the beam in our own eye.. we have a problem. We need to deal with our own sins, our own misconceptions, our own hearts.  

How?  "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you."  Our Father in heaven will "give what is good to those who ask Him!" (v7,11)  When we pray.. when we have surrendered it all to the Lord, and we are filled with His Spirit... only then are we ready to lovingly and gently help our brother with the "speck" in his eye.  Isn't that how we all want to be treated?

"Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  This is love. 

The parallel passage in Luke 6 adds to this teaching.. "And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (v37-38)  There is so much blessing in taking up this truth and living it out with God's help. 

Andrew Murray wrote about the power of God's love.. "Christ's kingdom is manifested and the reign of love on earth begins.. " when we are yielded to Him and His service.. when our hearts are open.. when His love changes our whole nature.   ".. we may, and can, love with God's own love that is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. If we fully believe that the Holy Spirit will maintain this heavenly love from hour to hour, we shall be able to love God and Christ with all our heart. We shall also be able to love our fellow men and yes, even our enemies."   Love is the greatest power in the world, it is the "power that moved Christ to die for us." 

Spirit of God, fill us with the love of Christ.. the love by with You rule and guide the world. the power of an "undying, persistent love."  Father in heaven, holy and perfect, let Your Light shine in our hearts so that there are no more logs in our eyes.. so that there is great love and humility and grace towards others.  Help us in our weaknesses to be yielded and still before You. Direct our hearts into Your love we ask and believe that in the asking .. we will receive according to Your will. In Jesus' name we come. Thank You. amen. 

 Matthew 6:25-34  "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life... "   Anxiety and worry..Jesus says.. are worthless things.  They provide nothing good. They cannot change anything. They are what happens when we have such "little faith".  

Our Father "knows that you need all these things.."  He knows we need food and clothing.. He made us to eat food.. He made food for us to eat.  He knows we need clothing and He provides it.. even as He provided for Adam and Eve in the garden.  All our "needs" boil down to the basics.  What sustains life -  this "daily bread"  is what we ask for and receive from the Father's hand. 

Jesus tells us to simply trust our Father.  When we seek Him.. "His kingdom and His righteousness.. all these things shall be added to you." (v33)  Luke adds this statement.. "Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." (12:32) 

He has provided for us.. His children.. more than for the" birds of the air".. more than for the "lilies of the field" or the "grass.. which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace."  And yet.. we find that worries are hard to vanquish..  We know we can't accomplish anything by worrying..but still it comes and nags our brains...  It can cause physical ailments. It can cause emotional breakdowns.  It leads to depression and fear.  It is nothing but a trouble maker to our souls. 

What can we do?  Jesus says.. keep seeking the Kingdom.  The Kingdom that is near.. reachable.. inside us. The kingdom that God "gladly" gives to us.  The Kingdom where darkness has been vanquished and where Light overwhelms. The Kingdom where Jesus has set up His throne forever!   The Kingdom where all is righteous and good and pure.. where mercy and grace and peace prevail. 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  ( Phil. 4:6-7) Paul wrote.  Turn your eyes away from the things that worry you.. and turn them to the One who loves You. As Paul goes on to say, ".. whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything is worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." (v8)   We are to "practice these things".. Paul says. Then we can learn to be content.. not anxious. We can learn to get along in "abundance and suffering need".  We will know that we "can do all things through Him who strengthens [us]" ( v9-13)  We can trust God to "supply all [our] needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." ( v19) He has made a way for us!  Hallelujah!

Father in heaven,  Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory!  Let all praise and honor be given to Your holy Name.  Let Your Kingdom be manifested in our hearts.. Christ on the throne. King forever! Let Your will be done on all the earth as it is in heaven.  Our world is full of anxiety and fears.  Darkness has blinded the eyes of many who do not know that You are the Father who loves and cares for His children.  You are the provider of all that we need. We ask for daily bread and You give to us gladly. Thank You for being a faithful God.. a good, good Father.  Help us to not succumb to the temptation to worry, but to trust You always.  We set our minds now on what is true, noble, pure, and lovely.. on Jesus Christ our gentle Shepherd and loving King.  In His name we come. Amen. 

 Matthew 6:24  "No one can serve two masters... "    Masters - controllers... supreme in authority.   This whole chapter is leading us to this statement.  We can either do our "righteous" acts for men.. or we can worship God "in secret" by seeking Him, serving Him, and obeying His will from the heart.  We  can either hoard our resources for our selves or we can lay it all down for Him and have "treasures in heaven." We can be blinded by the darkness of sin or we can open our eyes and hearts to the Light of Jesus. 

We have to make a choice whom we will serve.  If we choose to serve God.. recognizing that He is our supreme authority.. we know He requires all - all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength.  He is an all- or- nothing -God.. the lukewarm gets spit out.. the double-minded get nothing in answer to their prayers. The whole-hearted follower of Jesus gets the Kingdom... Hallelujah!

If we choose to turn any part of ourselves over to "mammon".. it will consume us. The things of this world will become our treasure and it will take over our hearts. We see it all the time.  The "lust of the eyes" - never satisfied.. never enough.. never content.. and never happy. 

Thankfully, we have been given the choice. 

It is not easy...especially for those who have  much.. remember the rich young ruler?  Jesus said.. "it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven... " (Matthew 19:23)  Hard, but not impossible..for "with God all things are possible.." ( v26)  It was hard for the Pharisees and Sadducees.. although they were supposed to be God's servants, they were actually serving "mammon" too.. the power of religious authority.. the recognition and respect of others..the false sense of assurance that they could do whatever they wanted and get by without God's Presence or Spirit... consumed them so much that they killed the Son of the God that they were supposed to love. 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We are back to that basic truth about the kingdom of heaven..   The greatest in the kingdom is the one who serves..  the one who is humble..  the one who lays it all down just as Jesus did.. 

Father in heaven, be our All in all.  We choose to serve You and to be fully surrendered to Your will and purposes.  Do Your supernatural work in us that we might lay everything down.. including our own lives.. for the sake of Your Kingdom.  We take up the cross.. raising the standard of Your kingdom.. and follow Jesus... by the power of Your Spirit in us. Amen. 

 Matthew 6: 22-23  "The lamp of the body is the eye..."  We get that physically.. we open our eyes in the morning and note the sunlight peeking in through the window... and we know it is time to get up and get moving. As long as we have our eyesight.. we depend on light.  We turn on a light as we go down a dark hallway.. we use a flashlight to find our way in the dark. " But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.."  That is a hard thing to think about... to be unable to see a loved one's face.. or read the words on a page.. or know what step to take next...

Jesus uses this physical truth to teach us a spiritual reality.  "If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness."   John wrote, "In the beginning was the Word... In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it." ( 1:4-5) Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." (8:12)  In I John 1:5-7 this message is emphasized again.. ".. God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 

The "light" in us comes only from God. He is light. He sent the Light to us and He has chosen us to be the light.  The most important thing about light is that it eliminates darkness.  Without the Light.. given by God, to give His Light to us.. we stay in darkness.  Our hearts remain dark and out of our hearts come "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slander... things which defile.. " ( Matthew 15:19-20) Yes, "how great is the darkness!"

Jesus is still talking about His Kingdom.  His Kingdom is a kingdom of Light.  There is no darkness there. He came to bring the Light so that we might have life in His Kingdom.  He calls us to follow Him so that our eyes will see.. our ears will hear.. our hearts will treasure the things of heaven. So that we will be truly blessed.. So that we can be light... 

Father in heaven, You are so good and patient and kind.  Your love flows out to us in rivers of light.. filling our hearts. Thank You. We ask for Your Kingdom to come in fulness.. overcome the darkness in us and in Your church and in this world.  We ask for Your will to be done.  Give to us what You know we need for this day. Thank You. Forgive us for the darkness that we have allowed in our hearts.. remove it by shining Your Holy Light into every part of us.  We let go of the debts of others and pray for their hearts to be filled with the Light of Jesus. Lead us in the Light as Jesus is has taught us. Deliver us from all darkness. We ask these things in the Name above every other name.. the Name of Jesus our Lord and King. Amen. 

 Matthew 6:19-24   Jesus is "proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.."  He has taught us that the kingdom is near.. that it is in our midst.. in us.  We come into the kingdom with repentance and by following Him.  The kingdom becomes ours when we acknowledge our spiritual poverty, when we mourn our sins and find His comfort, when we humble ourselves as His children, when we hunger and thirst for righteousness and find satisfaction in His provision. 

We have learned that Jesus did not lessen the standard of holiness that was given in the Law, but that He came to fulfill all the requirements of it... going beyond the letter of the Law to the very heart of it.. to the heart of the Father who has called us to be "perfect" as He, our "heavenly Father is perfect." 

Jesus taught that outward actions.. even religious rites.. done with selfish motives, are worthless, but true worship... between us and God.. giving, praying, fasting.. are only worthwhile when done for God's purposes.. according to His will. 

 Jesus has taught what true prayer looks like... drawing us into communion with our Heavenly Father.. with what He desires for us and what He knows we really need.. 

His name to be honored.

His kingdom to come.

His will to be done.

His provision for daily needs.

His forgiveness for our debts.. and our obedience to forgive others.

His leading through temptations.

His deliverance from evil. 

And in this we have learned that the Kingdom is His.. the Power is His.. and the Glory is His. 

Jesus continued to teach kingdom truths.. things that we need to acknowledge.. receive.. believe.. and live by.. the next one being: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (v19-21)

The word "treasure" can be a noun - a store, accumulated wealth.. anything of great value;  or it can be used as a verb - to store away or save up.. to cherish or value deeply;  even to hoard.  Either way, it must be placed - we put our treasures in a safe place. Jesus says that what we treasure is where our hearts are placed. 

The choice we have to make is what are we going to treasure and where we want to place our treasures. What we fill our hearts with.. matters.  What we value most... matters.  If we desire and value and cherish only the things that are earthbound.. Jesus tells us.. we need to know that they will rust or be eaten up.. or stolen away.  Nothing on earth is truly permanent or worth what we think it is. 

But treasures in heaven... are eternal, never fading, never rusting, and can never be stolen!  So, how do we do that.. how do we lay up "treasures in heaven."?   In Matthew 19:21 Jesus told the rich young ruler, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me."  In Luke 12:33 this verse is included in the teaching about not being anxious about what we need.. "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, and unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys." 

Well... I don't know about you, but selling everything and giving it all away makes me a little more anxious.. not less!  Not that I expect my earthly possessions to mean anything for eternity.. but I just want to be able to pay the bills and.. give what I can to ministries of the gospel.. and to help those who are in greater need than I.. and to do good as God leads... ahh.. He has made a way!

Father, I am Yours. Everything I have is a gift from You. I give it back to You.. Your will be done.  Be my treasure.. fill my heart with Yourself.  May I hold on loosely to the things of this world and trust You for all our needs.. which You already know.. and have so bountifully provided.  Take away all anxiousness.. all selfishness.. all that keeps me from following You completely.  I have much to learn and I am so helpless to be all that You desire me to be.. but I thank You for the truth, that You are able to bring to pass in me what You have promised.. sanctify me through and through so that I might stand blameless before You and the coming of the Lord Jesus!  I ask these things in His wonderful Name. Amen.

 Matthew 6:16:18  "And whenever you fast... "   Now we have to go back to the beginning of chapter 6.. where Jesus began teaching about "practicing your righteousness before men... " :

When giving alms.. do it in secret.

When praying.. do it  in secret. 

Now.. when fasting.. do it "in secret".   All these acts of "righteousness" are not meant to be self promoting displays for the world to see and applaud.  They are meant to be acts of personal worship.. for the Father. The Father who "sees in secret".  The Father who "will repay you." The Father who love us and has made us His own. 

Fasting simply means to abstain from eating.  There were two people who fasted for 40 days and nights.. Moses before he received the 10 commandments and Jesus when He went into the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. There were others who fasted for the purpose of hearing from God and receiving His help.. Esther, for example. 

In Matthew 9 the disciples of John came to Jesus to ask why His disciples did not fast.. like the Pharisees did and they themselves did.  Jesus told them that His disciples did not need to fast because He was with them.. but a time would come when they would mourn and fast.   Fasting is also mentioned in Matthew 17 when the disciples could not cast out the demon from the boy while Jesus was on the mountain.  "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (v21)  The problem was their "little" faith. Their need was a deeper and closer relationship with the Father. 

Fasting is not a law. It is not mentioned in the books of Leviticus or Deuteronomy.  It was being practiced in Israel at the time of Jesus, by those who were using it as a way to make themselves seem holier than they really were.  Jesus is not discounting the need for fasting, but He is teaching that it was a private and personal act for the purpose of drawing closer to the Father... of seeking Him. 

Isaiah 58 gives us great insight into God's perspective on fasting. The people were "seeking" the Lord. They were crying out. They were praying and fasting and being as righteous as they could.  But, it wasn't helping them.. "Why have we fasted and Thou hast not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?" they cry.  God answers them... in a way that goes right to the matters of the heart.

"Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers. Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist." (v3b-4)  Their motives were all wrong.. "You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high."  And there it is.. the true motive of fasting..  Yet there is so much more! 

"Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness; to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" (v6-7)  This is true righteousness.. this is what the Lord desires and will reward.. "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer: You will cry and He will say, 'Here I am' " (v9)

It is God's desire.. His will.. that we abstain.. not just from food.. but from selfish, self-centered self-righteousness that has no purpose but the applause and honor that people might give.. and that we love our neighbor as ourselves.  "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desires of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." ( v10-11)

Father in heaven, once again, we stand in awe of You and give honor to Your holy Name.  You show us Your kingdom... where truth and goodness and love are found.  You make known to us Your will which is good and perfect and just.  You show us Your heart and we find the Love is the foundation and the walls and the roof and in every inch of Your being which is beyond knowing.  We worship You and draw near to You through the love poured out on Calvary!  Oh Jesus, our loving Savior, thank You for all that You taught and all that You did.  Help us to walk in Your ways.. trusting in Your Spirit to lead us to do all that You desire to do through us.. to show the world Your love. May our lights "rise in the darkness!"  We ask this in Your Name. Amen. 

 Matthew 6:13b "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."   This final phrase of this model of true prayer takes us to our knees.  It is a statement that acknowledges once again.. the greatness of  the One to whom we are coming.. our Father who knows what we need before we ask.. 

We come to our King and confess that the Kingdom is His.. not ours.

We come to our God and confess that He can do anything for all power is His.. not ours.

We come to our Lord and confess that all glory.. all applause.. all credit .. all beauty.. is His.. for He is worthy of all praise.. not us. 

This prayer has taught us how to come into the Throne room of God.. to have a truthful and significant conversation with the Creator and Ruler of all the universe.. to ask for what we really need.   No, we don't have to repeat the exact words.. in fact it is better not to make it into a "meaningless repetition".   As Max Lucado's book presents it.. this prayer is like coming into God's House.. moving in permanently and being at HOME.   

Our Father - the One who loves us and has adopted us and moved us into His kingdom.. 

Who is in Heaven- the only God who created heaven and earth, Who rules over everything with majesty and glory and power and love.. 

Let Your name be kept holy - lifted up, exalted, honored, above every other name.. 

Let Your kingdom come - have perfect rule and reign - in us; in Your church; and in the world. 

Let Your will be done -  Your Will - not ours.  Our wills are so flawed and beneath Your good and perfect desires. We surrender to Your plans, Your purposes, and Your desires. 

Give us our daily bread - provide what we need, Lord, for You know what that really is and we are utterly helpless unless You give.. we sit at Your table as Your children and trust You to give and we gratefully receive. 

Forgive us our debts - the things that we do  or think... or say without thinking.. what stands between You and us.. that we have no power to remove, but that You have made a way to completely cover by the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. 

And we.. out of grateful hearts.. for the mercy shown to us.. extend mercy to any that have taken things from us.. any that have caused us harm.. any that have accused.. persecuted.. abused.  With Your help we can let each offense.. go. 

Lead us, Lord, away from temptation and trials.. or through them.. and 

Deliver us from the fiery darts of the enemy..we take up our shields of faith.. trusting in You in the midst of the attacks. 

For the Kingdom is Yours!  Christ Jesus is King forever!

The power is all Yours!  There is nothing impossible for You! Jesus has overcome!

The glory is all Yours!  We praise You and You alone! 

Forever and ever and ever.. Hallelujah!  We will stay in this glorious House of the Lord.. at Home with our Father and with our King. 

Amen!

 Matthew 6:13 "And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil."  If the supplication for bread is focused on our present needs.. and our supplication for forgiveness is focused on the past.. then this request points us to the future.  We do not know what the days ahead hold for us.. but our Father does! He knows that temptations are ever present and that the evil one is ever prowling "about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." ( I Peter 5:8) 

Again we see that Christ has given us the words to bring to the Throne of grace.. to ask of our Father in heaven what we need the most.  We are helpless beggars in need of the Kingdom's power to resist the temptations within and the devil without..  We come to Him who has promised to reward the poor in spirit with His kingdom; Who has promised to comfort those who mourn and to exalt the humble; who will show mercy to the merciful and peace to the peacemaker.  Our Father in heaven knows what we need before we ask.. and He tells us to ask that our path will be made straight.. that when temptations come, we will stand firm.. that when the devil sends his fiery darts, we will resist with our shields of faith and he will flee!

Peter wrote "Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God that He might exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for You." ( I Pet.5:6-7)  Then when the devil comes roaring we can resist "firm in your faith".   Yes, there will be suffering, Peter tells us, but.. "..after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish You." ( v10)

This is what we are praying for when we make this request.. believing that He who is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine.. will bring us through every temptation and trial and test..every attack..  that we might stand before Him complete.. perfect.. 

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." (I Thessalonians 5:23-24) 

Amen!

 Matthew 6: 12 "And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors."  To this need.. that the Father know before we ask.. Jesus adds a commentary.. "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." ( v14-15) 

Forgive - to lay aside.. to send away..to let go.  The debt? Something owed.  It could be a lapse, a slip, an error, a sin, an offense... a failure.  What debt do we owe God?  So great a debt that we can never repay.  For every sin, for every failure, for every doubt.. for every time we have offended Him, dishonored His name, and chose our own will over His. 

Yet.. He has chosen to forgive us. His grace is like a roof, Max Lucado writes in The Great House of God. He likens our debts to a bank account that has been overdrawn. We write a check and it bounces and the words "Insufficient funds".. is stamped in Red Ink.  But God.. has paid the debt for us. His Grace is sufficient !  Christ  Jesus.. paid it all!  Every time we fail.. which we do.. He draws us back and reminds us.... confess.. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We simply ask.. ".. forgive us our debts.. " and He does. 

It is because of this that we can forgive "our debtors".  We can let go.. of our resentment.. of our anger.. of our hatred.. of our hurt and pain.  Because of His grace.. we are able to lay aside our "rights" to what is owed.. and let it go.  We can.. and it is His will that we do so. But... 

It is not an easy thing sometimes.. to let go of the debt. It can be costly.  It cost Jesus His life.. His blood poured out on the cross.. His back slashed by the Roman whip.. His head pierced by the thorns shoved on His brow.  It may cost us too.. our pride.. our self.. our possessions..  But, it costs even more to hold onto that debt.. unforgiveness can become putrid.. poisoning our own hearts. 

Max Lucado says that there is a "high cost to getting even".   We pay the price of broken relationships. We pay the price of physical  suffering as anger and resentment affects our well being.  But, most of all we pay a high price spiritually.  Just as sin puts a block between me and the one who has caused me harm.. this sin of unforgiveness puts a block between me and the One who has so freely shown me complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ the Savior. 

Lucado uses a wonderful illustration of what it looks like when we truly forgive.. when we treat our neighbor in the way we want them to treat us.. when we show them the mercy that God has shown us. He says it is like God is sending you to the store to buy your neighbors groceries.  Whatever you purchase for your neighbor is exactly what you receive yourself.  So, he says, it's easy to choose the things we like best and buy those for the neighbor .. knowing this is what you will get too.  But, what happens if your neighbor offends you?  You go to the store and buy the worse things you can think of.. "anchovies and sardines.. day old bread with green spots on the edge." You think you have repaid him for his offense.. but when you get home and open your own cupboard.. there are the sardines and anchovies and moldy bread.   Max writes, "Some of you have been eating sardines for a long time... Could it be God is giving you exactly what you're giving someone else?"  No wonder you are cranky!

Father in heaven, You have called us to be Your children and to do Your will.. Your "good and acceptable and perfect will." ( Romans 12:2). Transform us by renewing our minds... that we no longer be conformed to the kingdom of this world.. where there is no mercy or forgiveness or healing.  But, cleanse us of all unrighteousness, that the fulness of Your kingdom in us will be complete.. You reign over us.. in us.. and as we let go of every debt.. Your Kingdom is proclaimed through us.. to a world that is in desperate need of Your grace.  Thank You for this Word today.  Have Your way in us and in our nation.. and in our world today we ask, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread."   One of my favorite books written about this prayer is called The Great House of God, written by Max Lucado.  In his book Max compares each request or statement to a room in a house.  Here, Max says, we find the kitchen.  Every house has one.. "especially the Great House of God" Max writes.  He goes on to state that there are two rules in God's kitchen.. 1. "Don't be shy, Ask."  and 2. "Trust the Cook".  

Jesus is teaching us to pray in this way.. knowing that we come to our Father, who "knows what [we] need before [we] ask Him."  We have come to our Father who has out of His great love..  adopted us.. the God who sits on the throne of heaven and rules completely.  We have asked that His name be kept holy, recognizing and proclaiming His majesty, His purity, His perfection.  We have asked for His Kingdom to come.. that all darkness be overwhelmed by His Light.. that all evil would be vanquished and His righteousness established.  We have prayed for His will to be done and surrendered our own.  And now, Jesus says, is the time to ask for what He already knows we need.. "daily bread".  

Max Lucado says it this way.. "The term( daily bread)  means all of a person's physical needs... to talk to God about the necessities of life. " God... the Creator of all things.. provides the seeds, the soil, the sun, and the rain.. He provides EVERYTHING!  One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 145. Verses 15-16 says this, "The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou dost give them their food in due time. Thou dost open Thy hand and dost satisfy the desire of every living thing."  God provides for the ant and the eagle.. and He is the One who provides for you and me. 

Jesus tells us to simply ask.  Ask with boldness.. as a child. Ask with faith.. trusting that He who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.. will indeed care for us.  Ask, willing to take whatever it is He desires to give.  Ask with contentment and thankfulness.  Ask for ourselves AND for each other.  

I want to share one more statement from Lucado's book.. "... in the house of God, the one who provides the food is the one who prepares the meal. We don't swagger into his presence and demand delicacies. Nor do we sit outside the door and hope for crumbs. We simply take our place at the table and gladly trust Him to "Give us this day our daily bread." 

One more perspective on this verse comes from Andrew Murray's devotional Daily in His Presence.. "This is an invitation to daily prayer, to remind God of His promises and to pray for His blessing on His people and on this needy world. Regard it a privilege to pray on behalf of the saints for the working of the Holy Spirit, for the coming of the kingdom, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Father in heaven, may all the world exalt Your Name for You are great and greatly to be praised! You are our God.. our Creator and our Provider.  You are kind and generous to all.. believers and non-believers. There is nothing Lord, without Your Hand providing it.  We ask that You would give us today our daily bread.. all that we need to live and to serve.  May we draw closer to Your heart.. that our hearts would be filled with the Bread of Life and that our blessings would overflow to those we see who are in need.  Whether that need is for bread or for Jesus.. fill our hands with Your grace that we can hand it out to those we come across in our daily walk with You.  Open our eyes to those around us. Open our hearts to those near and far.  May Your will be done, Gracious Father.. so that Your Kingdom will come. Amen. 

 Matthew 6: 10b "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  This third request is as vital and as significant as the first two.. for if we sincerely pray that God's name is kept holy and that His kingdom come.. then we agree that these are His will and that these things must be done "as it is in heaven".  

 Think of how the will of God is manifested in heaven!  The Name of God is constantly glorified and exalted. He reigns completely with perfect holiness and there is NO darkness or sin or evil at all. Oh that such glory and purity and holiness would be done "on earth"!

For the Kingdom to come is God's will.. His desire..it is why Christ came to earth in the form of a man, why He died on a cruel cross, and why He rose again.  Jesus prayed this same prayer in the garden of Gethsemane .. "My Father if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done."  It was the Father's will that the Son be crucified so that the Kingdom could come to earth "as it is in heaven".  It was the price that Jesus paid for sin. It was the sacrifice that completed the Law. It was the Light that obliterated the darkness. It was the righteousness that overwhelmed the evil. Jesus DID the will of the Father.. in every deed.. in every word.. and in His own death and resurrection!

It is God's will that the Kingdom come in each of us. That we are fully His. I keep going back to Matthew 12:25-29  where Jesus told the Pharisees that "any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand."  Jesus told them, "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."  John wrote, ".. the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose that He might destroy the works of the devil."  The more that we seek "His Kingdom and His righteousness".. the more we die to self and live by faith in the Son of God.. the more we become Kingdom bearers.  Jesus has cast out demons and darkness and evil and given us His Spirit to fill us and make us more like Himself.. doers of the Father's will. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, gracious and mighty God, reign is us today! Let us not be divided in our hearts but to always love You with all of our hearts and minds and souls and bodies!  Let Your will be done in us and in our church and in our world. Let Your Kingdom come throughout this nation and around this world..  so that evil will  be vanquished by the power of Your Spirit..and that many more will be delivered from the reign of darkness "and transferred ...to the kingdom of [Your]  beloved Son." ( Col. 1:13) This we ask in the Name of Jesus, our wonderful, powerful  Savior and King, Amen. 

 Matthew 6:10  "Thy kingdom come."  This is the second request that Jesus instructs us to pray in this model prayer He is giving to us.   Matthew's gospel has given us much to think about regarding the Kingdom.  This has been the essence of Jesus' message as He taught "in all Galilee". In fact there are over 100 references to the kingdom of heaven in the gospels.   This is why He came.. to "proclaim the gospel of the kingdom."  He taught that we needed to repent "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".  He taught that the kingdom wasn't far off, but that it had come.. that it wasn't external but internal.  He taught that kingdom citizens are "poor in spirit" and receive the kingdom... that they "mourn" and are "comforted";  that they are gentle and humble, that they hunger and thirst for righteousness and are satisfied with the abundant gift of His salvation, His cleansing, and His love...

The kingdom came with the presence of Jesus.. for He is the King.  Yet, He taught this prayer.. "May Your Kingdom come." CJB   The word kingdom in Greek is basileia.. realm.. reign. So when Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God "he meant, quite simply, the rule of God." ( Holman Bible Dictionary).  In  Matthew 12:25-28 Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about the fact that the Kingdom had come.. the proof of it was that He "cast out demons by the Spirit of God".  The Kingdom is not a political or geographical entity.  It is not established by the hands of men.  The Kingdom is a work of God.. He established His rule through the ministry of Christ on earth and He will complete it in the future on that day when all His plans and purposes are fulfilled. It is a kingdom where darkness is expelled and God reigns perfectly.

Jesus asked His disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come.. He invited everyone to enter.. He made it clear that this is His greatest desire.. that none should perish but that all would come in.. enter in and be saved from the wrath that will come.. to all who remain outside. 

Jesus taught about the kingdom in parables.. the kingdom comes to those who hear the Word and understand it; ( Matthew 13:23)  The kingdom is like the field sown with good seed but infiltrated with tares that will be destroyed..  ( 13:24-30). The kingdom is like the mustard seed that starts out so small but grows into a large tree.. ( 13: 31-32)  It is like leaven... it is like a treasure.. like a pearl of great price.. like a dragnet... (v33-52) 

All this goes to show us that this prayer request is essential because it is so dear to the Heart of our Lord. He came to reign.. to bring us into His Kingdom in the only way that we can.. through Him.  This prayer is that His reign will be complete.. in our lives, in our world, and in all of eternity.  It is for the present.. and for the future.  It is for ourselves and for others.  Indeed, "May Your kingdom come." encompasses everything we need and everything God desires to give. And perhaps, most of all, Jesus wants us to pray for His kingdom, so that the lost will be saved.

Father in heaven, may Your Name be kept holy and may Your kingdom come.  Reign in us today so that all that is darkness will be exiled and only Your Light will shine in our hearts and in our homes and in our churches.  May Your kingdom come in the power of the Name about all names, that the world will know You and receive You as King and Lord forever!  Fill us Spirit of God, that Your Kingdom is proclaimed and your will is done! Amen.