"No more tit-for-tat stuff." ~~Jesus

Our culture tends to be one of retaliation. Someone hurts us, we envision a way to get them back. There is no thought of taking one for Jesus.

Jesus challenges to live in GOD's World (Kingdom). In His world, we are to represent Him. He is love. Love acts differently. Love doesn't retaliate. Love doesn't plot on how to get even. Love looks for an opportunity to do good no matter what the other person has done. Love rules!!

"No more tit-for-tat stuff." ~~Jesus (Matthew 5 The Message)

"Listen now, all of you— take this to heart." ~~Jesus

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] English: Sacred heart of Jesus Español: Sagrado corazon de Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Jesus challenges us to understand that it is not what we eat that is the problem. The problem is our heart. The problem is what we think, do and say. That is the real pollution in our life. Jesus is clear that it's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart in GOD's world (Kingdom).

We need to know this about our self so that we can take advantage of Jesus redeeming us from the price we have to pay for what is in our heart. Jesus gives a new heart. Now that is good news.

"Listen now, all of you— take this to heart. It's not what you swallow that pollutes your life; it's what you vomit—that's the real pollution." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:15 The Message)

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"The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to look beyond a cool bottle of water. This world and all it offers doesn't satisfy. Jesus brings to us satisfaction and a life that never ends.

Jesus challenges to look around us, the bread we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear and see them for what they are. Temporary items of this world that never satisfy us. We consume and always want more. It is never enough. In GOD's world (Kingdom) we are always satisfied.

"The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." ~~Jesus (John 4:14 The Message)

"A farmer went out to sow his seed." ~~Jesus

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] Farmer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Jesus challenges us to understand GOD's word. GOD is the farmer. It is GOD who plants the seed, His word.

This has nothing to do with us. It is all GOD's doing. We like think we are the center of things. Even the disciples of Jesus didn't get what Jesus was saying and they were with Him all day long for 3 years. It all starts with GOD and His word. That is the most important thing to understand. It is all about GOD and what He says / wants.

"A farmer went out to sow his seed" ~~Jesus (Luke 8:4 The Message)

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"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to go beyond what the rules say. He knows we focus on "what the rule says" and then find loopholes. Religion is about loopholes. GOD is about real love.

Our mission, according to Jesus, is an extraordinary kind of love. Our love is to be like GOD's love. A love that almost can't be understood. A love for even our enemies. His Spirit makes it happen for us.

Do we have a passion for that kind of love? Will we live that out today?

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies." ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:44 The Message)

"If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to have a GOD World (Kingdom) approach to retaliation. Our normal approach to being sued is to defend ourselves or counter sue. Jesus challenges us to give our enemies what they want and then overwhelm them with love and generosity by giving them something precious they didn't ask for. GOD's way is love. GOD's way is generosity. Our heavenly Father doesn't want us to retaliate. Being generous gains attention for GOD where retaliation is expected.

Jesus sets a standard for us that requires us to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of love.

"If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it." ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:40 The Message)

"It's what comes out of a person that pollutes ... all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution." ​~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to be concerned about the right things. It is all about the heart. Is what is coming out of us from a "pure of heart"? Or are spewing forth "vomit from the heart"?

We worry about how we look. We struggle to create a perception of a good life when at our core we have a problem. GOD sees the heart. GOD knows our heart. We can't fool Him.

We must change our mind about what is important. We must focus on getting right with GOD.

"It's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:21-23 The Message)

"Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever." ~~Jesus

Eternity is a long time. Think a billion years. Not enough. A trillion years. Not enough. It is hard enough to think of 100. Jesus wants us to wrap our minds around the enormity of what GOD can and will do. GOD is GOD.

Jesus offers the Holy Spirit and life for all eternity. It is an unconditional offer. It is ours for believing in Him and GOD.

Jesus challenges us to drink His water and be satisfied. It is enough. We don't need anything else.

"Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever." ~~Jesus (John 4:14 The Message)

"My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to see the reality of GOD's World (Kingdom). Who is our family? Who are our mother's, brothers and sisters? What is family all about?

What is that reality? Obedience is the only thing that matters. Who is obeying GOD? They are our family. We need to be loyal to them. We need to love them.

Jesus throws conventional wisdom on its ear. Blood is not the thicker than water.

It is all about who is doing what GOD wants to have done today. Find them. Connect with them.

"My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do GOD's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood." ~~Jesus (Luke 8:21 The Message)

"If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to forgive others. It is a clear command and unambiguous. That is our part to do. When we do, GOD forgives us. He is also clear that if we don't forgive others, GOD won't forgive us for missing GOD's goal for our life.

Really? Yes, really. He said it. I think He meant it.

May I forgive. May I root resentment out of my heart and life.

"If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from GOD's part." ~~Jesus (Matthew 6:14 The Message)

"You scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this." ~~Jesus

Jesus is talking to religious people. That would be us. He challenges us to really understand what God is saying and to quit making up things that only benefit what we want. Jesus isn't looking for selfish people. He doesn't want us to be religious and quote scripture for our own benefit. He knows we do this way too much.

He wants us to search out God's word and act on what He is asking us to do.

"You scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this." ~~Jesus (Mark 7:13 The Message)

"But don't think I'm going to accuse you before my Father." ~~Jesus

Jesus is clear about His role. He is the one who saves us from missing God's goal for our life. He is the one gives us this great gift of life that will never end.

Jesus is also clear that others may accuse us. He was talking to the religious leaders of His day. The believed what Moses said, but they didn't believe Jesus. Do we believe what Joel Osteen says but not Jesus? Do we believe Rick Warren but not Jesus?

The essence is that we must believe Jesus. May I do that always.

"But don't think I'm going to accuse you before my Father." ~~Jesus (John 5: 45 The Message)

"Don't load yourselves up with equipment." ~~Jesus

Jesus has powerful but simple things He wants us to do. We don't need a lot of equipment to complete His mission today. He will supply us everything we need. He does His work through us. We are the equipment.

This is hard to keep in mind. In our world, we think the more we have, the better the buildings, the better off we are. In God's World (Kingdom), He doesn't need our equipment. He is God. He can do anything and takes pleasure in turning water in wine. I think it may even amuse Him to confound us. Just saying!!

"Don't load yourselves up with equipment." ~~Jesus (Luke 9 The Message)

"People who don't know God and the way he works worry too much." ~~Jesus

Why do we worry?What produces that anxiety in our gut?

Because we don't know what a good mood God, our Father, is in. He loves us. He has every good thing in store for us. When we get that at our core, we relax. We are at peace. We don't worry at all.

May I remember, today, how God works. May I relax. May I be at peace.

"People who don't know God and the way he works worry too much." ~~Jesus (Matthew 6 The Message)

"But you weasel out of that by saying ...." ~~Jesus

Jesus is direct with us about twisting God's words and using them to our advantage. Jesus knows what His Father said and meant. We do too. We can't weasel out by trying to change the intent. Jesus challenges us to not be religious. It is all about knowing God, listening to God and doing what our loving Father wants us to. Obedience is preferred over sacrifice.

May I believe what God has said and act on it.

Moses said, 'Respect your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.' But you weasel out of that by saying that it's perfectly acceptable to say to father or mother, 'Gift! What I owed you I've given as a gift to God,' thus relieving yourselves of obligation to father or mother. (Mark 7:10 The Message)

"Go home. Your son lives." ~~Jesus

You come to Jesus. You beg him to personally come and heal your son who is dying. Jesus puts you off. Won't go see him and heal him. Jesus makes a blunt statement that all you are interested in is miracles. Jesus challenges you. Will you be put off? Will you slink away? Do you have faith?

This man did not slink away. He had faith and kept at Jesus. He begged. He pleaded. He knew Jesus could heal his son. So, Jesus says to him:

"Go home. Your son lives." ~~Jesus (John 4:51 The Message)

He went home. His son was healed. Just as he believed and just as Jesus said.

Jesus challenges us. Do we really believe?

"Self-help is no help at all." ~~Jesus

God knows us. He knows that we miss His goal for our lives.

Jesus challenges us to face up to the fact that "we can't fix ourselves". He can transform us into new creatures. He shows us how to be born a second time to a new life.

Jesus came to show us the way. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. He alone is life.

There is no "self-help". There is only "God-help". May I live that way today.

"Self-help is no help at all." ~~Jesus (Luke 9:25 The Message)

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it." ~~Jesus

Wow. Jesus is direct. Grow up!!

OK, that makes sense. We can be very childish. We live in God's World (Kingdom). He is in charge. We know it. We need to act like it. We need to live like it.

May I live like I know I am living in God's World, where He is fully in charge.

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it." ~~Jesus (Matthew 5:48 The Message)

"You get rid of God's command so you won't be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! " ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to obey God and not follow the latest religious fads. God is clear in what He wants us to do. Religious leaders can deceive us with various fashionable and trendy ideas. This is not God's way.

Our way is to "interpret" God's word to our advantage. Jesus knows we do it. He demands that we stop.

God's word and way is clear. May we follow it today and every day.

"You get rid of God's command so you won't be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! " ~~Jesus (Mark 7:9 The Message)

"Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again." ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to not be deceived by things in this world. In God's World (Kingdom), you can drink water and be satisfied. Thinking that water in this world really satisfies us is a deception. It is the Spirit of God that satisfies us. We must drink of that water. We must be thirsty for that water. We must focus on God's World not this world.

"Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again." ~~Jesus (John 4:13 The Message)