By the Narrow Gate

Today’s red letter post, about unclean spirits, is very relatable for me, and I would like to share my perspective on things I’ve witnessed throughout my life.

When I read this passage, I think of the gap each of us has in our heart. I think of the many ways in which we try to fill those gaps with worldly things that we expect will bring us happiness, but instead often lead to addiction or depression. I watched my dad battle alcoholism for so many years, because he only wanted to numb himself from the pain that chronically plagued him. He never openly addressed the source of his pain, but I can guess where it came from, just by what I know about his childhood and birth family.

Addiction, depression, anxiety, and every other negative emotion that takes up residence in the mind are merely products of demonic influences that attack us by planting self-doubt. The things we medicate ourselves with don’t comfort us or lift us out of those dark places. They keep that gap filled with things that offer temporary happiness or satisfaction. While we’re busy chasing happiness, we’re not aware that we drift farther away from God.

If we want the unclean spirits gone, we MUST first humble ourselves to admit our failure to cope by ourselves, and commit to fully knowing God through His Word. In His perfect timing, He gives us His indwelling Spirit Who fills our heart so fully that no unclean spirit can ever get near again.

We cannot gain anything from worldly things. We cannot satisfy our heart with temporary sources of happiness. That’s only Satan giving his empty promises to distract us from that which would give us a permanent inner joy and peace that cannot be robbed. Don’t allow the father of lies to take up residence in that gap. He offers absolutely nothing of value.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” - Matthew 12:43-45

Resources

In today’s red letter post, we read that the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign.

The question is - why did they ignore His previous signs? They witnessed His healings, but they were too focused on that He healed people on the Sabbath. It wouldn’t have mattered how many signs they witnessed, but that they didn’t repent after seeing the first sign was a clear indication that their hearts were hardened. The accused Him of casting out demons in the name of Beelzebub, again overlooking His divine authority over the demons.

The same is true today - people choose to stay spiritually blind despite so much evidence that points to our Creator. Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead. Over 500 people saw Him after He had risen. If Jesus walked among us today and performed more miracles, how many would actually believe and repent? The reality is, all the signs in the world won’t matter to people who have hardened hearts. They don’t have faith because they don’t want to have faith. They don’t want to have faith because it means they must repent of their sin.

People remained unconverted, despite seeing Jesus in person, despite witnessing His signs and wonders. True faith in Jesus Christ happens without the need for signs and wonders.

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” - John 20:29

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.” - Matthew 12:38-42

Resources

Today’s red letter verses focus on the truth about the hearts of men.

People are either godly or godless. There is no in-between. People say and act according to what’s in their hearts. Some people are better at hiding their evil, while they use it to deceive others. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell what a person’s intentions are because of their ability to hide their true intentions. It’s easier when the Holy Spirit indwells because He gives us His discernment. I think the easiest way to tell the nature of a person’s heart is to simply talk about Jesus and watch their reaction. A godly person lights up at the mention of Jesus, and boldly, enthusiastically praises Him without hesitation. An ungodly person will show some level of discomfort and try to change the subject. Nobody is good without God because He creates the goodness in our hearts. Without Him, we cannot produce good fruit.

As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. - Romans 3:10-12

For a true Christian, the mention of Jesus elicits a reaction of exuberant joy because we feel what the Holy Spirit feels. It’s far greater than worldly happiness {which is temporary and depends on external sources}. A good heart, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, experiences infinite inner joy because it comes from Him who lives within us.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” - Matthew 12:33-37

Resources

Cee Of Faith

Jul 21, 2026

Today’s red letter post touches upon one of the most important things we must know and understand - the unforgivable sin.

Forgiveness is probably one of the most misunderstood concepts of God’s Word. It’s often taken out of context and used to justify sin. People tend to believe that, because God is forgiving and merciful, they’re free to sin as long as they say “I’m sorry.”

Wrong.

God forgives repentant sinners who turn away from sin, and remain open to conviction and discernment without question. It doesn’t matter if the sin was mass murder or a single lie; as long as there is genuine repentance, genuine faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross, genuine obedience, and a humble heart that hates past sin as much as God does, God forgives.

The unforgivable sin is different because it refers to those who reject/deny the gospel despite knowing it. It’s willful unbelief in the existence of God, blatantly mocking Him, denying His holy attributes, speaking evil against Him, with no desire to have a relationship with Him.

I highly recommend listening to the sermons linked to yesterday’s and today’s posts for a more detailed explanation of these verses.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” - Matthew 12:31-32

Resources

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit, Part 2

Commentary on Matthew 12:31

In today’s red letter post, the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons in the name of the ruler of the demons, Beelzebub.

In response, Jesus says that every kingdom, city or house that’s divided against itself cannot stand. That’s also true of any group of people - a congregation in a church, family, friend circle, etc.

Further, Jesus made another very important statement: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” What He meant by that is that we cannot remain neutral when it comes to the choice of standing with God or standing against Him. Choosing to not boldly declare our faith in Him is, by default, standing against Him. Faith in Jesus cannot be a secret because of shame or fear of persecution. We must all be willing to stand with God, judged by the world. If we choose to stand with the world, we most certainly will be judged by God.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️ 🤍 🙏🏻

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” - Matthew 12:22-30

Resources

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit, Part 1

Our red letter verse series continues in Matthew 12, focusing on another of Jesus’ miracles which took place in a synagogue - the healing of a man with a withered hand.

The Pharisees had many laws regarding the Sabbath. They only cared that their laws were upheld, and not that a man was suffering with a disease that affected his hand. Jesus challenged them by asking them if they would allow a sheep to remain in a pit until after the Sabbath. And then He healed the man’s withered hand, bringing glory to His Father. Amazingly, the Pharisees had such hardened hearts that they showed no appreciation for the miracle that happened in front of them. Instead of seeing the glory of God in the healing, they decided that the next step was to hatch a plot to destroy Jesus. In closing, I leave you with food for thought. I find it interesting that, in all my years in a catholic school, and attending masses at the catholic church, I was never taught about the Pharisees’ role in the death of Jesus. I’d never heard of the Pharisees until I read the Bible for myself. Instead, the church doctrine focused only on Pontius Pilate being responsible for His crucifixion. The truth is in the words spoken by Pilate in Luke 23:22:

Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”- Luke 23:22

The question I leave you with is this - why would the catholic church omit such an important fact about the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion? 🤔

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. - Matthew 12:9-14

Resources

Today, we start a new chapter in the red letter verse series. Matthew 12:1-8 highlights the self-righteous legalism of the Pharisees.

Imagine telling God Himself that He is breaking the law! The Pharisees were so focused on the law and their inflated self-importance that they didn’t see Who was standing in front of them. They were too busy enforcing their self-made laws of the Sabbath that they didn’t see or appreciate the miracles Jesus performed - specifically, the paralyzed man by the Pool of Bethesda or the man with the withered hand in the synagogue. They begrudged the apostles who ate grain when they were hungry, because it was “unlawful to do on the Sabbath.” Jesus was essentially asking them what was more important - feeding the hungry or keeping the laws of the Sabbath? Healing the sick or keeping the laws of the Sabbath? Jesus stood for mercy over holding others to an impossible standard.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” - Matthew 12:1-8

Resources

Today, we conclude Matthew 11 in our red letter post series, which includes one of my favorite verses - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Living in the world is difficult. Exhausting, even. As Christians, we don’t belong in a world filled with people who celebrate sin. We endure daily attacks made by God’s adversary, which often leads to feelings of severe isolation, and a longing for the comfort, joy, and peace that only Jesus can give us.

I pray that everyone reading this comes to experience that which only comes from knowing, believing in, and obeying Jesus as Lord. There’s no other security like it

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:25-30

Resources

Jesus’ Personal Invitation, Part 1

Jesus’ Personal Invitation, Part 2

In today’s red letter post, Jesus addresses the unrepentant in cities where He taught and performed great miracles, and rightfully so.

What would Jesus say to today’s unrepentant? Jesus’ words are preserved in Scripture because they’re timeless, and they’re directed at every generation since He spoke them. We’re by no means exempt from our Lord’s rebuke. A nation that chooses sin is a judged nation. Look around. What do you see happening across the world? Do you think the Lord is happy that so many people celebrate their sin? I think not. And still folks continue to blame God for the consequences of their sin instead of bowing in humility, realizing and accepting that the consequences are a result of our choices. The Bible clearly illustrates how God deals with wilful disobedience. Satan laughs because he’s successful in his deception {…“has God really said…?”} and drawing people closer to joining him in his eternal torment. He’s giving the illusion of a “fun, non-stop party” in hell, and sadly, once people realize they were lied to {by the father of lies!}, it’ll be too late. Don’t let him deceive you.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍 🙏🏻

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” - Matthew 11:20-24

Resources

We begin today’s red letter post with the first 18 verses of Matthew 11, in which Jesus pays tribute to John the Baptist. One of my favorite events in the Bible, in Luke 1:41, is when Mary visited Elizabeth, while both were pregnant, and Elizabeth’s unborn child, John, reacted to the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. What an incredible testament to the good news of the Messiah! John was a humble man who understood his purpose - to announce, prepare the people for, and glorify God’s Messiah.

I also wanted to highlight one of my favorite movies, “Play the Flute” in which Brett Varvel gives an incredible speech which includes the verses Matthew 11:16-17. The scene begins at 50:51, if you’re interested in watching. It makes me cry every time. I urge everyone to watch the entire movie. It’s uplifting, and it illustrates that changing hearts for Jesus IS possible! I also highly recommend listening to the sermons linked in the “Resources” section of this post for a greater, detailed explanation of today’s verses.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” - Matthew 11:1-18

Resources

Solving the Problem of Doubt

Today, we close Matthew 10, focusing on Jesus’ declaring that He did not come to bring peace, but division.

Don’t misunderstand these verses to mean that Jesus purposely causes division. The Lord hates those who sow division, so that’s not what Jesus meant. The division He spoke of here is the sort that we produce when there’s a difference of beliefs, and we see it happening around us every day. Families and friends disagree on so many aspects of faith. Christians warn others who believe there are multiple ways to the Father, and everyone who belongs to a worldly religion shows up for a debate. Of all the people in this world, we will never be in 100% agreement with a single one…but we must always be in 100% agreement with the Lord because He is absolute truth.

Jesus went on to make further bold statements about loyalty. He flat out told us that we’re not to love each other more than we love the Lord. That’s not to say we shouldn’t love each other, but He meant that when given a choice, we must always choose Him. We cannot place our loyalty with mere men over the Lord. We must be willing to stand WITH Him against everyone else, including those we love. He created us. He suffered and died for our sins. He’s preparing a place for us in His Father’s Kingdom. That magnitude of love cannot be matched in a human heart. Nobody will ever love us to the degree that the Lord loves us. There’s not ever a time when the Lord will not show up for us when we need Him.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” - Matthew 10:34-39

Resources

Today’s red letter post is pretty straightforward.

The Christian walk must not be done in secret. Anyone who believes they can practice their faith in secret is not a true Christian. Fear of persecution is no excuse. Every Christian must be willing to endure persecution in Jesus Christ’s name. That’s what taking up our cross means - standing with the Lord, while being judged by the world. Everything we do must glorify the Lord. We must openly declare our faith in the Lord without shame or concern for what it might cost us.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:32-33

Resources

Today’s red letter verse post contains a sobering message straight from the mouth of Jesus.

As Christians, we must not be ashamed of sharing the gospel, even if it means the severest form of persecution - physical death. For saved believers, death is nothing to fear; our last breath is immediately followed by being in the presence of our King. It’s the safest place we can possibly be. It’s the most glorious place we can be, filled with overwhelming joy and love, surrounded by unimaginable beauty. The ultimate fear should lie with the unrepentant, unbelievers who die in their sin and face eternal judgment spent in God’s absence. So many people are fooled by the illusion of time, and for some, there is no time. Those who leave repentance “for later” never see “later”. The most important time to bow in humility and repentance is while there’s still breath left in our lungs. Once we breathe our last, the opportunity is gone. Think about it. May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” - Matthew 10:27-31

Resources

Today’s red letter verse focus on the reality of being a Christian - enduring persecution.

Christianity is the loneliest journey. And why wouldn’t it be? God cast His adversary out of heaven, thus beginning the ongoing battle between good and evil. Satan rules the world we live in. We’re in his territory. Naturally, he’s doing everything in his evil power to destroy souls and separate God and His children. He wasted no time approaching Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with the intent to produce doubt in God’s Word - “Has God really said…?” has been Satan’s main mode of attack. Every time anyone debates God’s Word, the echoes of Satan’s words to Eve in the garden ring louder and louder. Satan has influenced countless generations to doubt God’s truth, and even doubt that God exists. And he’s laughing at every single person who has succumbed to his lies.

Because the world is now divided into so many different groups, absolute truth has become debatable. Christians, who stand in God’s truth are mocked, ridiculed, cast out of churches, families, and friend groups…or worse, killed for their beliefs.

Personally, I don’t care if I’m persecuted. If people want to mock/ridicule me for my beliefs, that’s fine. If anyone -friends, family, acquaintances - wants to cut me out of their lives, I’m good with that. I’m not interested in worldly applause or approval. I couldn’t care less about what anyone thinks of me. I will never denounce my beliefs for anyone, and anyone who comes for my Bible will have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands because I will not give it up as long as there is breath in my lungs.

My only goal is to spread God’s Word to those He chooses to hear it, to love and serve God and my brethren as He commands, to be right with Him when I draw my last breath, and to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I’m standing in front of Him on judgment day. To me, that is the mark of a successful life.

May the Lord bless and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” - Matthew 10:16-26

Resources

Sheep Among Wolves, Part 1

Sheep Among Wolves, Part 2

I lived most of my life ungratefully. Well, ungrateful in the eyes of God. For nearly 6 decades of my life, I didn’t see my ingratitude. I mistakenly thought I was a grateful person. I thanked people for their gifts and wonderful gestures. I even thanked God for the things I thought were blessings.

So how do I know I was ungrateful? Because I sinned against God without a thought, without any regard for the fact that I was living a life separated from Him, outside of His kingdom. I kept asking Him for things, based on what I wanted. And even when He said “yes” to me, I chose sin. I chose worldly behavior. I chose “self”. That I didn’t understand is no excuse. I had ample opportunity to know and understand Him. In retrospect, I feel ashamed. How could I treat God that way? Always asking, sometimes receiving, always overlooking His blessings as though I were some entitled child. When I wanted something from Him, I begged. When He gave me what I wanted, I failed to fall to my knees and tell Him that I was grateful. What I didn’t know at the time was that what I asked for, what I actually got were not blessings, but His chastening.

Prayer is not a means for getting what we want. Prayer is meant, first and foremost, for praising God, regardless of our circumstances. We should never begin a prayer asking for what we want. We should never believe that what we want is what’s best for us. This is why Jesus said, “Pray this way - …Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” When Jesus prayed to His Father, it was always in complete surrender to the Father’s will.

And when our prayers are answered, whatever God’s answer may be, we must show our gratitude. How? With praise, obedience, and complete appreciation for everything He gives us. Every person we meet, everything we own, every opportunity, every job, is a gift from God. Even someone we may not agree with or get along with or someone who mistreats us, is a gift because of the lesson{s} we learn from them. Even jobs that are less than ideal for us are gifts because the resulting income tides us over until God opens the door to a better job.

Complaining about God’s blessings is ingratitude. Sinning against God, despite His blessings is ingratitude. Asking for what we want over what God wills for us is ingratitude. Grumbling against God, blaming Him for our circumstances is ingratitude. The more we complain, the more we sin against God, the more we focus on our desires over God’s purpose, the more we grumble against God and blame Him for our circumstances, the longer He will chasten us. I know this from many years of experience. I’m still learning. I still complain. He still chastens me.

Recognize that everything you have is a gift from God, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Be grateful. Praise Him in gratitude and appreciation for what He gives you. His purpose may not always be obvious, but He knows what and who we need. And remember this - what He gives you, He can also take away. We don’t always appreciate the people or things we have until they’re gone. What follows then is regret, which never fully goes away. May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Resources

Stop Complaining, Part 1

Our red letter series continues, starting on Matthew 10 today. If you’re just joining us, and missed the previous posts in this red letter series, this link will take you back to the first post.

Today’s verses focus on Jesus’ instructions for His apostles before He sends them out to spread the gospel, heal, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons.

Jesus outlined how the apostles should conduct His ministry because it was so important to advance His kingdom in the correct, most effective way possible. I highly recommend listening to the linked sermons to gain a greater understanding of these verses.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! - Matthew 10:5-15

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Principles for an Effective Missionary, Part 1

As we close the red letter verses in Matthew 9, I would like to focus on our Lord’s compassion for His children. The number of people He healed, taught, and ministered to is untold. John ended his gospel with the following verse:

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. - John 21:25

What was captured in the four gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John was a mere fraction of everything Jesus did during His earthly ministry. Imagine how many pages the Bible would have if everything He did had been recorded and included in God’s Word!

In today’s verses, Matthew wrote, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” I can now personally relate to this verse because I have experienced the difference between having no shepherd and having THE Shepherd. Without proper biblical instruction, I was weary and lost. I didn’t know my Shepherd. I didn’t know Him until I humbled myself to know Him. My life changed after that. I was no longer weary or lost because of His compassion, mercy, comfort, and guidance. Christians must act as the laborers Jesus spoke of, leading lost sheep to the true Shepherd that Jesus is. Many who are lost don’t realize they’re on a path to the ultimate “slaughterhouse” without Him. He came into the world to save us from the consequences of our sin, and He requires us to show others the path that leads to Him. Knowing your eternal destination is of paramount importance. Nobody would ever get on a plane, train or taxi without knowing where they would wind up. Why would you continue down a path, not knowing where it leads? Why would you not do everything in your power to know what awaits you at your destination? There are only two paths - one leads to eternal life in the presence of God, and the other leads to eternal death and suffering in God’s absence.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always! ✝️🤍🙏🏻

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” - Matthew 9:35-38

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