RTW September 26
Count The Cost
Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.
Matthew 2:2
My Takeaways
Something Old
Most likely this was Persia, or modern-day Iran. This means the wise men traveled 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child.
Something New
Gold was a metal of kings, which represents Jesus’ Kingship.
Frankincense was used for anointing, which represents Jesus as our High Priest
Myrrh was a burial spice, which represented Jesus’ death.
Something to Do
Is what I give Jesus costly?
Something to do
Prove by the way I live.. how I act, how I speak,how I dress. How I live.
Matthew 3:8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.
Thank you for your comment Franchesca. I went back after reading your post to reread that scripture and found additional conviction that did not strike me so the first time I read the passage.
I was needing prayer for my grandma. She isn’t doing well and she is sick. Please pray for God’s healing touch on her body. Her stomach is hurting her. Prayers that she will be able to go to the doctor and get checked out. I am not doing so well at this time. I love her so much and would hate it so much if something happened to her and I would miss her so much. I want her to be able to attend my wedding someday. My dad won’t be able to attend my wedding since he isn’t alive anymore and I would be sad if my grandma wasn’t there either. I am not doing so well. I need prayers for my mom at this time as I know how hard it is to lose a parent since I have lost my dad. Prayers for all of my grandma’s kids and grandkids and family at this time. Thanks so much for all of your prayers!
I am praying for you and your family, Natalie. It is so hard to see those we love not doing well. The fact that you love your grandma so much says so much about what a blessing she has been to you.
Lifting you and your family up in prayer Natalie … For healing, peace and understanding during this time.
Thanks everyone for your prayers! Praise God 🙂 my Gramma is doing a lot better.
Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:7 “prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God“. Earlier in Matthew 2:52 it says “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.“ How am I living? Am I living in a way that has me growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God? So convicted here-gossip doesn’t cause me to live that way, complaining, judgment, not giving 100% at my job, all these things do not Show that I have repented of my sins and turned to God. The biggest challenge for me is how much I complain about others at work-so I looked up scripture on gossip, because that’s essentially what it is even if I want to “pretty it up” and call it venting or complaining-there are so many scriptures on this subject I guess I will be busy turning to them today every time I want to say something that isn’t uplifting and loving about or toward another. One of the things the Lord has been showing me in this area is that silence is acquiescence-so when others are talking about someone, my silence is the same as contributing. So along the lines of Wendy’s lesson “count the cost“ am I doing something in the situation that costs me? Am I speaking up? Am I extracting myself from the conversation? Or am I man pleasing and going along to get along? Am I accepting the worlds Response “everyone does it – it’s OK to vent”? I am not everyone-and I am certainly not of this world so I should not be acting as if I am.
Loved you thoughts here! I stuggle with the sane thing and have the same thoughts and excuses. I liked your application of giving something that costs me.
Your reflection resonated with me, too, Mary. Thanks for sharing
Does my life prove that i’ve repented and turned to god or am I still living like the world?
The story of the wise men stood out to me in a new way today. Herod charged them to go to find Jesus and report back to him. His motives were not honorable. They went and brought great gifts that ended up providing for Jesus and his family while they flees from Herod. God has every detail of my life planed out and provided for….why do I worry? Ps 139:16 “Everyday was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” God’s got this!
My Takeaways: Take a Lesson From John the Baptist
Something Old: “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” What influence John had. Hundreds, if not thousands, were baptised by him. And his success was solely in the message he proclaimed. His obedience was outstanding. He was on fire for Jesus. He was so focused on his mission to call others to repentance and to baptize them, that he didn’t seem to care about worldly things. His clothes and diet certainly didn’t match the rest of the world. His life was simple, but he did so much for the kingdom. His passion was Jesus and He lived out his calling. Many lessons can be learned when I reglect back on who John the Baptist was.
Something New: John didn’t sugar coat his message to the Pharisees and Sadducees he said it like it was. “Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God.” “Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” (Ch.3 V. 8 &10) Jesus wants my heart. He wants me to truly repent and change my ways. Not just to say nice words or show up to church on Sundays – but to be transformed. When Jesus was on earth, John preached that the kingdom of heaven was coming or it was near. Now, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I can say that the kingdom of heaven is in me. Though I will one day experience the tangible kingdom of God in heaven, I can experience the kingdom of heaven in my heart today with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. I will be different and this change will be evident by my life producing “good fruit.” The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Something To Do: Keep my focus on Jesus, not the world. Have complete passion and love for God: the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit; and other people.