Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, I want to live as a person of spiritual integrity. I want my life to reflect your love and righteousness. Reveal to me and take from me any hint of hypocrisy, arrogance, and self-righteousness. Make me genuinely holy, not just by grace, but also in my daily interface with others. May my life bring others to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Then Jesus said, "What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it with? God's kingdom is like the seed of the mustard plant. A person plants this seed in his garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree. The birds build nests on its branches." Jesus said again, "What can I compare God's kingdom with? It is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread. The yeast makes all the dough (bread) rise." Jesus was teaching in every town and village. He continued to travel toward Jerusalem. Someone said to Jesus, "Lord, how many people will be saved? Only a few?" Jesus said, "Try hard to enter through the narrow door {that opens the way to heaven}! Many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able to enter. If a man locks the door of his house, then you can stand outside and knock on the door, but he won't open it. You can say, 'Sir, open the door for us!' But the man will answer, 'I don't know you! Where did you come from?' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you. You taught in the streets of our town.' Then he will say to you, 'I don't know you! Where did you come from? Go away from me! You are all people that do wrong!' You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom. But you will be left outside. Then you will cry with fear and anger. People will come from the east, west, north, and south. They will sit down at the table in the kingdom of God. People that have the lowest place in life now will have the highest place in God's kingdom. And people that have the highest place now will have the lowest place in God's kingdom."

Related Scripture Readings

{Lord,} no person can see all of his own mistakes. So don't let me do secret sins. Don't let me do the sins I want to do. Don't let those sins rule me. If you help me, then I can be pure and free from my sins. I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—You are the One who saves me.

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector sitting at his place for collecting taxes. His name was Levi. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" Levi got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. Then Levi gave a big dinner for Jesus. The dinner was at Levi's house. At the table there were many tax collectors and some other people too. But the Pharisees and those men that taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to the followers of Jesus, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other bad people?" Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor. It is the sick people that need a doctor. I have not come to ask good people to change. I have come to ask bad people to change their hearts and lives!"

"So the people that have the last place now will have the first place in the future. And the people that have the first place now will have the last place in the future."