The First 15

Wednesday November 23, 2022

Today is Wednesday, November 23 and this week we complete our study of the Sermon on the Mount.

Opening Prayer

As I enter this time of prayer, I still my body, quiet my mind and slow my breathing. I close my eyes and relax in the presence of the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Holy and Loving God, I long for You to speak into my life and circumstances. Give me ears to listen and eyes to see the good message You have for me today as I study the holy scriptures. Amen.

Scripture Reading

As a new day dawns, I praise God and seek Him with the words of Psalm 143.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:8-10</strong>

Pause and Pray

After Jesus cautions me to discern between true and false prophets, He then warns me to pay attention to true and false disciples. The true disciple of Jesus must not only claim Him as teacher but also put His teaching into practice. Jesus expects His followers to do what he tells them to do. In these verses Jesus is particularly referring to the full body of His message in the Sermon on the Mount. This is His love letter to me and defines how I am to live my life with the help of the Holy Spirit – fully obeying and doing the will of God.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:21-23

Reflection

If I claim Jesus as Lord, it follows that I will do the will of my heavenly Father. If Jesus is truly the Lord of my life, I will earnestly strive to obey His teachings, I will humbly seek the continual help and assistance of the Holy Spirit, and I will likely accomplish the will of God. However, if I claim that the good deeds I do and the work I accomplish are done in the name of Jesus, but in actuality I am merely following my selfish ambition and personal will then I have failed. Jesus is not Lord. I am in reality my own lord and am not following Jesus like I should. God’s will must be what is foremost in my life, above self-will and the will of the world.

Ask: Whose will am I following – mine or God’s? Do I earnestly and sincerely pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding me to put the will of God before everything else in my life. Teach me to understand and follow God’s will completely every moment of every day. Call me into account when my own self-will takes precedence over God’s. Forgive me when I think I am serving You in my daily activities, but in reality I am serving myself. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:21-23

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

I consider how these words of Jesus speak to the current state of my soul and my particular situation. I want God to give me clarity and greater understanding so that I can comprehend God’s perfect will each day and strive to do it as I should. Whatever emotion this passage evokes for me, I will carry it with me and ponder these words throughout my day.

Pause and Pray

Jesus, You are Lord of my life and I want to live as a humble servant, surrendering my will to Yours. I will strive to obey God and serve Him completely. Clearly reveal the places where my self-will and self-determination takes precedence over God’s ordering and guiding of my day. Make me aware of the adjustments I need to make to more perfectly follow and obey. Amen.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Closing Prayer

I leave this time of prayer focused on doing the will of my Father in heaven.

Amen