Week 6 - Matthew 7
I sit here this week wondering what it is I should ask or point out about this chapter. There is quite a bit to be covered – a) judging, b) asking, seeking and finding c) the path to God is thru a narrow gate d) a warning about false prophets and e) where do you build your house.
Then I think about discipleship and wonder how it all ties together. Discipleship is a life style choice/commitment and all these teachings – the Sermon on the Mount – is the starting of a foundation of belief.
In Matthew 7 we are given 5 brief lessons. To help us get started as a disciple. I must admit we all are very bad about judging people. We do it so often we don’t even thing about it. Just this morning someone asked about what a person was thinking, it is 30 degrees out and they have the convertible top down going down the interstate? Should we consider that a judgment? I know we all are judgmental at times. It slips in too quickly for us to realize at times.
But even realizing that judging people is very easy and seems like second nature to all of us, Jesus then gives us hope by telling us to ASK, SEEK and FIND. God is there for us no matter what our problem or challenge, all we need to is ask for help – PRAY.
BUT Jesus then warns us that it won’t be easy being a disciple. But it would appear the pathway/gate is narrow. So only those with a true heart, those that saw the hungry and fed them, saw the thirsty and offered drink, saw those needing clothes and clothed them, visited the sick, elder and those in prison and last but not least, saw offered shelter to those in need – it is these that shall get thru the gate.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there with the warnings. There will be some that try to direct/lead and will seem to do it in the manner of God and Jesus, but will be false in their leading. These we can call false prophets. We have to be careful as to who and what we believe. The best way to tell is test everything against the ‘red letters’ portions of the New Testament. Jesus has taught that he replaces the old law and covenants with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
So we are to be careful how we build our relationship with God (our house). Make sure all that you do is tested against God’s word.
Wow – lots of stuff in Mt 7 isn’t there?
So what do we do to become a disciple? So who’s teaching do we follow? If you were thinking I would tell you clearly what steps to take to be a disciple of Jesus – you were wrong. Jesus will tell us, for I do not want to lead you down the wrong path. We can not go wrong if we study the teachings of Jesus.
Next week we go back to Luke and begin to study how Jesus taught the first disciples. I do know that the following things Jesus used 1) prayer 2) study of the Bible and 3) fellowship with God. Now to see how we in the year 2008 can incorporate what Jesus did and said into our lives.
Yours in Christ,
alyce