January 24, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Ask, and It Will Be Given 

Jesus’s Words:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, seek, knock. In other words, pray, pray, pray. Do you get the feeling that Jesus wants us to be constant in prayer? Pray, fast, and if you want something, ask! We ask God for a lot of things, but some things might not be good for us, so you can expect those prayers to go unanswered. He can see where they lead, and it may not be healthy for us. However, don’t stop asking, keep knocking at his door, and pester Him. He would rather hear you begging than not hear from you at all. It might take a while, but He will eventually answer you. I’ve had childhood prayers answered as an adult, things that I never fathomed He would ever answer, and they were big prayers for material things, not just spiritual things. Ask for it, even if it seems outlandish, because you never know God’s intentions for your life, and it’s better if you’ve asked for it before He gives it to you, because then you will recognize His provision. 

January 23, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Judging Others

Jesus’s Words:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. Luke 6:40

Occasionally, you will find yourself in a situation that calls for discernment. When you think all is well, the enemy will rear his ugly head and show you the truth. It can be a good thing because even though the sorting process is painful and the burning off of the dross seems like a loss, it isn't; pure gold is showing itself clean and pure, and the only loss is the trash that shouldn't have been there in the first place. Are we part of the dross? Let's hope not. We don't always know the whole truth about what causes a breakdown; all we know is how we should react to it. We must be careful not to act as a judge in this situation, because, believe me, we have no right to judge someone's character when we have issues with our own. God help the people who place themselves in the position of a righteous judge when they are barely wet behind the ears, still feasting on milk, and haven't even started on solid food. The gist of this is to be careful; if you aren't 100% free of any unrepentant, ongoing sin, you have no right to judge anyone, and even if you're squeaky clean, you will look like a Pharisee or a Sadducee if you sit in the place of judgment. No one wants to be compared to them.  Jesus is our judge; let him sort out the details. He is the only one righteous enough to sit in that position.

January 22, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Do Not Be Anxious 

Jesus’s Words:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:33-34

Anxiety is probably one of the everyday things that we've all dealt with at some point in our lives. It doesn't take much to set it in motion and cause us to overthink our situation, and yet we cannot always control the outcome, even though we may try, which in turn causes us more anxiety. Jesus wants us to let it go, live in peace, and trust him. One thing I practice that helps me let go is thinking through to the worst-case scenario, which for me might be jail or death. Jail might be bad, but death wouldn't be bad because of my salvation. After I get that out of my head, I can forget about it because it is unlikely my worst-case scenario will happen. All we need is Jesus, so if our entire life is torn apart, but we still have Jesus, and he has promised never to leave or forsake us, then we have it all. Living with someone anxious is a different story; they can cause you stress if you don't react to their anxiety the way they think you should; keep your peace anyway because you can't control their feelings; that's Jesus's job. Things happen in God's time, so there's nothing you can do about it anyway, so you may as well keep your peace.

January 21, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Lay Up Treasures in Heaven 

Jesus’s Words:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20-21

What are some of the treasures you can store in heaven? Though they have little value here on earth, they may be a currency that gains significant interest in the kingdom of heaven. Paul lays this idea out very nicely to the Galatians in this verse:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Jesus speaks well for himself and doesn’t need Paul to clarify his commands, but to give us more context in this matter and provide extra substance to his words, we can see that the fruits of the Spirit are a commodity worth trading in and collecting as our treasure for the kingdom of heaven. We have no choice but to deal in earthly treasure; otherwise, we couldn’t eat or have a shelter. However, if you want something that has lasting value, collect the fruits of the Spirit; they are more valuable than anything else and are approved by Jesus as a treasure that won’t rust or devalue. These spiritual fruits should be easy for the Christ-follower to collect and store in heaven, and they line up perfectly with the godly life we should all be leading. 

January 20, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Fasting

Jesus’s Words:

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:18

As with giving and praying, fasting shouldn’t be a spectacle or observable by men. Fasting is a private thing between you and God. Once you make others aware of what you are doing, it loses its meaning, and you receive no reward. However, if you do it right, keep it private, God will reward you openly. Fasting is good for you and should be practiced often. It gives your body time to reset, burn off the bad cells, and replace them with new cells, a process called autophagy. It clears out the waste and helps to renew your mind. The sad thing is that you don’t hear much about fasting from the pulpit, even though it is an essential part of being a Christ-follower. If it weren’t important, Jesus wouldn’t have mentioned it. You don’t have to go full bore to begin with; start small and work your way up to total food elimination. You might start by cutting out sugar or bread, and if successful, the next time you eliminate more. Another way to fast is intermittent fasting, where you skip meals and eat only once a day; it’s not that hard, and eventually you’ll get used to it. You will realize that God stands right beside you as you walk out this discipline. You will be surprised at how clear His voice becomes, and you hear Him like never before. Don’t dismiss something because you don’t understand it; look it up; there’s plenty of information out there that will help get you started. 

January 19, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus’s Words:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus gave us a beautiful prayer. I pray his prayer daily, and when my words aren’t there, I offer him back his own. God expects us to meet with Him privately, not with long-winded prayers that drag out the content to be heard. It’s better to get to the point rather than make our prayer a show. Think about children, when they need something, they don’t give you a song and dance, they tell you straight, I’m hungry, or my head hurts. Our Father expects us to meet with Him like a child to a parent. When my heart is heavy, sometimes words aren’t enough, but my tears reach heaven quicker than any other expression. 

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. Psalms 39:12

The point of this scripture is to be real because God sees you as you are. Remember that trying to impress others who are just dust and ashes like you is futile. God is our source, not others.

January 18, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Giving To The Needy

Jesus’s Words:

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:3-4

Obviously, you use social media, or otherwise you wouldn’t see my devotional. So, you know as well as I do that there are people who video their giving to the underprivileged and tout it to anyone who watches. It is those people who receive all their reward right here on earth, and whatever treasure they would have had was eaten up by their need for notoriety rather than actually helping people in need. Personally, I like watching those videos and seeing how people receiving a handful of cash react to having their lives changed. However, God sees it differently: He wants us to give in secret, not put it on display for the world to see. Like prayer and fasting, it is our duty to give, but we must do it from the heart and not be compelled by the reward. Those who see your giving will provide you with praise, but when you keep it secret, God, whom I would rather receive my reward from, will reward you openly. It doesn’t get any better than that. Give from your heart, but don’t tell anyone, and watch how God works that out in your life. 

January 17, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Love Your Enemies 

Jesus’s Words:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:43-44

We are the children of our Father and must strive to be like Him. It’s easy to love those who love you, but it is more courageous and rewarding to love your enemies. This command can be tough, especially when you’ve been mistreated, and all you want to do is lash out or treat them the way they treated you. Not only are we to love them, but we are also to pray for them. If you must look at it in a way that makes you feel like you’re getting back at them, think of it this way: with every prayer or piece of help you give them, it’s like putting hot coals on their head. 

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. Proverbs 25:21-22

We must be kind, even to our enemies. The reward will be beyond measure, and they will be held accountable for any damage they’ve caused us. God sees and knows all the trouble we faced and will recompense the wickedness we’ve had to deal with. 

January 16, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Oaths

Jesus’s Words:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Matthew 5:34-35

Jesus is talking about oaths, not foul language, in this passage. You should refrain from using foul language, but in this case, it means to swear to God or the earth, or even your head. Jesus is expanding on the third commandment:

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Numbers 30:2

Don't do it, just don't do it! We are very weak people, and something new comes along that sends us down a different path, maybe one we like better, and that's it; we break our oath. You've heard it said, "I swear to God this is true." I immediately think they are lying, and now they have broken a commandment and will suffer the consequences of their action. God takes oaths seriously, so if you decide to make one with Him, you had better be ready to keep it.  

January 15, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Divorce

Red Letters - Jesus’s Words

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

I looked up other verses and dug into the Greek wording and definitions because this is one of those hard-to-swallow passages for many. Especially with these verses and others in Matthew 19, I believe he was showing us how hard it is to keep the commandments. We can do our best, but it’s impossible. Infidelity is probably the least of our worries about a bad marriage; physical and mental abuse are as much, if not more, reason to walk away from a marriage. I would rather subject my body to the sin of adultery than stay married to an adulterer or abuser. I know that many people put up with such nonsense, and my heart goes out to them, though I know that Jesus comforts them as they live their lives that way, but because of his sacrifice, we don’t have to. He’s telling those listening to his sermon that if they want to get into heaven without him, which he knows is impossible, they would have to live a life entirely without sin. This information does not give you a license to go out and divorce your spouse, but it does provide some comfort for those who already have, or are living in an adulterous or abusive marriage, and are trying to hang on for dear life because of these words. Remember, Jesus is so forgiving and will mark your trespasses as “not guilty” when you stand before him in judgment.

January 14, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Lust

The way Jesus exposes the scripture is far beyond what I’ve learned from teachers in the past. Though I’ve read it many times, I’ve never linked his sermon to the commandments. The portion of Jesus’s sermon about lust directly correlates with the seventh commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery. He makes it very clear that lusting after someone who’s not yours corrupts the mind. But, here is the kicker, you will pay for the lust of your mind with your body. He says it is better to cut off the part of your body that sins rather than send your whole body to hell. If you don’t understand what that means, it means that just desiring someone other than your spouse is the sin of adultery. The enemy has definitely seared our minds when it comes to the adultery commandment by making us believe that it’s okay to look upon another’s body and desire it as long as we don’t act upon it. He takes it a step further, making it even harder to obey. Control your emotions! Satan knows how to entice people into hell by flaunting gorgeous people on television and in the movies. Don’t fall for his cunning schemes. Focus on Jesus, and those desires will likely disappear. 

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

January 13, 2026

The Sermon On the Mount: Anger

Did you know that Jesus associates unjust anger with the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill? Being mad at someone for a mistake or something unintentional crosses that line and deserves the same punishment as a murderer. Here are his words:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:22

Jesus doesn’t even want to hear from you until you’ve made amends. The term brother could mean anyone, especially someone inferior, such as a child or an employee. This portion of scripture, Jesus’s words, reminds us that we should control our reactions and not venture into spiritual killing in our hearts with our words. Demeaning someone because they aren’t on point or cross into “your lane” by mistake doesn’t deserve your anger; Jesus is very clear about that. I know many Christ-followers who need to listen to this teaching and take it to heart. There is such a thing as righteous anger, and Jesus used it on occasion, but he knew where the line was drawn. We aren’t as righteous as he was, so proceed carefully if you intend to use that as an excuse for bad behavior. Control your reactions, because the punishment of anger could be the same as murder.

January 12, 2026

The Sermon On the Mount: Fulfilling The Law

Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Law of Moses. He was the perfect example; he showed us the way it was supposed to be done. Not only did he say he came to fulfill the law, but he said that until heaven and earth pass away, the law is still in place. He also says that anyone who breaks one of them or teaches people that it’s okay to break them will be least in the kingdom of heaven. Are we to ignore what Jesus said and listen to those who tell us we don’t have to keep the law? Read it for yourself. I copied and pasted the words of the King James Version of the Bible, and these are printed in red, indicating that they are Jesus’s words.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them,the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19

Though he fulfilled the law, heaven and earth haven’t passed away; we’re still residing here. What am I missing? Not only did he teach us to follow the law, but he made it clear and even stricter. I’m a rule follower, and I know I’ve broken some of them. Knowing the truth of the scripture, I feel even more grateful than ever that he covers my sins and washes them away. Do your best to walk in a manner worthy of our Savior and give the world a good example of a follower of Christ. 

January 11, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Salt And Light

Even though it has been demonized over the years, salt is an essential nutrient that we cannot live without. That’s great for me because I love it and can hardly eat anything that doesn’t contain a little bit of it; even dessert is better with a pinch; somehow it makes the sweetness even sweeter; this doesn’t mean you should have a salty attitude; by no means! We can all be a little salty at times, but don’t let that be your everyday disposition; the world should see us as dessert and not unsavory salt that has lost its taste and is suitable for nothing. 

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13

Then Jesus compares us to a light on a hill that cannot be hid. If you’ve ever seen a city or homes situated on the side of a mountain, you’ll understand why he used that terminology. 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14

Even a small glimmer of light can be seen from far away. Your words may not necessarily point out that you belong to Jesus, even though they can. Your actions and disposition toward others will tell your story. That’s why you must control your actions, even to your spouse; you don’t want them to worry about your salvation. Get ahold of your reactions so the world sees you as salt and light and not someone condemned. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

January 10, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Beatitudes 

Jesus teaches eight characteristics in the Sermon on the Mount; these are the privileges and requirements for people living now and during the Messianic reign, and they constitute Christ’s standard of righteousness. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:3-11

1. Poor in spirit - being spiritually impoverished and depending on God
2. Mourn - grief-stricken over your own sins
3. Meek - strength under control.
4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness - means to long for a relationship with God
5. Merciful - show compassion and kindness to others
6. Pure in heart - being free from deceit 
7. Peacemakers - actively seek peace
8. Persecuted for righteousness sake - facing hostility and still doing what’s right.

We should want to embody such characteristics and spiritual attributes; Jesus has set a standard for living, and it would be disobedient to ignore them and go about our lives as if we hadn’t heard what he has taught us.

January 9, 2026

Jesus Preached And Healed

There have always been diseases. Though nowadays we attribute diseases to medications, poor eating habits, and lifestyle. In Jesus tour of Galilee, he healed all the sick people who were brought to him. In doing so, he proved that he was the Christ, the Messiah they were waiting for, and people from all over came to hear him preach and be healed. He healed the bodies and minds of those who encountered him, but it was the healing of the soul for those who listened to his message about the kingdom of God who were the most blessed. You’ve got to think about it; they needed the healing of the body as proof that he was who he said he was. Otherwise, they might have thought he was just another preacher. Even though his words were powerful, he needed a draw to get them to listen. Now, and something to beware of, some claim they are healing people to draw in the lame to fleece them of their money. These preachers are wealthy, fly in their own private jet, and even cry for more money so they can buy a new one. Please don’t waste your money on these preachers; they are a tool of the enemy, devouring all who turn their attention towards them. Jesus is the only one with the healing salve and the words of eternal life. Trust in him; your soul is more valuable than this weak body we inhabit. 

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23

January 8, 2026

Jesus Heals the Nobleman’s Son

Jesus left Samaria to go back to Cana of Galilee, where a nobleman sought him out to beg him to heal his son because he was about to die. 

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:48

Jesus was a bit rough on that man, yet, because he knew who he was, he didn’t even blink an eye when he spoke to him with a harsh tone. 

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. John 4:50

The man believed Jesus’s words and set out for home. The man’s servants met him along the way, telling him that his son lived. Like many of us, he was curious about when his fever broke and when he started getting better.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. John 4:53-54

I don’t believe his inquiry was due to a lack of trust, but rather a way to prove that it was Jesus who had healed the boy, to seal his testimony. The entire family was saved because of this miracle. 

As Jesus said, some people need signs and wonders to believe, yet here we are many years later believing in him without seeing his miracles. That is the power of the Holy Spirit living within us and helping us keep our faith. 

January 7, 2026

The Woman At The Well: Part 3

After Jesus told the Samaritan woman about her husbands, the five she had in the past, and the one she was living with that wasn’t her husband, Jesus probably told her more than that about herself. She ran into town to tell the men about him and that he was the Messiah, the Christ they had been waiting for.

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. John 4:29-30

In the meantime, the disciples brought him food, but he wasn’t hungry because he was satisfied with the spiritual food they knew nothing about.

I thought the story about the woman was over at this point, given the reaping-and-sowing story told in the middle of this portion of scripture, but that’s not the case. The men believed her and ran out to meet Jesus. Once they met him, they believed everything she said. 

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. John 4:42

When telling others about Jesus, don’t get too caught up in the results. Your responsibility is to share your knowledge and tell about your experience with him, but it’s up to them to experience him for themselves. The Holy Spirit is powerful enough to do the finishing work. One sows and others reap, but we are all satisfied at the harvest. 

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. John 4:37-38