Tag: scripture

Posted in Devotions

Matthew 19 part 1–The Pain of Divorce

Posted on by Michael Smith

The more things change, the more they remain the same.  The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with one of those real controversial issues of then and now—Divorce. Since Adam and Eve–marriage has remained under attack.  The enemy used sin to divide husband and wife at the beginning and continues to do so today.  The enemy has used strife, sexual immorality, social relativism and “tolerance” to so skew the lines that today as in Sodom and Gomorra, Greece and Rome the world has scrapped what a family is and replaced it with what people wish it to be.

Divorce inside and outside the church has broken many great people.  Praise God that he can restore the broken hearts.  He can bless new families that are committed to following him. As in Moses time, God allowed divorce then and does so now—but he hates it.  It is devastating and life altering.  He would rather see us cling to the covenant in all circumstance. He does continue to love his kids even after they have been broken.

As husbands, we need to love our wives and be the servant leader called for in Ephesians 5.  We need to be faithful in both word and deed. Our kids need to say of us—My dad loved my Mom and he loved us! Dads must be centered on God and his word and in prayer daily for wives and kids.  Wives must hold the family together as the chief of operations.  They have to turn the unruly group into a family and the house into a home. Most importantly, couples have to think and act as one. They are a united front against the world, its culture and the trials of parenting, finances and health.

Thank You, Lord for my wife—help her to remain secure in your love, my devotion and the plan you have prepared for us.

God Bless You

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. 2 Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick.

3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’[a]” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’[b] 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?”[c] they asked.

8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful

Posted in Devotions

Matthew 4 part 1–The Battle Begins

Posted on by Michael Smith

Jesus did not take lightly the task before him. He was led by the spirit into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days. What an enormous burden—as a human, stripped of his power and Godly authority, Jesus now faced the enemy for a full on battle. There is so much to grab. First- Jesus fasted for 40 days—what a commitment and sacrifice. But it was also a time of clarity– Jesus did not underestimate the enemy, instead he prepared.
Next, The actual battle was not significantly different than ours. Satan tempted Jesus with the lust of flesh—turn the stone to bread; the lust of the eyes—I will give you all this if you will simply bow down; and the pride of life—Jump, God won’t allow anything happen to YOU, you are the chosen one. We, like the Lord, have the tools to walk away, prayer, scripture and the knowledge that the enemy will never provide anything that God has not already prepared for us. We simply need to be patient and submit to his leadership.
Finally, Jesus had the word so engrained in his thought, that battling was easy—Jesus had answered the questions well prior to Satan’s test. We have to know and commit to the right direction well prior to being tempted. We do this through his word and prayer. We build accountability and fellowship in our lives so we need not face the battle alone. Then we cling to the promise of his provision and protection and simply employ the word as a weapon and a shield in our lives—The battle is clearly not an easy one. It requires preparation, recognition and fortification. Help me Lord to employ those in my life.
God Bless You
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him