Monday October 3, 2022

Today is Monday, October 3 and we are praying through the teachings of Jesus found in the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

New every morning is Your love, great God of light, and all day long You are working for good in the world. Stir up in me the desire to serve You, to live peacefully with my neighbors, and devote this day to Your Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. (Presbyterian Worshipbook, adapted)

Pause and Pray

Here I am, Lord Jesus, I sit at Your feet to learn God’s kingdom ways. I know You are always working for good in my life. You want the best for me and the best for the people I love. Open the scriptures and teach me how to find life, joy and peace each day. Amen.

I sit quietly before the Lord waiting in the stillness of the morning with the words of Psalm 37.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:7-8

Pause and Pray

The next section of the Sermon on the Mount has to do with relationships. God is concerned about my relationships with other people. Relationships matter. The teachings of the fifth chapter of Matthew are to be applied directly to my everyday interactions – with spouse, children, parents, siblings, neighbors, coworkers, friends, and people I encounter during everyday activities. These encounters may occur in person, at home, in the office, at school, in church, at the ball game, while shopping, running errands, walking the dog, driving in traffic, talking on the phone, sending emails, text messages, or browsing social media. In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches me how to respond to other people.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:21-24

Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus takes the Old Testament Law and raises it to a new level. Jesus is concerned about the inner attitudes and motives that lead to sinful behavior. Anger is the first step toward saying or doing something that a person will later regret. Anger harms relationships. I am to deescalate the emotion of anger before it leads to harm. The word “raca” in the ancient world was a word of contempt and insult. Believers are to guard the tongue carefully and not utter (type, text, or swype) words that disrespect, insult or cause harm. If I examine my heart and remember that someone has something against me I am to go to them and seek reconciliation.

Ask: When am I most likely to respond in anger? Who might God want me to go to and seek reconciliation for possible harm I may have caused?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord Jesus, teach me to be pure in heart and have good intentions. Examine me and reveal any anger in my soul. I invite you to calm my temper and cleanse my spirit. Remind me to pause before I speak or type the smallest word of unkindness. Let me never cause harm or create division. Lead me to seek forgiveness and reconciliation in all my relationships. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:21-24

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Jesus is my teacher this morning and the Holy Spirit is my guide. I consider what God might want to reveal about the relationships in my life or the emotions I harbor. Do I have anger, resentment or bitterness? Whatever names God brings to my mind or whatever emotions God stirs in my soul – I know I can trust Him to give me the grace I need to respond in the way He leads me. God wants me to enjoy blessings of joy and peace in all my relationships. Speak to my spirit, Lord, I am listening.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you into all my relationships. You know every encounter I will make in my upcoming day. Guard my heart and mind and give me pure motivations and intentions. Prevent my anger, diffuse my temper, remove my bitterness, and grant me the grace of patience and peace. Amen.

If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth! For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. Proverbs 30:32-33

I leave this time of prayer to bring peace and secure reconciliation with everyone I meet.

Amen