The narrow and hard way!
Scripture reading for January 9: Matthew 7
“”So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”” Matthew 7:12-14
Our culture is very diverse and values many different choices. In America, everyone is free to choose their religion, their preferences and now even their sexual identity. People have elected representatives and leaders who have discarded ancient laws and God’s Law to legislate the choices that have been warned against by Scripture. It is evident in our elections and culture that many people are on the broad path that Jesus warned would lead to destruction. This broad path allows all to choose whatever seems right to them from their self-centered perspective (world-view). Each person does what is right in their eyes.
Jesus taught that God’s Word in the Law and Prophets outlined how we should treat others. If others mistreated us, we should do to them as we would want them to do to us as outlined by God in His Law. We should love what He loves and hate what God hates. This is the ‘narrow gate’ described by Jesus. It is a hard way because most of the world refuses to humble themselves and submit to God’s Laws and live under His love. It is this ‘hard’ way alone that leads to life eternal. The broad path is to do whatever feels good to you. This path has many followers and they are all headed towards eternal destruction.
What gate have you chosen to enter and how would you describe your current path in life? Are you living for immediate gratification or does eternity cause you to humbly ask for mercy? How have God’s Laws and prophetic warnings helped to shape your world view?
Prayer: Father, I am humbled by Your call to treat others in accordance with Your Word. Forgive me for neglecting to learn Your Word and receive instruction from it. Deliver me from the ‘broad’ path of this world, and reveal Your narrow path leading to life. Use me to help those heading for destruction. Amen.
Divided priorities fail
Scripture reading for January 8: Matthew 6
“”Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . .No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”” Matthew 6:19-21, 24
Our world is obsessed with accumulating the ‘treasures’ of this earth. We have basic needs of food, clothing and shelter and should be concerned about those, but our appetites always outpace our basic needs. As I began my life on the farm with a new wife and a degree from a state university, my goal was to become a big farmer and find success. We started out small and began to accumulate land, animals and equipment. Borrowed money was used and debts grew as well. Then the economy took a turn and interest rates skyrocketed. I learned that the borrower becomes a slave of the lender! (Proverbs 22:7) That’s when our Lord revealed to me the truth that I couldn’t serve Him and ‘money’. My heart was tied up in worry about the things and money and not in worship and love for God.
But thanks be to God, He loved me enough to call me to follow Him. He called me to come to Him and learn His ways. He taught me that if I would seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, everything I truly needed would be supplied in my life! (Matthew 6:33) He taught me dependence on Him for my daily bread! (Matthew 6:11)
Where is your ‘treasure’ laid up today? Is your heart divided trying to serve two masters? Have you given all your love and devotion to your true Master Jesus Christ? Are you worried about your daily needs?
Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hollowed by Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Amen! (Matthew 6:9-13)
Love your enemies!
Scripture reading for January 7: Matthew 5
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of the Father Who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
The current world-view in Jesus’ day was not much different than now: “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But Jesus taught a radically different way of living and loving. We are to love our enemies, do them good, and pray for them. This kind of love is how our heavenly Father loves us and all who hate Him. Jesus told how His Father gave rain on the land of the just as well as the unjust. Mercy triumphs over judgment and His goodness leads to repentance. By being like our Father, we may win over those who are centered on the world’s way of doing business. Our good deeds of love towards enemies may break through the hatred and reveal Jesus’ love in us.
This passage is part of Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ where He teaches His disciples the blessed life of those in God’s kingdom. I struggled to change my thinking towards those who opposed me. The ways of our secular culture are deeply embedded in my thinking and behavior. Jesus Christ revealed to me His Father’s heart to reach all enemies and rebels. I am still wrestling with how to walk this out daily.
What view of dealing with your enemies do you hold today? How does this mesh with what Jesus revealed to His disciples? What one thing can you do today to show love to someone who you view as your enemy? Does this kind of thinking offend your sense of justice or fairness?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for my lack of love for those who I consider my enemies. Help me to love them as You do. Show me how to pray for them and act in their best interest. Amen.
Fishing for men?
Scripture reading for January 6: Matthew 4
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:17-20
Jesus loved to challenge the world-views of those He came in contact with. His preaching message was a call to change minds, hearts, and actions: “Repent!” This was not something in the future Jesus was speaking about. In His own Life was the immediate presence of the kingdom of heaven and He was the King! Matthew, who himself had repented and followed Jesus, recorded Jesus’ call to follow given to two ordinary fishermen who were busy casting a net in a family fishing business. These young men heard the call of Jesus and had to adjust their thinking from catching fish to catching men with a Gospel net! I am sure that they did not understand all that would be required of them. But child-like faith to fearlessly respond to Jesus’ new challenge to their calling brought them into a new life and eternal rewards!
I had this call in my life as well. I was a successful farmer raising crops, cattle and pigs when Jesus reaffirmed His call to me to preach His Word. I chose to ‘repent’ and follow, not knowing all that would be required. My ‘immediate’ response took several years, but following Jesus Christ has totally expanded my world and enriched my life beyond measure! I am thankful for His patience and gentleness!
Have you heard the call of Jesus to repent and follow? What response have you given Him? How does your present world-view help or hinder you from responding immediately?
Prayer: Father, thank You for expanding my world-view from my own selfish interests to see Your plan tor reach all people with the Good News of a Savior Jesus Christ and eternal life. Teach me how to fish for men and guide me each day to the best fishing spots. Amen.
Preparing the way!
Scripture reading for January 3: Matthew 3
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.'”. . .”Then Jerusalem and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:1-3,5-6
The Scriptures of the Jews taught about the coming of the Messiah, a descendant of King David. The Jews had a messianic expectation from the Law of Moses and the prophets. In the days of John the Baptist, the Jewish nation was in servitude to Rome and under foreign domination. Their messianic hopes were not at the forefront of their world-view. After four hundred years of prophetic silence, God sent John as a ‘voice’ crying in the wilderness. He called the people of Israel to repentance and faith. He called them to water baptism, usually reserved for converts to Judaism, as a humble confession of their sins and need of cleansing. This was to prepare them for the coming King, Jesus, and His kingdom,
The scribes and Pharisees, religious leaders, came to observe and criticize John. John called them out for their pride and warned them of their own need to repent to prepare the way for their Messiah. John challenged their world-view and the culture of their religion to break through their pride. God is still working today to reach the religious and prideful.
Are you currently listening to a ‘voice’ God has sent to call you to repentance? What sins are you willing to confess and forsake? Have you been baptized in water in obedience to Jesus Christ? What step of humility can you take to respond to God’s Voice?
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending out Your people as Your ‘Voice’ crying in my wilderness. Thank You for the ultimate ‘Voice,” Jesus Christ, Who plainly is calling me to repentance and faith. Help me to break through my pride and religious culture. Lead me to humility and true repentance. Amen.
Wise men still seek Him!
Scripture reading for January 2nd: Matthew 2
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: . .” Matthew 2:1-5
As Matthew shared the events of Jesus’ supernatural birth and early life, he recorded this visit of ‘wise men’ from the east. These were probably elders or religious leaders from the land of Persia. They had been told of the Messiah’s coming by God through their study of the stars and had possibly been exposed to Jewish Scripture through Daniel and the Jews in captivity there. Their world view was being shaped by their history, education, and God’s revelation directly to them. As this ‘Star’ rose and guided them, they came prepared to worship this ‘King’ of the Jews. As they inquired where they might find Him, Jewish religious leaders told them from the prophet Micah, written about five hundred years earlier, that Bethlehem of Judea would be His birthplace. (Micah 5:2)
God is always at work to reach lost people and reveal a new path to know Him. He sent His Son to earth for that purpose. He drew Gentiles to seek Him Who was King of the Jews. He is still working today. When we have our world-view expanded to see His grand plan and offer ourselves to become part of it, a life of worship and joyful expectation results! Wise men still seek Him!
Have you initiated your search for true wisdom? Are you troubled by the revelation of a King Who is worthy of worship? Have you expanded your world-view by receiving understanding through Jesus.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your careful and thorough prophetic instruction concerning Your plan to send Your Son to earth to save lost people. Thank you for including all mankind. Open my eyes today and expand my view of life to include Your plan for a King. Amen.
The King from Heaven
Scripture reading for January 1: Matthew 1
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21
Joseph, son of Jacob, was a godly carpenter of the tribe of Judah living in Israel under Roman occupation. He knew God’s Laws and sought to live by them. His world view was shaped by his parents, his past history as a Jew, and by God’s Word. Joseph likely would have memorized the first five books of the Old Testament before he became a man at thirteen. He was a carpenter by trade and lived an ordinary life. He was betrothed to Mary, another of David’s line, when his world was shaken by the revelation that Mary was pregnant! Wanting to offer grace, he decided to divorce her quietly. But God broke into his world view through an angel appearing in a dream declaring to him, “Do not fear.” The angel explained that this child, to be named ‘Jesus’, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save His people from their sins.
How was Joseph’s world view challenged by God? What were some of the objections that he was being asked to overcome by faith? Would Joseph have been able to understand all the implications of the angel’s statements?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I contemplate these questions and this amazing story of Joseph and Mary and Your plan to save Your people from their sins, expand my world view as You did for Joseph and Mary. Help me overcome my natural tendencies and fears and to walk by faith in Your Amazing Word. Amen.
2025–The world according to Jesus!
Bible Reading Plan: one chapter of the ESV New Testament five days a week
Dear Friends and citizens of the Kingdom of heaven,
Greetings in the Majestic Name of Jesus Christ!
In Luke 21:33 (ESV) Jesus states, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.” As we begin a new year, we choose to ask our Lord Jesus to guide us and transform our thinking, attitudes and resulting actions to reflect His eternal Word.
Our world view is initially formed before salvation by our inherited sin-nature that places us at the center of everything. Relying on the desires of our fallen nature, we easily succumb to the world’s pressure to conform to its definition of ‘normal’. We seek to create our own views of reality through our senses and whatever training is given to us by our parents, peers, and educators. Our world in America not only condones but encourages choices about our sexuality, our morality, and our freedom to be and do anything it now considers ‘woke’, despite laws already on the books or God’s Law which never changes. As those who have repented of our conformity to the world, we seek daily transformation of our thinking through reading and hearing God’s Word.
I have chosen the theme “The world according to Jesus” to guide our reading of the New Testament this year. I am using the English Standard Version (2001) and will read a chapter each day, five days a week, beginning in Matthew and ending with Revelation. As you read along with me, I will share in devotional form a passage from each chapter that helps me understand life and God’s plan for us. Please feel free to make your own journal or to comment on my posts by sharing what God is showing you. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 ESV)
I am thankful for the Holy Spirit Who will help each of us to stay faithful and be conformed to our Lord Jesus and discern worldly habits. Have a blessed year of reading and watch daily for our Lord’s return!
In His Love, Pastor John Morse
Everything made new!
Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 21-22
The end of the Bible tells of a new beginning! All who were faithful to Christ would live in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. All who enjoy this new beginning have been faithful and trusted Christ. He has faithfully done what He promised.
John saw a holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. This city was prepared like a bride for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) A voice from heaven announced that the dwelling place of God is now among men and He will live with them. He will comfort them and change the order of their existence. There will be no more tears, crying or pain. God would make everything new!
The New Jerusalem contains the most precious and beautiful treasures for the redeemed. There is the river of life that flows from the throne of God. It’s waters are crystal clear and flowing abundantly. The banks of the river are lined with the tree of life, bearing fruit each month of the year. It’s leaves bring healing to the nations. The best treasure of all is those who dwell in this city will have the Lamb dwelling in their midst and they will see His face! What blessed peace and joy will be ours when we see Him and behold Him in all His glory!
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:12-14)
Three times in this final chapter the Lord speaks of His soon return, and the final “blessed” concerns those who have their wedding clothes ready for His coming! The Spirit and Bride conclude with an invitation to all to come and join the Bridal party of those waiting for His return! May you be ready too!
As we come to the last day of this year, I am so blessed to have been able to write through the entire Bible. I know that I have experienced Jesus Christ in every book. I also know the Lord’s heart better and feel that I have grown spiritually in ways that I would not have without writing. Thank you for sharing this journey with me and please join me again next year! In His Love, Pastor John Morse
The Thousand Year Reign
Scripture reading for December 30: Revelation 20
Those who have studied Scripture love to look at how God will bring everything on earth and heaven together. Revelation 20 tells us how God will lock up Satan in a pit for a thousand years. He will be bound with a great angelic chain and locked away to keep him from deceiving the nations. It also reveals that the Devil will be loosed again for a short time after that thousand years.
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4
Those believers coming out of the great tribulation through martyrdom were now seated on thrones as judges! This great reversal occurs when Jesus Christ sets up the millennial kingdom. These who had stood firm for Jesus and proclaimed God’s Word now were rewarded as Jesus promised. They had refused the mark of the beast and refused to bow to the religious and political system of Babylon. They now ruled in the Kingdom of Peace with the Prince of Peace!
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved City, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur . .” Revelation 20:7-10
After the thousand years, Satan is again allowed to deceive those who will refuse to accept the truth of Christ Jesus as Lord during this thousand years. Deceived by Satan, these will gather together and surround Jerusalem to challenge Jesus and the saints. This foolish move will bring their destruction by fire and Satan’s return to the lake of fire! At the great White Throne judgment, all rebels and those not written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Sobering truth about our need to remain faithful and humble!
As we end this year, be sure that you know true salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Check your heart and surrender again to the King of kings. Invite Him to lead you into His eternal kingdom coming soon!