a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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If you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15
“If your fellow believer sins against you, go and tell him in private what he did wrong. If he listens to you, you have helped that person to be your brother or sister again. But if he refuses to listen, go to him again and take one or two other people with you. ... If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, then treat him like a person who does not believe in God or like a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-16
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 |
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February 22
Righteousness! - Matthew 5:23-24
“So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift."
Full Text
Key Thought
When we come face to face in worship, we are forced to recognize that we only stand before God as righteous and acceptable to him because of his forgiveness, mercy, and grace. How dare we try to worship him and receive this forgiveness, mercy, and grace when we are not in a good place with others in our Kingdom family!
There is an incredible consistency throughout Scripture about God wanting us to be right with each other if we are going to be right with him. The Ten Commandments have four commands that focus on the Lord and six that focus on our relationships with each other. The prophets empashize that God hates the worship of those who mistreat or exploit others. Jesus emphasized that we could not be forgiven if we are unforgiving. He even says that we will be judged by the same standard we judge others. No matter how moving, how inspiring, how "spiritual," our worship may seem, if we harbor evil against each other or have harmed another in our Kingdom family and not tried to reconcile, God will not accept our worship.
Today's Prayer
Merciful Father, forgive me for harboring grudges, saying unkind things, and being insensitive to the hurts I have caused to your children. I relinquish any grievance and give up any claim against my brothers and sisters in Christ and pledge to live with them in your Kingdom in a way that reflects your mercy and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
21 “You have heard that it was said to our people long
ago, ‘You must not murder anyone. Anyone who murders
another will be judged.’ 22 But I tell you, if you are
angry with a brother or sister, you will be judged. If you say
bad things to a brother or sister, you will be judged by the
council. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger
of the fire of hell. Top
of Page
23 “So when you offer your gift
to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister
has something against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar.
Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your
gift.
25 “If your enemy is taking you to court, become friends
quickly, before you go to court. Otherwise, your enemy might
turn you over to the judge, and the judge might give you to a
guard to put you in jail. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not
leave there until you have paid everything you owe.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
Used by permission.
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