MATTHEW

Today is Saturday.  Tomorrow is Sunday!  I love Sundays!  I got up early this morning as I do each day and spent time reading twenty chapters in Matthew.  It was so rich and full.  Such a blessing to see the Savior at work.  To hear His voice as He talks to others in this Gospel passage.  To sit at His feet and listen.  What a blessing!  Here are a few thoughts I had as I read this morning: 1) DO AND TEACH- In Matt. 5:19, Jesus said: "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."  Now, there are two ways we teach others:  Example and Exhortation.  One is by what we do that they observe, and the other is what we say that they obey.  Observation is greater that what we say.  IF we teach others to disobey by our example and exhortation (even if it is a least commandment) then we will be called least in the kingdom of Heaven.  But, if by example and exhortation, we teach others to obey the least commandment, we shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven!  Let us be careful then what we teach by our actions and our words.  Let us make sure that we are keeping the least of the commandments, lest someone be learning from our disobedience and then we justify it with our words thus teaching disobedience.  Good example and exhortation is what we need to have coming out of us!  Lord, help us please! 2) IT'S MERCY!  Yes, it is mercy that Jesus wants.  In Matthew 9:13, He says:  "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice:..."  and in Matthew 12:7 "Be if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,..."  Here Jesus is restating what Word of God said before in Hosea 6:6; and Micah 6:6-8..  God said that we should "do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with they God".  This is what the LORD requires of us.  The Pharisees had lost track of Mercy.  Mercy was what God desired for us to possess, not sacrifices.... but showing mercy to others.  Let us learn that lesson well. 3) THIS KIND- Matthew 17:21 says:  "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."  The difficult work.  The difficult task.  The unusual.  The supernatural work.  This kind.  It doesn't just happen.... it takes prayer... and fasting!  This is God's formula for the great work to be done in our lives, and through our lives..... want "this kind"?   Try the formula! Well, I'm through for this morning, still have to get ready for the men's meeting in about 20 minutes.  I took the time to study for that meeting this morning as well and come up with the men's devotion that I share with them each week.  We have a blessed time each Saturday morning, as I share from God's Word, then we have prayer time in groups of three, and then we enjoy a great breakfast together each Saturday morning.  We have done this for fifteen years at least.  Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler