October 3 - Matthew 6:5-7:6 | Luke 6:37-42 | Matthew 7:7-20 | Luke 6:43-45 | Matthew 7:21-29 | Luke 6:46-49

Good morning everyone,

Today we continue on with Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount. I love to go to a good teaching of the Scripture. Bible conferences, women’s retreats, anywhere they teach the Word of God is where I love to be! So, it is not a stretch for me to see myself, in my minds’s eye, standing there amongst the multitudes in antiquity, entranced with Jesus and the words He spoke. Captivated by his authority and humbled by the truth. Two thousand years later I sit on my sofa and the power of those very same words explode off the pages of my Bible and create in me a real desire to fall and worship the Lamb of God, to cry holy, holy, holy. 

There is so much instruction for us to glean from in today’s reading, brilliantly clear guidelines for how we should be living our lives. We’re taught how to pray, how to fast, where our treasure is, why there is no need to worry, why we shouldn't judge others, to look out for false prophets and so much more. What I truly like; what I love, love, love the best is that, Jesus didn’t just say, “Well guys, this this is how you should be living, good luck with that.” No, He knew we would need help, direction, encouragement, maybe even just a shoulder to cry on sometime and so He ever so lovingly encouraged them, as He encourages us today too, with, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Friends, He is always right there, a mere thought away. He knows what you need before you do, and like a true gentleman will never shove himself off on you but will lovingly wait for you to come to Him. 

Jesus tells us to be persistent in pursuing Him. We too often give up after a few short prayers while in the midst of trials thinking, “God’s not listening or can not be found.” Likewise we forget to go to Him in prayer when our urgent need has passed or we sometimes think, “why trouble God with that, it’s such a small issue.” Knowing God takes faith and focus, you guys know that, and to follow through. Right? Jesus assures us we will be rewarded. Don’t give up on your efforts to seek Him or His will. Keep on asking for patience, wisdom, direction, love and understanding. He will give them to you.

Remember months ago in Jeremiah the Lord gave us an invitation, He said “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” What a beautiful promise and our God does not lie. There’s a lot I don’t know and I bet you can say the same. So let’s be calling on God for the answers all of the time. Talk to Him while you are driving down the road, sitting in our office, milking the cow or best yet in our favorite quiet place down on our knees. Anywhere and everywhere talk to Jesus. He loves us so much, I can not say that big enough. He is always listening, all we have to do is, ask and it will be given to us; seek and we will find; knock and the door will be opened to us. Amen? Thank you Jesus!

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..