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Romans 6:1-4 ¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2×4 Time

This was the reading at Hosanna (my Church) several weeks ago.  I remember these first verses being a 2×4 to the head (think ‘Tommy Boy‘).  How often do I find myself using God’s grace as an excuse to sin…  I think we are all guilty of it from time to time.  Or maybe there is that one specific sinful addiction that you can’t seem to break.  The one that has be come so habitual that you’ve stop trying.

Romans 6:6 ⁶Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Slaves to???

Paul makes a good point about the dedication we need to present in our lives.  Just as Christ was obedient unto death for us, we are asked to due the same out of joy and gratitude for what has been done for us.  This is something we should strive for daily…even if yesterday was a bust.  We can make the effort and pray for obedience to Christ and His will be done in our lives.

Mark 10:27 ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Prayer

My Father,

I pray for obedience today.  For obedience to your will.  For your newness of life to overtake my purpose and grant me the freedom from sin that your grace brings.

In His most Holy Name,

Amen.

Quick Chapter Summary

Chapter 8 is a chapter recounting many of Jesus miracles.

1. Jesus heals a man with leprosy, tells him not to tell anyone about it. (verses 1-4)
2. Jesus heals a Roman centurion’s crippled servant. (verses 5-13)
   1. The centurion comes to Jesus for help.
   2. Jesus offers to go to mains house, but centurion feels unworthy and tells Jesus that He can help him from there.
   3. Jesus is amazed by the man’s faith and heals his servant without going to his house.
3. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law Mary from a fever. (verses 14-15)
4. Later in the evening after healing Mary, Jesus exorcises many brought to him who are demon possessed.  (verses 16-17)
5. Jesus is approached by several individuals who want to follow him.  Jesus tells the first man that He himself has no home.  The second man says he needs to go and bury his father first and Jesus responds, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (verses 18-22).
6. Jesus is awoken by His frightened disciples and calms a storm while out in a boat. (verses 23-27)
7. Jesus casts demons out of two men. (verses 28-34)
   1. Demons acknowledge Jesus and begged to be cast into a nearby herd of swine.
   2. Jesus casts them into the swine, which then proceed to run down the hillside into the lake and drown.
   3. Upon seeing and hearing this, the local people came to Jesus and pleaded with Him to leave their region.

Full Chapter Summary

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Full Text Matthew Chapter8

John 1:1-5   ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Quick Chapter Summary

Continuation of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (these are Jesus’ teachings)

1. Jesus discusses judgment:
   1. Do not judge anyone, for similar judgment can also be placed on you.
   2. Always reflect on yourself before pointing out other’s flaws. How can you hypocritically point out a small flaw in another when you are guilty of a much larger one?
   3. Teaching others should be done within their spiritual understanding.
2. Jesus continues with seeking the things of God
   1. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.
   2. Jesus compares how parents take care of there children’s needs to how God will fulfill our needs in a greater capacity.
   3. The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have the do to you.
3. Wide and broad is the road to destruction and hell. Narrow is the road that leads to eternal life.
4. Jesus warns against false prophets. He points out that you can recognize them by the ‘fruit’ they produce, by there works and actions.
5. Building upon God’s Word is like building on rock. Your faith will stand the storm. Anyone who hears the Word and rejects it is building on sand and is doomed to destruction.
6. The people listening to Jesus are amazed because He teaches differently; as one who has actual authority.

Full Chapter Summary

If you’re reading this and would like a more in-depth summary on this chapter, post a comment. Thanks.

Full Text Matthew Chapter 7