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BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 5: 21-26

21. ” You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22. “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
23. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24. “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25. “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26. “Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. MESSAGE:
    While teaching on reconciliation, Jesus stated that when someone brings his gift (offerings, tithe, etc.), to the altar and remembers that his brother has something against him, he should leave the gift there and go reconcile with his brother first. Thereafter, he should return and offer his gift. Jesus also taught that to avoid judgment, one should reconcile with an accuser while still on the way to the law court.

It is easier to quarrel than to reconcile because human ego plays as negative role. One starts to consider who the guilty party was. One starts to struggle within one who should first say sorry. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He desires His children to always make peace even if they are wronged. Joseph showed that to his brothers. Despite the great offence to him in their selling him to slavery, he still forgave and reconciled with them. Even when his brothers entertained fear that Joseph would retaliate after the death of their father, he re-assured them of his total forgiveness. Who do you feel has offended you? Please take the advice of Jesus today – drop your gift at the altar and go and reconcile with that person. Then, you will be the child of your heavenly father (Matt. 6:45a).

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, may You give me the spirit of reconciling with those I have offended or who have offended me.

Daily Fountain Quote of the Day

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13-14)

Remain Lifted!

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.’” Luke 15:20 NKJV

Our text today is from the parable of the prodigal son who sought to receive his inheritance from his father, with a plan to travel to a distant land where he squandered it on various activities. By this request and subsequent action, this young man displayed a rebellious nature of wanting to live independently of his father’s will. This is the position that many of us find ourselves in today, even as Christians.

Unfortunately, a famine hit the land after he was done wasting his resources, and he found himself in a pigs’ pen where he had to eat the same meal with them to survive. Then, after he came to himself, he decided to return to his father, whom he had abandoned, but not as a son, but as a servant.

While the prodigal son was still afar of, his father sighted him and ran to receive him. What does that tell you? The father had been expecting the return of his son. He was always on the lookout for him; that was why he could recognize him from a great distance. Put on your imagination: The young man must have been battered, having suffered from the famine and stressed from his journey. Even in that deplorable state, the father still ran to meet him and embraced him, out of compassion.

According to the Jewish law and culture, it was forbidden and very disgraceful for a father to run in that manner. Following the tradition of the day, the son would have been welcomed to a ceremony of shame because of what he had done. But rather than allow that, his father reached out to him in love, and extended grace to him, even when the law condemned him. Even with all his filth, the father still embraced and kissed him. Oh what manner of love! This is how God loves us in spite of our mess.

Further Reading: Luke 15:11-24
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 15-16; Evening- Matthew 27:1-26

BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 5: 33-37

33. ” Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34. “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35. “nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36. “Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
37. “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. MESSAGE:
    Jesus taught against swearing. He forbids swearing by anything by heaven because it is the throne of God or earth because it is God’s footstool. He enjoins us that our yes should be yes and our no, no. Jesus practised the life of transparency throughout His ministry on earth. Samuel stood before all Israelites and their new King, Saul, and asked them to say publicly whom he had defrauded while discharging his duties as a Prophet. The people answered, “no one” (1 Sam. 12:1-4). What a man!

Through swearing, people want to prove their innocence. When we were growing up, to prove we were telling the truth, we would spit on one of our fingers, rub it on the ground, touch our tongue, raise the finger and declare/shout, ‘truth to God!’ Once you did this, you were discharged and acquitted. Thank God that He did not strike us down because most of us swore in lies. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6) and when you encounter Him, you will not struggle to tell the truth in any situation. Whenever you encounter others, they will believe whatever you tell them. Even in secular gatherings, believers are usually entrusted with money because of their integrity. Are you among those that tell the truth? Can people believe what you say? Society is looking for truthful persons. May we as Christians, be found by society to be truthful!

PRAYER:
Oh Lord, help me to always tell the truth. Amen.

Daily Fountain Quote of the Day

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me. O Lord, You have brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit … For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:2,5)

Good morning sir/ma.

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” Romans 12:11 KJV

Don’t allow the devil lie to you. You are God’s ambassador and His powerhouse. You are God’s authorized agent on earth. Yes, challenges may come as you navigate through the banana peels of life but you will come out victorious! By virtue of the price that has been paid on your behalf, you can never be stranded in life. However, we must never trivialize our relationship with God. That is why prayer is important. That we operate under grace does not mean we are no longer going to pray, worship or even fast; those are the things that test your understanding of God and assist you in your walk with God.

Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from serving God consistently. You must keep your enthusiasm alive in order for you to possess what God has made available for you. When you are not getting the results you’re expecting and believing for, check your enthusiasm and your pursuit. As the race gets tougher, never get casual with God. Rather, choose to be consistent. You are not worshipping God to make Him God; you are worshipping Him because He is God already. With or without you, He is God and He does not actually need you for anything. It is a privilege to have Him as your God. So, when God is telling you to get involved in whatever He is doing, it is rather for your good. He is complete all by Himself.

That circumstance will not be the end of you. I am standing in faith with you that with your eyes, you will see the manifestation of everything you have believed God for. Let the tempest rage and let the billows toss high, God’s plan and purpose for you will be established. The covenant keeping God will keep you and no evil will come near your dwelling place. Only with your eyes shall you behold the recompense of the wicked. Take your eyes away from impossibilities and set your eyes on the finished work of Christ.

Further Reading: Romans 12:1-21
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 13; Evening- Matthew 26:26-50