Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5: 48, NIV. Gracious God, We need Your wisdom and we need Your grace to help us to understand Your Word. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen. I have heard more arguments on what this text "really means" than I care to acknowledge! We argue back and forth without ever reaching a consensus. I would be rather presumptuous, and conceited , to believe that whatever I have to offer to the discussion is the one answer. Permit me just to share with you some thoughts as I meditate...

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8: 5-8, NIV. Dear God, "just say the word," and when we are through with this study, our lives will never be the same again. For this we pray in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen. Someone just gave...

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7: 28, 29, NIV. Gracious God, Today we come to You, fully convinced that You have Words of eternal life to share with us. By faith, we come expecting to be convicted by Your Holy Soirit. In the precious name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen. I am almost certain that most of us, have, at one time or another, met someone who, at first glance, exuded authority; sometimes,...

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. NIV. Dear God, please teach us how to be more like You. We want to live in a way that is well-pleasing in Your sight. Please help us to be careful how we offer our service to You. As we meet to study Your Word, please teach us how to do this in a way that is acceptable in Your sight. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen. Today...

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a can make  'unclean' by going into . Rather, it is what comes out of  that makes him 'unclean' . . . He went on: "What comes out of a  is what makes  'unclean.' For from within, out of  hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a 'unclean.'  ' " Mark 7" 14, 20, KJV. Blessed LORD, here we are again in Your holy presence!...

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a can make 'unclean' by going into . Rather, it is what comes out of that makes him 'unclean' . . . He went on: "What comes out of a is what makes 'unclean.' For from within, out of hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a 'unclean.'  ' " Mark 7:14, 20, KJV. Gracious God, we call upon You today to cover...

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a can make  'unclean' by going into . Rather, it is what comes out of  that makes him 'unclean' . . . He went on: "What comes out of a  is what makes  'unclean.' For from within, out of  hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a 'unclean.'  ' " Mark 7" 14, 20, KJV. Dear God, by Your grace, please help us to resist...

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a can make  'unclean' by going into . Rather, it is what comes out of  that makes him 'unclean' . . . He went on: "What comes out of a  is what makes  'unclean.' For from within, out of  hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a 'unclean.'  ' " Mark 7" 14, 20, KJV. Gracious God, please direct our study, and please speak to...

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a can make  'unclean' by going into . Rather, it is what comes out of  that makes him 'unclean' . . . He went on: "What comes out of a  is what makes  'unclean.' For from within, out of  hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a 'unclean.'  ' " Mark 7" 14, 20, KJV. Dear God, how grateful we are for Your Word that...

When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. Psalm 27: 8-12, NKJV. Gracious God, here we...