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21: A simple admission of Christ’s divinity, power , and Lordship is not the same as salvation. Many have confessed that Jesus is a very great man, and some even that he is God, and yet have not accepted him as the Lord of their lives. One might say that Jesus must be taken on the Father’s terms, or else, the accepting only the truth of the person of Christ is not enough for eternal life.
   This is a great warning to those who would live a fake Christian life. Some will call Him Lord, and have an outward show of being His, but will not do the will of the Father. That they are not His will be shown by their lack of obedience. This is really more on the same lines as his discussion of fruit inspecting. It is possible that we will meet those in life who confess Christ, but are none of his.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 58:1-62:12

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,”

Daily Tidbit: The yellow-eyed penguin lives only on the Island of New Zealand and the surrounding islands. It has pink feet, a pink beak, yellow eyes, and a band of yellow around the back of its head.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing world. You have made so many wonderful things. May we stand in awe of Your power and glory. Your greatness is impossible to conceive in its entirety, but we will try. Oh Father, how merciful You are! Thank You for allowing us to know the measure of Your greatness. Thank You for communicating Your Truth to us. It is such a mercy and grace that You have given us Your Word. To know that you have written us a book, to give us a chance to live our lives for You, oh that is just so nice! May we always seek to do the will of the Father. We want to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. You are so good to reveal Your will to us, the least we can do is listen and obey. Having a sense of Your power, love, and holiness makes our life totally different from what it would be. I give You the praise, for You alone are worthy of it. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady with gout. Pray for a man with a blood clot. Pray for a man who needs a job. Pray for a man looking for a church. Pray for a man with heart trouble. Pray for many who are sick.

Personal Journal Entry #12222

19: Sooner or later, those who teach false doctrine, and lead others astray, will come to destruction.
20: Therefore, you can always tell good fruit-bearers by that hallmark of faithfulness.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 44:1-57:21

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.”

Daily Tidbit: The name ‘Enoch’ is actually very common in the Bible. It can also be ‘Hanoch’ or ‘Henoch’, but all three come from the same Hebrew word. The name means dedicated, and Enoch was surely dedicated.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for helping us in all that we do. You lead us and guide us no matter what comes our way. you always know what is best and lead us in the safest path, even if we don’t think it so safe. Oh, Father, thank You for the comfort of knowing that You care so much! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a woman recovering from a broken pelvis.

Personal Journal Entry #12221

17: Of course, trees in general are neither good nor bad morally speaking. However, Jesus is now directly applying the illustration. He is likening the moral and spiritual goodness or badness of men to the quality of a tree’s fruit. A ‘good’ tree may be an apple, pear, cherry, etc. It will produce good, healthy apples, pears, cherries, etc. This is due to the quality of the tree. The same applies to the ‘corrupt’ tree. The corrupt tree has some disease or bad circumstance about it which makes it bring forth unhealthy, worthless fruit.
18: The good, quality, tree then only brings forth good fruit. And it is impossible for the corrupted tree to do so. Does this then, the corrupted tree, symbolize those who were saved, but have gone apostate concerning the truth and have lost their place in eternity? No, it symbolizes those who, having the seed of the truth shared with them, never truly accepted it, and have become false teachers of the Word, confusing the hearts of others.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:1-43:28

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,”

Daily Tidbit: In the Latin Vulgate the word for ‘corrupt’ in Matthew 7:17-18 is ‘malus’. Intrestingly enough, this term has been carried over into English with a derivative meaning. In English malus refers to the reclamation of performance-related compensation due to the discovery of a defect in the performance. This is a close parallel to the fruit-inspecting principle that Jesus is communicating to his hearers in these verses.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for being so merciful. You know what we will say and do. You know how we will fail You before we do it. Though we may hopefully live as we should, many of us fail You on a daily basis. Thank You for a chance to live right. Thank You for the righteousness that is ours in Jesus Christ. Thank You for, by him, making us able to stand before You without being altogether revolting to You. It is such a mercy and grace to be able to come to you in prayer and offer our praise to You. To know that I can give praise to the Maker of this wonderful world I see about me, and that He listens, oh that is almost too much to handle! I gladly enjoy it and embrace it. I will sing Your praises for all of my days. Oh Lord, be pleased with the honor that we accord to You! We know that You are the Glorious One, the Holy One, the Just One, the Loving One. Father, thank You for allowing us to know You and Your glory! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a woman with a bad work schedule. Pray for a man with a bad work schedule. Pray for a man recovering from surgery.

Personal Journal Entry #12220

16: Wolves in sheep’s clothing cannot hide themselves perfectly. Sooner or later, their deeds will find them out. And their fruit is the best way to find out. They cannot bear any fruit but what is consistent with their character.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 37:1-40:31

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,”

Daily Tidbit: Grapes and figs, both mentioned in Matthew 7:16, were very valuable and common commodities in Jesus’ day. Thorns and thistles, as now, were sources of trouble for farmers. those who knew how to bring forth good fruit would immediately spot thorns or thistles over grapes or figs.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love. The hope and peace that we may have in our hearts because of Your goodness is so wonderful and amazing. we could never thank You enough. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this coming week, may we remember that thanksgiving should well up within our hearts every day. We have You to thank for every blessing, large or small. Oh Father, give us a better view of Your provision, and use us to help provide for others.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a man who is under the weather. Pray for a woman in rehab. Pray for a woman with troubling health issues.

Personal Journal Entry #12219

15: Obviously, Jesus is using an illustration again. This vivid picture of wolves dressed in the skin and wool of a sheep, so as to deceive the sheep, is one that makes easy sense to anyone reading it. Indeed, if wolves had such a trick, the poor sheep would be helpless against it.
   The illustration also fits well with false prophets because of their tendency to look like real prophets. Though we may not readily understand why today, the true prophets of ancient times often dressed in a long garment made of wool. False prophets, in order to keep up appearances, would do the same.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 37:1-40:31

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,”

Daily Tidbit: The ‘ravening’ wolves here described in Matthew 7:15 are not inconsistent with their nature such as it is. The word ravening is simply used to remind us vividly of their predatory nature. False prophets exist only to devour others. And, like many predators in the animal kingdom, they will attack the weakest prey first.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to live. You have given us such blessings in this life. May we always see Your goodness and rejoice in Your greatness. Give us that lasting joy that only You have. Lord, Your plans for us are perfect, and You always have our best in mind. Give us the strength to carry on through life’s confusions and difficulties. You are worthy of our praise. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a family that just lost their house in a fire.

Personal Journal Entry #12218

13: The word ‘strait’ in this verse means narrow. Jesus here establishes a principle that is sometimes forgotten. Most people will not enter into eternal life. The narrow gate itself is Christ, though, in a very real sense, this verse refers back to the proceeding one. Treating others as you yourself would be treated is a very narrow path, and Christ is the door to it. Indeed, the word ‘gate’ usually refers to the entrance to a city. This would be the heavenly city, which Abraham and his children of faith have looked for throughout history (see Hebrews 11:10).
14: Interestingly enough, early Christians were sometimes referred to as members of ‘The Way’. Apparently, they took Jesus’ words to heart. Indeed, love for others has characterized true Christianity down through the years. The most enduring examples of Christian values and living have come from those who observe James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 33:1-36:22

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:13 “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.“

Daily Tidbit: Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:13-14 was controversial. Jewish people at that time thought that most Jews would be saved, and that very few would not. Jesus teaches the opposite. Even today, it is difficult for people to accept this teaching of Christ. It is hard for us to imagine that most people will not enter into eternal life in heaven. However, this seems to be the consistent teaching of Scripture. We know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but how many enter at this Door? We must pray earnestly for the vast myriads of people in our world who even now are on the edge of eternity. It is our responsibility to take the gospel to the world, and we must pray that Almighty God will send laborers forth for this great work.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, give us an understanding of Your ways. Show us the path that You have for us in Christ. Give us a vision of the many millions going through the broad gate to destruction. Oh Father, give us a heart like yours! Rather than being filled with pride, may we humbly realize the value of the lives all around us. Lord God, You have an endless love for man, let us ride of the wave of Your compassion. Make us sensitive to Your pity and care for the needs of humanity. Help us to see Your hand at work in this world. Show us Your design for Your world. May we see the awesome plan that You have set forth for this existence. Oh Father, make Your great glory shine forth into our soul! You are worthy to be praised! You have made us, and not we ourselves. As the great Creator, we expect so much from You, yet we often fail to respond to Your commands. May we please You at all times. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a family whose house just burnt down.

Personal Journal Entry #12217

12: This verse serves to summarize much of what Christ had said up to that point. To treat others as we would honestly want to be treated is the heart of his message, and, as he says, of the message of God’s Word. Though many claim to follow this rule, and do not follow him, he teachings make it clear that we need his righteousness in order to keep up this standard.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 29:1-32:20

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:13 “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”

Daily Tidbit: The Golden Rule, which is what the concept in Matthew 7:12 is called, can be found in almost every major religion of the world. And yet, one must ask, is it possible to follow the golden rule perfectly without Christ in your heart and life? The answer to that is evidenced every day by Christians all over the world.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your treatment of us. It gives us such a mandate for our treatment of others. If You are good to us, who do not deserve any of it, must we not also be good to those around us? Oh Father, give us a heart of concern for others rather than for ourselves! Your glory peals away our selfishness. May we be holy, as You are holy. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for the lost.

Personal Journal Entry #12216

9: There is a slight resemblance between a stone and a loaf of bread. The loaf here described would be a round, flat loaf, that would be broken rather than cut. A small stone, unlike an uncut rock, could be round and smooth like the bread. Thus, Jesus is not only saying that a father would not fail to give a loaf of bread to his son, but also that he would not attempt to give him an unsatisfying substitute.
10: Like the last verse, there is also some similarity between a fish and a serpent. However, a good father would never give his son something that could be harmful to him.
11: This is a comparison working from the lesser to the greater. If people, who are evil through the sin nature, can see fit to provide for the good of their children, will not Almighty God do far better?

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 24:1-28:29

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:13 “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

Daily Tidbit: In Luke 11:13, a parallel passage to Matthew 7:11, Jesus says that God Almighty will not fail to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask. How many believers ask for the Spirit? He is the Source of God’s blessings in the Christian life.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your provision for us. Sometimes we take so much for granted. You give us daily blessings that we never even take the time to thank You for. We think somehow that we deserve these things. Oh Father, give us hearts that see how much You have done for us, and how much You love us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady who is sick. Pray for a man having sinus trouble. Pray for an elderly lady with very poor health.

Personal Journal Entry #12215

8: The idea here is that we are to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. Those who are characterized by a willingness and habit for these things will be the recipients of the blessings of Almighty God. Jesus is here painting a picture of dependence. We are to depend upon the Lord for everything.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 24:1-28:29

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:13 “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”

Daily Tidbit: Isaiah 11:6 contains the phrase ‘a little child shall lead them’. This is an example of things that are grossly misapplied. In the context, this phrase is referring to the fact that young children will be able, one day, to safely lead about animals that are, at this present time, quite wild and dangerous for children to handle. Some, misquoting the phrase, have claimed that it means children, due to their unfeigned faith, may lead adults in spiritual things. Though such may sometimes be the case, that is not at all what this verse is teaching.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for today, and for Your control of everything. Teach us to have a dependent attitude. Help us to realize that we are dependent, whether we think so or not. We must see that only You can be sure of anything. Only You can provide for our needs. Only You can truly know what we need. Thank You for Your care for us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for an elderly lady who just recently fell. Pray for a family having difficulties of various kinds. Pray for an elderly lady in very poor health.

Personal Journal Entry #12214

7: The context of this verse tells us that Jesus is talking about asking Almighty God for things. He is not just commenting on asking for stuff from others in general, but asking our heavenly Father for things. The attitude of the request is revealed. To ask is to request, even, in some cases, to beg. Some would have the attitude that we are not to ask Almighty God for anything because He has already provided for our needs. But Jesus tells us to ask. To seek implies that we are willing to put forth some effort. Besides being willing to request a thing, we are then also to be willing to seek the answer. In other words, we must be listening for it, expecting it. Many have asked, but never expected and answer. This is not the prayer of faith. Faith asks and then earnestly looks for, listens for, and expects, an answer.
   Also, Jesus say to knock. This means that we must be willing to be persistent. Many will fail to appreciate this point, but it is what Jesus means. Those who have prayed for years for the same thing may finally have their answer in the end. Prayer is a practice of faith, not the rubbing of a lamp, or dropping things into a wishing well. One must be willing to continue knocking on the door until it is opened. The Father will not fail to answer a request for a good thing.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 14:1-18:7

Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:12 “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”

Daily Tidbit: November 11, today, was originally Armistice Day. Armistice Day, of course, celebrated the end of Word War I in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year of our Lord 1918. It was not until 1954 that Armistice Day became Veterans Day in the United States. Also, as of the year 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance was started. The National Moment of Remembrance is at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day. It would probably be a good idea to take a moment this afternoon as well to pray for, and thank Almighty God for, our Veterans.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to give You the praise for what You have done in our nation. Those who would try to understand how we have arrived at this point without the blessings of Almighty Providence will indeed find themselves at a loss. Many of the men and women who formed this nation understood that the credit for it all must be given to You, the Maker of Nations. We have today the chance to praise You for those who have given their lives to the service of our country. May we give our lives to the service of our country and the God of our country. Whether nations may recognize it or not, Father, You are God over all. Your Sovereign control of the universe is a comfort to our hearts. It is not simply the continuation of our great nation that keeps the dead from dying in vain. It is the existence and delight of our Almighty Creator and Sustainer that makes our lives, and our deaths, worth something in eternity. May the Lord God Almighty bless America! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for our veterans. Pray for our nation. Pray for the lost, and that the Lord will send forth laborers into the harvest.

Personal Journal Entry #12213