“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matt 6:1) The word for charitable deeds here is actually “righteousness”. Jesus will go on to give examples of righteous living including-prayer, fasting, and giving. His point isContinue reading “This may get harder…but it’s worth it!”
Tag Archives: live the Word
Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?
It has to be strange, curious, and honestly, a little absurd, for those who do not fear the Lord, to watch those who do, deal with hard things. What those, who do not fear the Lord, or perhaps have only dabbled in a secular religion, do not understand, is that to fear God, more thanContinue reading “Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?”
I need it just as much today as I did then…
In the years after my first husband took his life, I began to heal. Good days were still coupled with days when I just wanted to cry. And sometimes a good, snot-making cry seemed to help. I tried to hide my tears from my boys, but sometimes their sweet little hugs would bring on moreContinue reading “I need it just as much today as I did then…”
The “be perfect verse” and the freedom it actually gives!!
Matthew 5 ends with Jesus saying, “Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (v 48) He completely knocks the wind out of us who compare ourselves to others and feel like we’ve obtained some sort of religious superiority. For anytime my eyes turn to the Lord, as my standard,Continue reading “The “be perfect verse” and the freedom it actually gives!!”
Christians should be the kindest people unbelievers know.
Jesus continues in his famous Sermon on the Mount to push us to a faith that is heart-deep and true and consistently lived out in our lives. Christians are not to look like this world. We are to live in a way that is eternally focused and notably different from the lost among us. InContinue reading “Christians should be the kindest people unbelievers know.”
Do THIS first….
Jesus knows as we live with others we will have trouble. We will encounter others with whom we disagree with and who disagree with us. We will have disputes and conflicts. We may feel we are right, but we have to be very careful about how we walk this out. As Jesus talks about heartContinue reading “Do THIS first….”
Hope for our TROUBLES
We’ve all seen the seeds of sin left to grow into a raging inferno that destroys people, and families, and communities. As a people, we’ve argued about just what laws we need as a society. As Christians, we believe those laws should be biblically based. But let’s remember, unless hearts change, laws can only everContinue reading “Hope for our TROUBLES”
Where Progressives Get It Wrong
Many, who like to think themselves progressive, suggest the New Testament is all about love not about rules or law. But in Matthew 5:17, Jesus made it clear that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He asserted that God’s laws should be followed as evidence of a changed heart.Continue reading “Where Progressives Get It Wrong”
Hold On! Encouragement for the Persecuted!
Matthew 5 records Jesus preaching the most famous sermon ever preached. It’s familiar-“Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the humble, ….those who are persecuted for righteousness” (Matt 5:2-10). But there’s something I never noticed before- He seems to pause to especially encourage those who are persecuted because of righteousness —not the poor,Continue reading “Hold On! Encouragement for the Persecuted!”
You ready?
Matthew records the calling of Peter and Andrew (Matt 4:18-20). Jesus tells them He will make them fishers of men and they immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, Jesus calls Zebedees sons, James and John, and they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Jesus (Matt 4:21-22). TheyContinue reading “You ready?”
The enemy promises freedom but delivers slavery. Test everything.
The enemy is always tempting us and sometimes he will even use God’s Word in his attempts to get us off track. The enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness to take things in his own hands for his own satisfaction (you’re hungry, turn these stones to bread) (Matt 4:3) Jesus’ human belly was surely growlingContinue reading “The enemy promises freedom but delivers slavery. Test everything.”
Our assessment of any situation is always, ever limited.
“Allow it for now” (Matt 3:15, CSB) John the Baptist was protesting when he was asked to baptize Jesus, then Jesus tells him to “allow if for now” so prophecy could be fulfilled. John obeyed.Jesus was baptized.And God was fulfilling His plan. We are to obey the Lord even when we don’t understand just howContinue reading “Our assessment of any situation is always, ever limited.”
Weak men who did great things…
Just how much of what I do in this day will last for eternity? (Matt 3:8-12) As repented believers we are to produce fruit. Good fruit. Eternal, lasting fruit in keeping with the great gift we have been given. It occurred to me that C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, Elisabeth Elliot, Corrie Ten Boom, Amy Carmichael,Continue reading “Weak men who did great things…”
What if he said this?
“Brood of Vipers” …can you imagine being called that? Imagine the preacher walking up to the podium, looking the congregation square in the eye and saying, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We haveContinue reading “What if he said this?”
Is this on your list this week?
It’s Monday morning, I’ve got a list for the week. I bet you do too. But my early morning study tells me I’m to bear fruits in keeping with repentance. (Matt 3:7-10). One day, we will all give an account for what we’ve done with the life we’ve been given by the blood-bought sacrifice ofContinue reading “Is this on your list this week?”
Freedom from Dying
Matthew chapter 3 opens with the radical locust and wild honey-eating, camel hair clothed, John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, and exclaiming- “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Matt 3:2) Repent. Oh, that’s a word we seldom hear. Go ahead, tweet it or post it. I bet you won’t get tooContinue reading “Freedom from Dying”
Let’s read Matthew
I’m not sure what led me to the book of Matthew but I’m drawn there. I shared a few posts, then turned to Easter and some other subjects for awhile. But I find myself again holding the words from the tax collector Jesus called friend and made His disciple. I’m excited to pick up theContinue reading “Let’s read Matthew”
When your MOOD SWINGS!
Have you ever had a mood swing? Have your emotions ever flip-flopped? Mine sure have! And Naomi seems to be able to relate as well! After Ruth meets Boaz, she goes home and tells Naomi all that has happened (see Ruth 2). Naomi says, “Blessed be the name of the LORD, who has not forsakenContinue reading “When your MOOD SWINGS!”
We’ve got to stop asking the world to do for us what only God can.
We’ve got to stop asking the world to do for us what only God can. Those little screams. I still remember them. Those tears still puddling in his sweet, little eyes, and his tiny lip still quivering as they handed my infant son back to me. I tenderly cradled him against my chest trying toContinue reading “We’ve got to stop asking the world to do for us what only God can.”
Hold on!
I have shaken my head so much my neck hurts. I’ve tried to convince myself things aren’t as bad as they seem, but I’m secretly thinking they are worse than we all know. Yes, the world is a dark place, but we, who call ourselves believers, need to diligently remind ourselves of what we believe.Continue reading “Hold on!”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 