Prelude: James 1:19; Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
With this directive from God, let it serve as the backdrop for the following lessons from Matthew.
Matthew 16:26a; And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?
How much time, money, focus, and effort to we spend on things of this world? If we are not careful, we will seek to win something of this world. God has called us to seek Him first. to love Him above all else. to keep our focus on Him.
So why do we live like we do as garden variety American Christians? Let's refocus on God and not the world.
Matthew 17:26b; ...if you have the faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, move from here to there and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.
Let me recommend the book Mead Mountain by B K Del. It might give you a fresh look at this verse.
Matthew 18:12; If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hill and go out to search for the one that is lost.
I need no other illustration of God's love for me. just me. and just you!
Matthew 19:25; The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked.
Matthew 19:26; Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.
Am I listening? It is not the church! It is not the preacher! It is not the type of songs at Worship!
It is God and God alone who saves!!
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