Posted on February 15, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul’s Ponder
February 15, 2026
Victor Knowles sends out a monthly report from Peace on Earth Ministries called The Knowlesletter. The following is from the February 2026 edition.
George Jones and Tammy Wynette once sang “Golden Ring”, a plaintive song about a couple in Chicago who, on a sunny summer day, stood gazing longingly at a set of golden rings on display in a tawdry pawn shop. By the time the song was over, so was the marriage…The chilling chorus includes these words: “By itself it’s just a cold metallic thing. Only love can make a golden wedding ring.”
Look close and the ring mirrors your reflection. Look closer, and the ring reflects your morals… The wedding band also stands for 12-carat purity of mind, 24-7. It encircles my mind as well as my ring finger - serving as a band to keep out impure thoughts, images and imaginations… When you slip the ring over your knuckle, the ring speaks: “Knuckle down, you knucklehead!” The wedding ring is also like a telephone ring: “Wake up! Don’t blow it! Be true to your spouse, you louse!”
I am also bound by love. I made a promise - a vow- to have and to hold, to leave all others, to cleave to her and to her only. The ring is an endless circle. It represents endless love, constant commitment that is to last for all eternity.
Like a bird, I am banded. My wedding ring covers less than ¼ inch of flesh on my wedding finger. Yet it somehow overs my entire being - body, soul, and spirit… My wedding ring says, “I love my wife, and I am loved.” I have made a promise to you before Almighty God, the Christ who loved His church, and the holy angels. I will love you forever!”
The wedding ring glints in the sunlight, gleams in the moonlight, and glows by candlelight. Hot blood flows beneath the cold band, from my heart to my hand, from her hand to her heart.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Just Pondering
Posted on February 8, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul’s Ponder
February 8, 2026
God can have a short memory. That is good for us when it is from God’s grace. Our sins are forgiven. But it can also be a detriment. Look at Ezekiel 3:16 - 21. God is preparing Ezekiel to be a watchman for the people in captivity. His job is to warn people to change from their evil lives. In Ezekiel 3:20, 21, God describes what happens when a righteous person does evil.
20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
God is talking to Ezekiel about the life of a righteous person. The righteous person does evil. They will die for their sin, even though they are righteous. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered. They have no account in this man’s salvation.
What we have done does not give us an excuse to not do anything or to turn to evil. “I have served God for 50 years, now I want to play around and enjoy what I have denied myself.” This is not a wise strategy. We must be faithful our entire life. It is important how we finish.
Jesus says something similar in Matthew 5:13:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Salt loses saltiness, it is thrown out and trampled. For we older saints, let us not grow weary in doing good. Stay faithful to the end.
Just Pondering
Posted on February 1, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul’s Ponder
February 1, 2026
“As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned against me terrors on every side. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived; those I cared for and reared my enemy has destroyed.”
Lamentations 2:22
Jeremiah lived at the time of the Babylonian captivity. He experienced the horrors of the war. He is talking about the people of God who decided not to follow God. God is long-suffering and not wanting any to perish, but when they refused to listen and to obey his word, they suffered unimaginable pain. (Lamentation 2:11, 12, 20; 3:10, 16; 4:8, 10; 5:10, 15)
My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.
They say to their mothers, “Where is bread and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers’ arms.
“Look, LORD, and consider: Whom have you ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have cared for?
Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,
he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.
He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.
Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
They had a choice. They chose to disregard God. We have a choice: Disregard God or Follow God. Our choices have consequences.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
2 Peter 3: 9, 10
Just Pondering
Posted on February 9, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
This time of year, we see a lot of emphasis on the concept of love. People spend a lot of money on candy and flowers and all sorts of stuff that are supposed to represent love, but what is love? Is it a feeling? Is it an action?
In order to get a clear understanding of what true love is, we must go to God’s word. Let’s begin in I John 4:7 - 12:
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Where does love come from?
Who has been born of God?
Who knows God?
God is ____________________?
How does God show His love?
What is love?
Since God loved us, what should we do?
What happens if we love one another?
In the New Testament, the Greek word for true love is agape. Agape is defined as a selfless, unconditional and sacrificial love. It is giving love that doesn’t depend on the other person’s actions or worthiness. It is a choice. It is a verb. It means desiring the best for others, even at a cost to oneself.
In the Old Testament, it is the word KHESED. It is defined as: a deep layered covenant love. It is often translated as “steadfast love”, “loving kindness”, or “mercy”.
It encompasses enduring commitment, loyalty, and generous action that goes beyond mere affliction. We see this word in Numbers 14:18 (ESV)
‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’
I want to look at passages today in both the Old and the New Testament that helps us better understand the purest concept of love. Let’s begin with the Old Testament in Exodus 34:6 - 7.
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
How is God described in these verses?
Who does God maintain love to?
Who does He forgive?
How does God show “tough love”?
Hosea 6:6.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
What does this passage teach us about God?
Psalm 136:1-4
1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
Why should we give thanks to God?
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
What does God require of man?
Does this require commitment to others?
Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
How are we to love God?
What does this passage teach us about our level of loyalty to God?
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
What does a friend do?
What is the contrast here in this passage?
As we move into the New Testament, the first passage we all think of that deals with love is I Corinthians 13. Let’s look at verses 4 - 8.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
What does love do?
What does love not do?
What does love not keep record of?
What does love rejoice in?
What does love always do?
What does love never do?
John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
How does God show His love?
Did HIs action require sacrifice?
John 13:34 - 35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
What is the new command?
How are we to do this?
What will our following this command show others?
Romans 12:9 - 10.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
What must love be?
What are we to cling to?
What are we to be devoted to?
What concept about love do we see in the last pat of verse 10?
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
What does “bearing with” mean?
I Corinthians 16:14
Do everything in love.
How do we do everything?
Does this require intentionality in the way we live our lives?
I Thessalonians 3:12.
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
What does Paul want the Lord to do?
Does this passage indicate that we need God’s help for our love to grow?
I Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Do you think love involves all the characteristics in this verse?
I Peter 1:1 - 2.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Who is Peter writing to?
How do we purify ourselves?
What does this process give us the ability to do?
How are we to love each other?
Sweet Sisters, in today’s lesson we have only touched the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to the subject of love in God’s word. Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love others.
Matthew 22:35 - 40.
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
We learned in I John that God is love. If we want to please God, we need to love like God. Loving God requires intentionality and purpose. It’s not a feeling, it is a deliberate action. It is not n easy task. God knew this so He gave us the holy Spirit to help us.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Romans 5:5.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
How is love “poured into our hearts”?
As we go out into our world this week, let’s love like Bob Goff suggests: “Love everybody always, starting with the ones that creep you out the most, first.”
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
Posted on January 31, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
In today’s lesson, as we look for reasons that we need not be afraid, our study takes us to I Peter 1:3 - 5.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Who do we praise?
What has He given to us?
How did He give us this gift?
Define “new birth.”
II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Define “living hope”.
Why is it a living hope?
Romans 15:13.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Where does hope come from?
What kind of inheritance has God given us?
Where is it being kept?
In verse 5, what does God do and what do we do?
God is protecting our inheritance but our “faith” is what keeps us in that protection. We are not kept by our own strength but by trusting in God’s power to keep us in that protection. What does this passage teach us about why we should not fear?
Let’s move on now to 2 Peter 1:3. (NIV)
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3 (NCV)
His divine power has bestowed on us everything that is necessary for life and for devotion through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue.
What has God’s power, through Jesus, given us?
If we have been given everything we need, do we need anything else?
How do we access this gift?
Is this passage teaching us that the better we know Jesus, the more tools we have to lead lives that reflects Him?
A disciple is one who strives to be like her master. If I am intentionally learning all I can about my “master” and striving to live like Him. What do I need to fear?
Our next stop on our tour is Jude 24 - 25. (NIV)
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24 - 25 (God’s Word Translation)
24 God can guard you so that you don’t fall and so that you can be full of joy as you stand in his glorious presence without fault. 25 Before time began, now, and for eternity glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Who is able to guard us?
What does He keep us from?
Because of God’s protection, how will we stand before Him?
Isn’t it interesting that the one who will judge us, is willing to help us so we can stand before Him with joy and without fault?
I am reminded of a teacher who helps a student to make sure they do well on a test they will be given.
In verse 25, how is God described?
Savior is defined as:
Someone who rescues you from harm or danger.
I John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
God, through Jesus, keeps us from stumbling or falling so that we can be confident when we stand before Him. Because He does this, what is He deserving of?
God is deserving of these things since time began, now, and forever more.
Our final stops in today’s lesson are found in the book of Revelation. The first one is Revelation 1:4-8.
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Who is doing the writing in this passage?
Who is he writing to?
Who is sending grace and peace?
“Seven Spirits” symbolizes the one Holy Spirit in HIS perfect, complete, and manifold work.” Seven symbolizes complete or perfection.
How is Jesus Christ described?
Who is the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood?
What has He made us?
What is He deserving of?
In verse 7, what will He do?
Who will see Him?
John is quoting from the book of Daniel. Daniel 7:13 - 14.
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Who is the Son of Man?
Who is the Ancient of Days?
I think it is fitting that we end our lesson today with Revelation 1:8.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha and Omega means the beginning and the end. Jesus was in the beginning and He will be at the end.
The Almighty is El Shaddai, God possesses supreme, unlimited power and sovereign authority over all creation, able to accomplish anything He desires and nothing can stop Him.
This name links God - the Father, Jesus - the Son, and the Holy Spirit all together. Let’s go back to what we read in verse 5. “To Him who loves us and freed us by His blood and made us to be a kingdom and priests”.
I Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Sweet Sisters, from Genesis to Revelation, we’ve learned of a God who loved us so much that there was nothing He wouldn’t do to be in a relationship with us. We’ve learned He talks to us, listens to us, protects us, guides us. All He asks, in return, is that we trust Him and honor Him the best we can.
What a great God we serve!!! “Whom shall I fear?” You tell me.
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
Posted on January 25, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
As we began this series, we talked about Jesus being “the God of angel armies” or “Lord, God Almighty”.
Zephaniah 3:17 refers to Him as “the Mighty Warrior” (NIV).
“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
In order for us to really understand why we have nothing to fear we need to understand who Jesus is. The book of Hebrews is an excellent place to go when you want to know more about Jesus. We will begin in Hebrews 1:1-4.
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
You may be familiar with this passage. I want to look at each verse carefully to make sure we understand what the writer is saying.
In verse 1, how did God speak to “our ancestors”?
Last Days - This phrase is in intentional contrast with “in the past” from verse 1. So the writer is making a contrast between now and then. He’s saying that prior to Jesus, God spoke to His people in various ways through the prophets, but now He has spoken through a Son.
- This phrase marks the transition from the Old Testament era to the new covenant, where God has delivered His final, supreme revelation through His Son, rather than through the prophets.
In verse two, what two things did God do to His Son?
What does verse 3 tell us about who God’s son is?
What does the phrase, “exact representation” mean?
This is the definition I found when I looked it up:
A depiction, description or portrayal that is truthful, precise
and faithful to the original reality.
Without distortion, bias or exaggeration
What does this phrase tell us about the relationship between God and His Son?
How does the Son sustain all things?
What did the Son provide?
What did He do when He was finished?
In verse four, what happened when He was finished?
Because of what Jesus did, he received a higher name (Son of God) and a higher position than the angels.
What was your favorite thing you learned about Jesus in the passage we just looked at?
The next passage we will look at in the book of Hebrews is 2:14 - 18.
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
In verse 14, why did Jesus need to share in the children’s humanity?
Whose power did He break?
From what does verse 15 tell us Jesus freed the children?
What do these two verses teach us teach us about God?
What do they teach us about us?
If we allow our fear of death to enslave us, what impact does that have on Jesus’ willingness to die for us?
For what two reasons did Jesus have to become fully human?
In the Old Testament, the High Priest was the mediator between God and the people. He was responsible for offering sacrifices. Jesus became the perfect, eternal High Priest, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice.
ATONEMENT is the reconciliation of sinful humanity with a holy God, primarily achieved through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Jesus’ death satisfied divine justice and restored the broken relationship between God and man.
When I first read verse 18, I had trouble connecting it to the rest of the passage. My attention was brought back to verse 17. Jesus became like us in every way. He suffered when He was tempted, just like we suffer when we are tempted so He could relate to us.
Let’s go back to Matthew 4:11 for a minute.
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Why would the angels have come and attend to Jesus if He had not been in an emotional place where He needed that comfort?
Another passage I want to look at is at the end of Jesus’ ministry. It’s found in Luke 22:39 - 44.
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
In verse 44, why did Jesus pray more earnestly?
What we have learned so far in our study in Hebrews is that the Son who was the exact representation of God, who sustains all things through His word, was willing to become human and sacrifice Himself for us so that we could, once again, have a relationship with God.
Remember in Hebrews 2:14, we learn that Jesus shared in our humanity. I take that to mean that He experienced everything that we experience. What kinds of things can you think of that the Bible tells us that Jesus experienced that we experience as well?
Hebrews 2:17 tells us that Jesus was fully human in every way. The Hebrew writer seems to really want to get this point across. He also points out that Jesus was willing to become like us so that He could be our High Priest. Remember one of the responsibilities of the High Priest was to act as a mediator or intercessor between us and God.
Because Jesus became like us and shared in our humanity, He can go to God on our behalf and say, “I know how she feels. I’ve felt what she is feeling.”
Sweet Sisters, don’t you love it when you share a struggle with a sister and she responds with, “I know exactly how you feel. I’ve experienced that too!”
Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid. I love you and I know exactly what you are going through. Let me talk to God for you.” How can I be afraid when the God of angel armies is always by my side?
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
Posted on January 4, 2026
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
Welcome to the beginning of a new year!! 2026. I believe the theme we have been studying for the past few weeks is very appropriate as we enter this new year. Whom shall I fear? What we are learning is that whatever this new year may bring, our God, is capable of guiding us through. Our God, the great I AM, is all we need.
We began our study in Genesis. Our last lesson in 2025 was from the book of Isaiah. We talked about how God loved us so much. He was willing to become a part of our world so that He could bring redemption and deliverance to us.
As we begin today’s lesson, I want us to focus not just on “whom shall we fear” but” what shall we fear?”
The first passage we will look at, comes from the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus has just taught that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. In verse 25, Jesus moves into a lesson about 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?
What is the very first word Jesus says?
Why does He use this word?
What things does Jesus tell us not to worry about?
Why?
In Matthew 6:26, Jesus illustrates His point.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
What is the illustration?
What question does Jesus ask after His illustration?
What is Jesus telling us about how God feels about us?
Matthew 6:27
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Jesus asks a question. What is it?
Are we in control?
Jesus continues in Matthew 6:28 - 30 to again illustrate His point.
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
I find the way Jesus ends this passage very interesting. What question does Jesus ask?
Jesus ties worry and faith together.
Jesus begins verse 31 with the word “so”.
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Why do you think He does this?
Jesus answers this question in Matthew 6:32.
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
What do pagans do?
I learned that the word “and” in this passage can also be translated as “for”, “because” or “but”. Jesus is contrasting how the world thinks verses how those who trust Jesus think.
What instruction does Jesus give to those who want to follow Him in Matthew 6:33?
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
How do we “seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness”?
Jesus brings this lesson on worry all down to one concept in Matthew 6:34.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Do you think Jesus is telling us to “live in the moment”?
I wonder how much joy and beauty we miss out on that God is trying to bless us with because we are focused on “worldly things” instead of “spiritual things”. Maybe, as we begin this new year, we could strive to live each day to the fullest, trusting God to handle whatever comes up.
In the second half of today’s lesson, I want to look at two passages in Matthew 9. The first one is in Matthew 9:1-8.
9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 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.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26 also tell this story. They both add to the story that the friends of the man lowered him down through a hole that they made in the roof.
Why did Jesus decide to heal the man?
Please don’t miss this really important statement that Jesus is making. Jesus has the power to forgive sins! It doesn’t matter what you have done! If you come to Jesus believing that He has the power to heal and forgive you, He will! I do not need to be afraid of my past. Jesus has the power to forgive and heal. Jesus wanted the people in the passage in Luke 9 to know this and He wants us to know this.
Our second passage in Matthew 9 is found in verses 20 - 22.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48, also tell this story as well.
We learn in their accounts that this woman had suffered much because of her illness. She had spent a lot of money trying to find healing. Also, because of Jewish religious laws, she was an outcast in her society. She was risking so much by even being in this crowd. This is one of my favorite passages in all of the Gospels.
In verse 21, what does the woman say to herself?
What does this statement say about her faith?
How does Jesus respond to her action?
Jesus looks into the heart of this terribly broken woman. He sees the deep trust she has that He can heal her. He not only heals her, He calls her “daughter”. She is the only woman in all of Jesus’ ministry that He refers to as daughter. How do you think that must have made her feel?
What message do you think it sent to those around her?
Sweet Sisters, one again we see that Jesus (God) honors radical, risk taking faith. Whom or what should I fear? God has all power and authority to heal and to forgive sins!
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
