The Narrow Gate

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those…

Reflections on Working for Christ

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat-
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Trust God; Do Good

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The Amazing Christ

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 8:27

The gospel writers must have strained under the difficulty of presenting Jesus the Messiah to the world with their words. Without the…

The First Christian Missionaries

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Matthew 10:1

To Be Known of God

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 perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

Christ Is Willing

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Matthew 8:3

Christ is the friend of sinners, the healer of broken hearts and shattered lives. “If you are willing you…

The Influence of the Removed Speck

…first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:5

Finding the faults of others is a pastime of too many of us. We can quickly size up (or…

The Miscalculated Cost

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

The Lord on Our Side

If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.

Matthew’s Call

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

Matthew 9:9

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at…

The Harvest

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his…

Growing Past Worry

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:25

The House that Stood

And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Matthew 7:25

Regardless of our station in life, our background, our hopes and aspirations…

Heart Needs

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home.

First Priority of Life

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

The antidote for worry is not merely not to worry. It is surrender to God’s authority and to His agenda. Seeking His rule…