Author: mary

Matthew 7:28-29 tells us, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.” The teachers of religious law did not have the authority of God, so they were not able to speak with such authority. Jesus, however, had all of God’s authority to speak about such things. That authority amazed the crowds. At this point, the Pharisees did not believe that he had the authority of God, while his followers did.

This is still true today. There are many who do not believe he has the authority of God and do not believe his words. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, then you are saying that you do believe that he is who he says he is and that he has the authority of God. The crowds were amazed at his teaching. For many, this was probably the first time they were experiencing his teachings and words. For others, they were getting to hear the man they had read so much about and knew was the Son of God. Are you amazed at who he is today? If you aren’t, then spend some time with him today.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock,” Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-25. A house can only stand if it has a strong foundation. If it is built on a strong foundation, then when the extreme weather comes, it will continue to stand. Our faith is the same way. If it is built on salvation in Jesus Christ, then when the tragedies strike, they will not tear it off of its foundation. It will forever be connected to Jesus Christ.

We must remain connected to Jesus everyday. We can be connected to Christ by spending time in the Word everyday and time in prayer as well. We must study his Word to get to know him better, and we must communicate with him through prayer. Just as a light does not turn on unless it is connected to its source, so is the Christian. He or she cannot be the light for Christ unless connected to the source, the Savior himself.

Jesus spoke some of the most difficult words in scriptures in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” I have known people throughout the years whose faith looked no different than the world’s. I have known others who made their acts of service more important than anything else. Still others who think their works will save them from destruction.

Jesus makes it very clear here that salvation through him is the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven. They are in the will of God. Works cannot save you, nor can church attendance. He will say, “I never knew you.”Our acts of service come out of our gratefulness for the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. He inspires us to do good.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-20 in the Sermon on the Mount, “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” In this Christian life, not everyone can be identified as Christians producing good fruit. All of us produce fruit. Those who are connected to Christ produce good fruit that is pleasing to God, while those who deny Christ by their words or actions produce bad fruit.

As Christians, we want to produce good fruit that the world will see. We want them to know that the things of God are good. Those who do not know him will not be able to produce good fruit and will produce fruit that affects the world. Sometimes we look no different than the world. We must strive to live differently.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it,” Matthew 7:13-14 states. What does Jesus mean here when he refers to the narrow gate and the wide gate? If you think about this logically, it will help. Have you ever been to a large event where you had to wait in line? Maybe it was to take a ride at an amusement park. Those lines can belong. Anytime you have people entering through the same gate there will be a long line of people, and the wait can last a long time. Most sporting events have many gates to enter through or even a wide gate where many people can enter at the same time. It is definitely easier to enter through a wide gate than a narrow gate. The wide gate represents the world. Many choose to follow the ways of the world. There is little persecution when you look like everyone else.

The narrow gate represents the Christian life and following Jesus. Few will enter because it is much more difficult and will include some persecution. However, nothing that comes easy is usually as rewarding. Hard work reaps the most blessings and rewards, and the Christian life is just that, both a blessing and a reward.