Friday 31 May 2013

Read: Matthew 7:1-23

Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has been describing how His followers should be different from the world around them and what life in the Kingdom of God should look like. At first glance it seems like this final section is just a series of unconnected statements about what we are supposed to be doing as followers of Jesus. If we look a little closer however, we begin to see two main themes that link these sections together.

 

The first of these themes is that of Humility. Firstly, God's people are to be humble by examining and working on their own lives before trying to examine and work on the lives of others. They are to take the plank out of their own eye before trying to remove the speck from their brothers. Secondly God's people are to be humble by asking God for His provision in their lives. Because of God's promise to answer our prayers we can ask with confidence that if we God to Him for something we need, He is faithful to answer our prayer. God's people are to be humble with each other and humble before God in prayer.

 

The second of these major themes is that of wisdom. Firstly God's people are to exercise wisdom in the way that they live. They are to choose the narrow road rather than the wide one. In one sense we have already made that choice when we chose to follow Christ. In another sense we must choose every day to strive for holiness and choose the narrow road in all we do. Secondly God's people are to be wise about true and false teaching and, rather than be sucked in by false teaching and eaten by wolves, judge teachers by the fruit we see in their lives. God's people are to be discerning in the way that they approach teaching.

 

God's people are to be different from the world by their humility and their wisdom. Are you different from the world in this way? Are you proud or humble? Do you choose to put others first or yourself? Do you humbly examine yourself before judging others? Do you humbly ask God for His provision? Do you live wisely by choosing the narrow way rather than the wide way? Are you discerning with regards to teaching you consume from others? Do you measure what they teach against the truth of God's word? Spend some time today praying that God would grow you in humility and wisdom so that you might be salt and light to those around you.

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray for Shiloh Ministries in India. Praise God for the Free Eye Medical Camp which they were able to run in April. Pray that those who received tracts and heard about the gospel would be deeply touched and would come to faith in Christ. Pray that God would continue to work powerfully through this ministry and that the gospel would be shared with power and authority.

¥ Pray for Rev David Burke and Rev David Jones as they present and training workshop in East Timor. Pray that they would be able to communicate clearly and that those who hear the training would be encouraged in their preaching and sharing of the gospel. Pray that God would grow and strengthen His church in East Timor.

 

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Humility is an important aspect of living as a follower of Jesus. What can you do to grow in humility in your life?

2. How can you help each other to grow in humility this week?