Episode 188: Matthew 17-18

Today's meditation is based on Matthew Chapters 17 and 18

Jesus said that if I have faith even as small as a mustard seed, I can speak to the mountains in my life and they will move. He promised that nothing would be impossible. All of my needs are met in him. 

I know that in order to enter the Kingdom Realm, I have to dramatically change my way of thinking and become teachable as a little child. So, I continually humble myself and cultivate a childlike faith, not jaded or defiled by life's circumstances, but believing every word spoken by my Father. 

I tenderly care for and advocate for children, knowing that they have a special place in the heart of Jesus. I guard them and guide them away from sin. 

Temptations are inevitable in this world. Troubles and obstacles to my faith will come. But tempting others and causing them to stumble will cause great devastation. So I cut out of my life anything that might cause me to sin. There is no thing in this world that is worth trading for the promise of eternal life; nothing is worth being thrown into the fires of hell.

I do not look down on children or consider them less than myself. Every life is precious to the Father. And their guardian angels are always in the presence of Father God, interceding for them. 

This is how much God loved me: Jesus came to give life to all who are lost. Like a shepherd with a hundred sheep, when I wandered away from the flock and was lost, he left the 99 and came to find me. And what rejoicing there was in heaven when he saved me! It is not God's will that even one of his children should be lost. 

Father God expects the same kind of compassion from me. If a believer sins against me, rather than turning it into a public spectacle, I go to the person privately and point out the offense. If he listens and confesses his error, I have won that person back and our bond of friendship is strengthened even more. 

If I'm unsuccessful, then I take one or two other believers with me and go back again. In this way, everything I say can be confirmed by witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, then I take my case to the church. If he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, then I cut off all ties with them.

Jesus has given me the keys to the Kingdom realm, and whatever is forbidden in heaven, I have the right to forbid on earth. And whatever is loosed in heaven, I have the right to loose in the earth.

If there is a circumstance I don't feel confident about, then I reach out to a fellow believer and ask them to intercede on my behalf and stand with me in faith. Jesus has promised that if two of us agree here on earth concerning a request, that Father God in heaven will hear our symphony of prayer do what we ask. Where two or three of us gather together as followers, in Jesus' name, he is here with us.

And I know that when I pray, I also have to be walking in forgiveness. When I compare the offenses of others toward me, they pale in comparison to what Jesus suffered for my sake. Yet, he forgave my tremendous debt. So I release forgiveness from my heart toward my brothers and sisters. I show mercy to others as it has been given so freely to me. 

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing.

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