Sermon On The Mount

"When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him" (Matthew 8:1).

A few years ago, Uncle Jack (pseudo-name) made the following speech to a large conference of sales representatives: "I dictated my talk to my secretary and told her to cross out anything she thought was dull and uninteresting. 'And so, in conclusion'---."  I have sat through not so few sermons over the years that I wished the church secretary had done the same for the pastor. You probably have too! Admit it! You could hardly wait until the benediction was given; when done out the door you sleepily ran, lied to the pastor waiting to shake your hand at the door, you probably said something like, "Great sermon pastor, keep up the good work of the Lord." Some pastors are so "windy" that you feared the roast would burn before you got home.

Well, there is one message that I would have liked to have been in attendance. We call it the Olivet Sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. It took three chapters, 128 verses to complete. I am pretty sure from that sermon that Jesus was not a Baptist, I didn't read where there was any food served. Ha! But later when He fed people at one time 5,000 and then 4,000 he had turned Baptist, I know for sure, there was food, a banquet, bread and fish. Hey, where is the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, beans, etc. Well, maybe he was a Presbyterian. All joking aside, what a message. It was so good that the crowds wanted more. When I read that sermon, and I do suggest that you take time to slowly read that sermon, forget food, there is so much spiritual food, physical hunger can't hold a "candle" to the spiritual hunger and the filling you receive.

When life gets rough, read that sermon (Matthew 5:3-12). When you are not sure what to do read the passages on keeping oaths, on divorce, love for enemies, prayer, and if that is not enough read (Matthew 6: 25-34). How about (Mathew 7:7-12)? You will want more just like those who heard Jesus speak. While we cannot hear him as they did we have his voice (ipsissma voca) and His words spoken then apply to us today. To feed our spiritual hunger we have the Bible, Jesus speaking, the disciples preaching His Word. Press in to Jesus, He has given us the Holy Spirit, we have all we need with Him. As the old hymn states, "Trust and Obey For There Is No Other Way."

Daily Prayer:

Father thank you for your Word given to us to comfort and lead us. "Take my life a let it be consecrated Lord to thee," that is my song today, tomorrow, and forever. Then let your light of truth shine through me to those who need the light, your truth. Thank you for all the blessing.                              Amen