Day 276

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A depiction of the Sermon on the Mount

Scripture

October 2—Matthew 5-7: Words of the Christ

Observation

The Sermon on the Mount, which you will read today, is really ten "sermonettes" in one! Together, they give a picture of the lifestyle of a true subject of the kingdom—a lifestyle that demonstrates by precept and example the pattern of the Christ. There is a path of true happiness to be followed (5:1-12) and a path of destruction to be avoided (7:13-27). There is a right way and a wrong way to pray, fast, give and live (chapter 6). In short, there is a kind of righteousness" that is self-justifying and hypocritical—and another that is God-honoring and sincere.

Application

What was the longest sermon you ever heard? Could it compare with the marathon message delivered by Clinton Locy of West Richland, Washington, who in 1955 preached nonstop for more than forty-eight hours?

A sermon needn't be ponderous to be potent. Jonah brought the city of Nineveh to its knees with a "sermonette" of less than ten words (Jonah 3:4). And Jesus used only 107 verses (5:3-7:27) to deliver powerful nuggets of truth on happiness, adultery, murder, forgiveness, divorce, oaths, retribution, hypocrisy, prayer, fasting and much more. This one passage from God's Word has enough applications wrapped up in it to last you the rest of the year, if not the rest of your life!

Get a three-by-five index card and on one side write a verse from today's section that grips your heart. On the other side, complete this sentence: "On the basis of this verse, Christ is calling on me today to [what?], and with His help, "I will!" That's how to translate a spoken sermon into a living one!

Prayer

Dear God, please grant us a compassionate and sympathetic heart for people. We want our prayers for others to flow from a heart overflowing with compassion. For we are filled with the deep needs and distress of people who are unable to help themselves. We want to be like Jesus who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love and we want the world to see that He is the way and He is what they need to overcome this world to enter eternity. Thank you, Jesus, for such a great love! In your precious name we pray! Amen! 




© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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