Posts that reference the Gospel of Matthew

Keep Company with Him

November is the new December. The three or four week whirlwind between Thanksgiving and Christmas has now become six weeks. We’ve already been to three Christmas events. I look at my calendar. I listen to the announcements at church and I want to go back to bed.

Times like this are especially challenging. It seems if the pressure mounts to get everything done, I start having trouble getting anything done. I lose perspective, energy and focus, so I end up spinning my wheels.

Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest … Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message)

Keep company with Him.

This is what I’m working on for the next few weeks.

Unseen Acts

By Paula Wiseman

“…and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:4

Jesus is talking about acts of kindness and compassion.

Sometimes it’s translated charitable deeds.

Acts motivated by love.

You do unseen acts out of love every day.

That three thousandth sandwich you made.

That seven thousandth load of laundry you did.

The phone call you made. That errand you ran. That burden you shoulder.

And so many others.

God sees.

He knows.

And one day He will personally reward you.

Missing the Obvious

By Paula Wiseman

My son plays junior high football. (If you’re not a fan or know nothing about football, stay with me.) Saturday evening his team was evenly matched and found itself in a tight, back-and-forth contest. On the last play of the first half, the opposing team had the ball and went for one desperate play to try and score before halftime. The quarterback ran around like crazy, trying to avoid being tackled, looking for someone he could throw the ball to. He threw it, but the receiver was quickly tackled and the half ended.

Most of the spectators on our side were pretty sure it was an illegal pass. (I’ll refrain from burdening you with the details of how and why.) The coach went out to talk to the referee about the missed call. The referee assured the coach that he had his eye on the quarterback the whole play, and the pass was legal. The coach however, said, “But you missed the whole offensive line breaking downfield.” (Which means a whole bunch of players who aren’t allowed to catch the ball were out of position trying to do just that.)

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day had a similar problem. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.” Matthew 23:23.

They were totally dialed into the minutiae of keeping the Mosaic Law (some might argue going overboard) while far more important and obvious things were overlooked– justice and mercy in their dealings with each other and faithfulness to God.

Unfortunately, we are not as different from those guys as we would like to believe. We have a tendency to fixate on small fringe details – the latest scandal out of Hollywood, a social or political cause, church structure and politics and so forth, and we miss the more important things. I can’t help but envision a day when we’re trying to explain to God how we never watched those kinds of movies, and we never voted for any of those candidates, and we never supported those companies. We had Bible covers and bumper stickers. We went to conferences and served on committees. I’m afraid He will look at us and say, “But you missed these people. You didn’t show them mercy or deal with them justly. You didn’t tell them how desperately I wanted them here with Me, and how I paid the price to make that possible.”

And we miss the obvious. When I say we, I mostly mean me.

Not Forsaken

By Paula Wiseman

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

Not My Father, but My God.

For me, it is the most wrenching part of the crucifixion story. In those moments of supreme, inconceivable anguish, the fellowship and intimacy Jesus Christ shared with God the Father was broken.

Jesus was alone.

Separated.

Abandoned.

Forsaken.

Because Jesus willingly, voluntarily endured the full wrath of a holy God, wrath rightly reserved for you and me, God made us a promise. "For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”" (Heb. 13:5)

Never.

The Greek uses five negatives so that we begin to understand that there is absolutely no way God will ever, ever under any circumstances forsake those who are His. We will never hear, "Depart from Me." Or face rejection and renunciation. We will never be forsaken.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

On Our Side

By Paula Wiseman

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side… Then they would have swallowed us alive… Then the waters would have overwhelmed us." (Psalm 124: 2-4)

He is on our side.

Paul asks if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Jesus says the very gates of hell cannot stand against the people of God. (Matthew 16:18)

Left to ourselves, we would quickly be swept away.

But we are not left to ourselves. Never.

He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

Blessed be the Lord. (Psalm 124:6)

Study Tip: Christmas

By Paula Wiseman

Just a quick Christmas study tip for this busy season-

This week, take some time to read the Christmas story. Choose Matthew or Luke, whichever you prefer.

Read slowly, out loud if necessary. Use a different translation, even. The key is not to rush over the familiar details. Savor them.

Soak in the wonder, the joy and the anticipation.

Follow the shepherds’ example. Follow the wise men’s example.

You see, studying is useless if it doesn’t produce worship and a desire to tell others what we have discovered.

May God bless you with fresh insight as you read and study the Christmas story.

Merry Christmas!