Matthew – Fulfilled
Have you ever lost something that was so valuable to you that you felt physically sick? Maybe it was a precious object that was passed down to you from generations. This object tied you to them somehow so you enjoyed looking at it and thinking of them. But now it is lost. What do you do? You probably stop what you are doing and look for it. You search until every box is emptied, every nook and cranny in your home is scanned and every piece of furniture moved around until you find it. You worry and fret until that object is found. Losing a friendship is even worse.
We are the objects of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Our relationship with God means everything to Him. He loves us so much, that if we were lost, He would look for us. He loves you and I so much that He died for us. He loves you and I so much that He wants us to love each other like He loves us.
When we finally get it together and really understand and live this kind of love, He will show up and be right in the middle of our thoughts and converstations. In fact, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth, and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” Wow…meditate on these profound assurances…take all the time you need.
Matthew 18, The Message
(The MEssage…meant for me. How about you?)
Work It Out Between You
12-14 “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.
15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.
18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us so much it hurt. Thank you for searching for me until you found me. Thank you for not letting me go. Thank you for being there. Always. And forever.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 