In Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Moses gives a very strong message to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.  He reminds them that they should remember that the commandments came from "the Lord thy God" and that wherever they go they should keep them, teach them, and fear the Lord, that their lives and their son's son days be prolonged.  In verse 5, Moses repeats the number one commandment, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."  Can you do this?  Some think that good works will cancel their sin and secure them a place in heaven, yet they fall short of putting God first.  They do not teach the most important commandment to their children.  Being a worthy follower of Jesus Christ, our Lord, is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year job.  And, just as important is teaching this to our children, grandchildren, and anyone else we encounter in life.  If you are only focused on the things and rituals of faith, you memorialze a dead faith.  Don't put your faith in a little box, but live it daily and memorialize it for those you meet in your life.  Incorporate your faith into everything you do and everywhere you go.  What kind of legacy are you leaving?  

Matthew 6:12 . . And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  What a powerful message!  There are three points that we need to study here.  First, the situation . . . We are sinners.  Second, the solution . . . We need forgiveness by the blood of Jesus.  And, third, the stumbling block . . . We must forgive others.  Our sin is actually a debt to God first, but it can also be a debt to others.  How big is your sin debt to God?  Becoming a Christian does not erase your sin, but it becomes more apparent.  God knows all your sins.  When you trust Jesus as your savior, God will see it as the blood of Jesus and He will passover your guilt.  He accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for your sin debt.  It is something you have to work on for the rest of your life.  For us to receive God's forgiveness we must first forgive others.  Kingdom Citizens have total dependence on God and without Jesus we have nothing, but with Him we have EVERYTHING.

In Matthew 6:11, we are given a few short words that have enormous meaning.  "Give us this day our daily bread," says much more than we realize.  "Wants" and "Needs" are NOT the same.  "Bread" is symbolic of all our physical needs.  God, our Father, furnishes ALL our needs.  But, He has intended for us to work since the beginning.  Being a child of God has its privileges, yet we are expected to work.  Don't confuse your NEEDS for what you may simply WANT.  Put your trust in God for all your needs.   

In Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus gives us words that we can use to pray to God.  There are four main points to consider when we pray.  First, we need to acknowledge our relationship with God.  He is Our Father.  He doesn't owe us anything, but as our "Daddy" ("Abba" in Aramaic), He wants to bless us as a loving Father.  Second, we need to recognize our reaponsibility to uphold God's reputation.  The first four of the ten comandments were dedicated to our obligation to put God first.  We have become very casual in our references to God.  However, we should uphold God's name and keep it Holy.  Third, we need to remember that we are a part of God's realm/kingdom.  He should reign in the hearts of believers and seek to build His kingdom, The Kingdom of Heaven.  And, finally, we need to recognize God's right to rule in our lives.  God reigns with Absolute Sovereignty. Bottom line...WHO is on the throne of your life?  Are you willing to say, "God please run my life."  Do you surrender ALL?

In Matthew 6:5-13, Jesus is preaching "the sermon on the mount".  About half way into this sermon, he begins to discuss how to pray.  And in his special way, he is also telling people to NOT pray like the hypocrites who mainly seek attention for themselves.  He does not condemn public prayer or the posture one takes when praying, but those who pray hypocritically.  Hypocritical prayer carries with it the INTENTION of ATTENTION.  Rather, Jesus would have you to pray to be heard by God, to develop your close intimate relationship with God, and build your faith in God as the One to turn to for every need you have.  In verses 9 through 13, Jesus gives you an example of a prayer to God, commonly called "The Lord's Prayer".

Ezekiel 37:1-14 tells us about the prophecy that he encountered in the valley of dried bones.  It was a place of misery, death, and bones, not buried but laying there.  A very mysterious place, but yet giving a sign from God.  When God instructed Ezekiel on what to say, the bones miraculously rose up with sinews and flesh, and when commanded, God breathed the breath of life into them creating a great army.  This was a message for Israel, but it is also a message for us today.  As God gave life-giving breath to Adam in Genesis, we are called to let the Holy Spirit breath into us and refresh us with His Spirit.  Without the breath of life that God has given us through Jesus Christ, we are as a walking dead person.  WE cannot do enough, but Jesus Christ DID enough.

Finishing up Philippians, Chapter 4, Verses 10-23, gives us a perspective of how Paul endured his situation and was able to encourage others to be of like mind.  This letter to the believers at Philippi is full of Joy and Thanks.  At the end of the letter Paul expressed his gratitude for the support they have given him.  He lets them know that through the gifts they give him that they are truly the recipients of a greater gift.  In verse 11 he tells the church that he has learned to be content in whatever state he is in.  His level of contentment is not based on his circumstances, but rather comes from God's gift of His son, Christ Jesus.  He reminds us that we are all God's children and that our Father will supply all we really need.  And what is Paul's secret weapon?  We find it in verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."  If only we could all follow that kind of example which leads to peacefulness!

In Luke 23:50-24:12 we hear an account of Jesus burial and the discovery of His resurrection on the third day.  These events were prophesied in several places in the Old Testament, as in Isaiah 53.  However, resurrection is not just an event, but it is an invasion of Satan's domain and shows us the Sovereignty of God.  Everything happens as a result of God's plan.  There is no doubt that Jesus died on the cross.  The pain and suffering were real and documented.  He was laid in a rich man's tomb, Joseph of Arimathea, who believed Jesus was the Messiah whom they had for so long awaited.  And even though Jesus had told them what would happen, the women and apostles could barely believe that the tomb was empty on the third day.  They would soon find out that Jesus was very much alive and had risen from the grave. 

In Luke 23:32-43, what happened on the cross is prophecy becoming history.  There are two points I would like to ponder.  

First point:  As Luke tells the story of the last moments of Jesus's life, we are presented with the pronoun "they".  Who are "they"?  "They" crucified Him.  Jesus asked His Father to forgive "them".  Truth be known, "EVERYONE" is "they".  We are all the ones who sacrificed Jesus.  As a perfect sinless sacrifice, Jesus underwent a very painful death.  Yet, by that act, we are all forgiven.  And as Jesus forgave all, so must we forgive all.

Second Point:  There were two "bad guys" on either side of our Savior.  One who mocks Jesus, and the other who finds Jesus blameless, not deserving of this punishment.  In His response to the one who wants Jesus to remember him, Jesus gives us insight into what happens after death.  This criminal had faith that Jesus is Lord.  And Jesus tells the faithful one, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."   Yet, while we all are guilty of being sinners, when we confess and commit to Jesus, it is enough.   

In Philippians 4:8-9 Paul gives us the qualities upon which we should think in order to be more Godly people.  These are things that should always be in our minds and hearts in every waking moment.  Paul tells us that we should think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and are of good report; "if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things."  We are to follow the example that Paul has given us by what we have learned, heard, and seen in him, that is what we should do.  In our lives, we will do what we think or meditate on the most.  Unfortunately, living in an earthly world, we often think about things that pull us away from Godliness.  Our actions are a result of the thoughts we are thinking.  Do we meditate on the Word of God as much as we should?  Whose example am I following?  What example am I setting for others?  Spending more time with and meditating on the Word of God found in the Bible will set us on the right path.