The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very
character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty
power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins,
he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand
of the majestic God in heaven.
This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels,
just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
I have many aggressive enemies;
they hate me without reason.
They repay me evil for good
and oppose me for pursuing good.
Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!
Today: Matthew 7:24-25 – Solid Foundation
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise,
like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and
the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because
it is built on bedrock.
Today: Matthew 7:21-23 – Disciples
Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do
the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord!
We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name
and performed many miracles in your name.’
But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me,
you who break God’s laws.
Today: Matthew 7:15-16 – Tree & Its Fruit
Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep
but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Today: Matthew 7:13-14 – Narrow Gate
You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many
who choose that way.
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult,
and only a few ever find it.
Today: Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.
This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Today: Matthew 7:7-8 – Prayer
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.
And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Today: Matthew 7:1-2 – Do Not Judge
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
For you will be treated as you treat others.
The standard you use in judging is the standard by which
you will be judged.
“My wayward children,” says the Lord,
“come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”
“Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply,
“for you are the Lord our God.
I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should
tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his rule will never end.
Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the Lord are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills,
and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
