MATTHEW

It is Thursday and we had a great service last night for our Wow Wednesdays!  We are working hard to reach more people to attend on Wednesday's and it was great.  Here are some thoughts I had as I read in Matthew today: 1) DREAMS- In Matthew one and two, God spoke five times to Joseph in dreams.  We know that God spoke to Mary about carrying Jesus and giving birth to Him, but we fail to realize that God spoke more to Joseph than to Mary.  God recognized Joseph as the spiritual leader of the home and spoke to him many times.  We fail to see his leadership in the home and in the rearing of Jesus as a child, but any man that God would speak to five times in dreams is a man who would raise a son well.  Hats off to Joseph! 2) BUT I SAY UNTO YOU- Six times in Matthew 5, Jesus tells what the law reads and then says:  "but I say unto you..." and strengthens the law.  Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.  3) A MATTER OF THE HEART- That is what giving is, a matter of the heart.  In Matthew 6:21, it reads:  "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Our giving is a reflection of our heart.  Where we give to more easily tracks our love as to what we say we love.  Follow the money.... follow the time invested.... follow the efforts.... and we can see where our love lies!  It is always a matter of the heart, not the checkbook or billfold.  4) PREACHING GROWS!!  In Matt. 9:35, Jesus is preaching and teaching... In Matt. 10:7 Jesus sends the twelve out preaching and teaching... Later, Jesus sends out the seventy preaching and teaching.... and in chapter 28 in the great commission, we are all told to go out preaching and teaching till we reach the world! 5) JESUS ONLY - Matt. 17- "Jesus Only".  That is what the three disciples saw a the Mount of transfiguration after Moses and Elijah were taken away.  Jesus only!  That is what we need to focus on today.... Jesus only.  Only as we focus on Jesus, will others come into clear focus with our spiritual eyes as well.  Don't look at everything else in the Christian life and forget our focus.... Jesus.  People who lose their focus become disillusioned, but people who keep their focus, keep serving on for Christ's sake.  Well, hope you have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler