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We Need to Live Our Lives Awake

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What Does It Mean to be Awake?

As we continue with Jesus on His journey to the cross, this week we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane. They just finished sharing their last meal together. After singing a song, they went to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:22-26)

Jesus told them, “All of you will run away …” Peter insisted that even if everyone else runs away, he would not. Jesus said to him, “I assure you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter insisted that he would never deny Him. (Mark 14:27-31)

We all know what happened later that night.

On the Mount of Olives was the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told His disciples to sit and pray. Then, He took Peter, James, and John with Him further into the garden. Jesus was going through the distress of what He knew was coming.

Jesus asked these three to “remain and stay awake.”

Then He went on a little further and prayed. When He came back, He found them sleeping. He said to Peter,

“Couldn’t you stay awake for an hour?

“Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

This statement says a lot about us, doesn’t it? We want to do what’s right, but the world makes it hard.

Once again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing to them. When He came back, He found them sleeping again.

He then came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” 

I think falling asleep in this Scripture is less about the physical act of the disciples sleeping and more about them, and us, going through life with our focus on the wrong things.

Prayer is one of those things that we too often overlook.

We need to be awake and in conversations with God.

Don’t go through life asleep. Wake up and live your life. The life that God wants you to live.

What’s Your Greatest Treasure?

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It’ll Be Best If It Isn’t Monetary

What is most important to you? Is it money, your job, family, social status, recognition from your peers? Not any of these things are bad or unimportant. We need to be clear on what our priorities are.

In the children’s message, Jim Miller shared a math problem that puts things into perspective. GOOD minus the letters G O D leaves a big fat zero.

Life without GOD leaves us with nothing.

In John 12:1-8, Mary got it. She poured a whole bottle of expensive oil on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. When she did this Judas was mad. He thought this was a waste. We’re talking about an amount equal to a year’s wages. In today’s dollars, this would have been a bottle of oil, worth almost $60,000.

This helps us see where Judas’ heart was and where Mary’s was.

Last week we talked about how the disciples were blind to how Jesus was going to rule. They were looking at things from a worldly perspective … not a Spiritual one.

The actions of Mary in today’s Scripture would have been scandalous then. A woman would not be out in public with her hair down, would not approach a man, let alone touch one. Mary did all these things.

Mary was focused on Jesus. She understood who Jesus is. This is the third time she was at His feet. She didn’t pour out a few drops of oil.

She poured out all that she had.

We need to pour out all that we have on Jesus. As we pour over Jesus, He will pour over us.

Mary gave her greatest treasure to the Greatest Treasure.

We need to do the same thing. We need to give all that we have and all that we are to God.

Don’t Build Your Life on Sand

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Build on a Solid Foundation

The past several weeks we’ve been going through the Sermon on the Mount. We discussed the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), being salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), the importance of listening to God (Matthew 5:17-20), doing things for the right reason (Matthew 6:5-15), choosing the right treasures (Matthew 6:19-24), and focusing on the right thing first (Matthew 7:1-12).

This week’s message is about the difference between wise and foolish builders.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-29)

From a builder’s perspective, I can really connect with this week’s message. It’s important to know the benefits of building things well and the cost of building poorly. The Scripture above explains this well.

When things are built well they are damaged less in storms.

This doesn’t mean there won’t be storms. It doesn’t mean there won’t be any damage. It’s about coming through the storm with something to repair. In verse 25, it says, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall…” It can be repaired.

Jesus is the foundation we should build our lives on. He is the solid rock. If we build our lives on Jesus, we can make it through whatever storms life throws at us.

Don’t be foolish and build your life on the sand. Be wise and build your life on the solid foundation of Jesus.

Focus on Your Plank First

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It’s More Important Than Someone Else’s Sawdust

In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus tells us that we will be judged the way we judge others. He says that we should focus on our own mistakes and shortcomings first, not others’.

When it comes right down to it, we have no control over what others do. We can only control ourselves. Pointing out other people’s mistakes and failures is often done as a way of taking our attention off our own weaknesses.

Our focus should be on our own planks.

This doesn’t mean that we should turn a blind eye to someone doing something wrong. It means we should be clear on what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and how we do it.

To help us with this Jesus goes on in Matthew 7:7-12 to tell us what to do.

He says to, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

This is how we get our priorities in the right order. It’s about aligning our thoughts and desires with His. It’s about going to God first and asking for His guidance and direction.

We are to help others, not judge them. This can only happen when we are focused on God first.

Judgement is for God … not us.

We need to focus on God and our own planks, not other people’s sawdust.

What Do You Treasure?

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This is a Choice

What is treasure? Treasure is something that is valuable. This means different things to different people.

Treasure is often thought of as monetary. Like gold and jewels hidden by pirates or on their sunken ship. They can also be things that hold value that aren’t monetary. For example, it might be something from your childhood that triggers fond memories. Or a person that is loved and valued. Or maybe it’s a place that sparks feelings that you treasure.

A treasure can be any or all these things.

Your treasures are the things that are important and valuable to you.

In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus tells us to be careful about what we chose our treasures to be. Treasures that are of this world are not eternal. They will only last for a limited time. If our focus is on worldly treasures, we forfeit the eternal ones.

He concludes this point by telling us we can’t serve two masters. We will hate one and love the other.

We need to be clear on what is the most important thing to us.

Jesus does not tell us that earthly treasures are bad. Or that our money and possessions are unimportant. We are called to be good stewards.

It’s about prioritizing and putting the most important thing at the top. In verse 24, we’re told that we can’t serve two masters. We need to align our priorities with God’s.

Last week we discussed doing things for the right reason and how the world turns things upside down. We can choose to make our treasures worldly or heavenly.

What is most important to you?

It can be hard to separate worldly from heavenly.  After Jesus concludes telling us what kinds of treasures to store up, He goes on in verse 25 and tells us not to worry.

This is the peace that comes with having our treasures prioritized the same as God’s.

Pick the right treasure and make the right choice.

Do Everything for the Right Reason

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This Includes When You Pray

We’re continuing through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This week we are learning how to pray (Matthew 6:1-15). One of the first things we’re told is how not to do it. We are not to pray for show. He tells us to pray for the right reasons.  He gives us an example of this in verses 9-13, also known as The Lord’s Prayer.

Prayer is something that can be seen as weak or needy. But when it comes right down to it … aren’t we all a little weak and needy? We don’t like to admit this. This is not what the world expects. The world has turned things upside down (verses 5-8).

This upside down was true when Jesus was teaching and is still true today.

Several years ago, Tim Tebow became a polarizing figure because of his praying openly. His act of kneeling on one knee in prayer with his head bowed and one arm resting on his other knee became known as “Tebowing”.

There was a lot of pushback from the media. Some people didn’t think this kind of open expression of communicating with God should be displayed.

Often good people of faith and followers of Christ can get sucked into worldly ways. Look at the Sadducees and Pharisees. They had gotten so focused on the law that was from God that they lost touch with God.

If this action was done as some form of exhibition to become popular, it would have been wrong. But Tim’s actions then and now are consistent with him doing this for the right reasons.

All of us need to battle losing sight of God and doing things for the wrong reasons.

Life can and will be hard at times. In the movie, Unsung Hero, we see a real-life example of this:

In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, in pursuit of a new beginning. David and his wife, Helen, uproot their lives and six children seeking refuge in Nashville after the collapse of David’s music company in Australia following a $500,000 loss from one concert booking.

As the family settles into their new home they encounter numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the daunting task of starting over in a foreign country. Despite the uncertainty, Helen’s unwavering faith and David’s determination propel them forward, instilling hope and resilience in their children.

Three of the Smallbone siblings, Joel, Luke, and Rebecca, develop their musical talents and navigate the competitive music industry. Joel and Luke eventually form the duo For King & Country, while Rebecca (St. James) embarks on a successful career as a Christian recording artist.

In the movie, the father, David, becomes upset and distraught as he is trying to provide for his family. This struggle escalates to the point of losing his temper and saying some very hurtful things. Feeling like a failure, he then hides out in bed for a period of time.

Ultimately, he gains the courage to apologize to the family. In his apology he says,

“I lost sight of what it’s all about.”

This happens to all of us, but we can reduce the chance if we remember to do everything we do for the right reason.

You Have Heard It Said

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But Are You Really Listening?

The past several weeks has been excerpts of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus started speaking to this big crowd of people from the mountain side. He started with The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11) and things to do if we want to be blessed. Last week was about being salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) and how this makes the world better.

This week, Jesus tells us He is the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17-20). He tells us that He has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.

The group of people He was speaking to was big enough that He had to go up on the side of a mountain so that everyone could hear him. Of course, His twelve closest disciples were there, but there were many more than just these twelve. There would have been many followers in different places along their journey.  

There would have also been a variety of other people who weren’t followers. There would have been church leaders, sinners, zealots, tax collectors, and people who were curious about what this man, Jesus, was saying.

The problem was that each was hearing from their own perspective. They most likely had preconceived opinions and weren’t really listening.

This is often what we do. We hear without listening.

There is a difference between hearing and listening.

We often interchange the words “hearing” and “listening” and mistake them for the meaning the same thing. Although there are similarities, they are significantly different. One being more active, requiring effort, and the other being involuntary and natural.

Hearing is a passive, physical act that requires one sense and has to do with the perception of sound. It does not rely on concentration. Hearing is like collecting data; we hear sounds and words all day long, even if we are not paying attention to them.

Listening revolves around actively paying attention to the words and sounds that you hear to absorb their meaning and develop an emotional response. Merriam-Webster defines it as…

Listening is “to hear something with thoughtful attention.”

Listening is a mental, active process that requires multiple senses. Listening is a voluntary act, meaning that an individual can choose whether or not to listen. If you choose to listen, then it is an active process. You can hear sounds and words without having to listen or focus on what you are hearing. Hearing without listening is an example of the common phrase “in one ear and out the other”

Too many of the people hearing Jesus’ message were hearing but not listening. They came with preconceived ideas about who He was and what His message was.

They weren’t listening with their hearts.

We need to listen to Jesus and to others with an open heart.

Even when we listen to what others are saying, it doesn’t mean that it’s truth. We need to listen to things through a Biblical filter to determine if what we’re hearing is the truth.

Open your heart and listen to what you hear.

Are You Scared of the Dark?

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You Don’t Have to Be

This week’s Scripture is Matthew 5:13-16. This is a continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Last week, we saw Jesus start with the Beatitudes. Now, He’s teaching us about salt and light.

We are to be salt and light in the world.

Were you scared of the dark when you were a kid?

We’re all familiar with being afraid of the dark. The dark can be a scary thing. We can’t see what monsters are out there hiding in the dark. Even the small glow of a night light is enough to keep them at bay.

Even as adults there are monsters out there. They may be different than when we were kids…but they’re out there.

Light makes things better.

Light helps in a lot of ways. It reveals things that we couldn’t see otherwise. It provides safety by helping us see where we’re going and what we’re doing. Light brightens the world around us and helps improve our and other’s moods. Light gives off warmth.

In verse 14, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. Light does no good when it’s hidden. We are to let our light shine.

Light is spoken of throughout the Bible. It is where everything began. In the beginning, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-4)

Salt makes things better.

Salt is a mineral made up mostly of sodium chloride. It has a lot of uses, such as making food taste better and preserving it so that it can be kept longer. Salt can also be used to relieve bug bites, disinfect, and relieve sore throats. Not to mention it makes things safer by helping to remove ice from roads and sidewalks.

By being salt in the world, we can help things be better. We can relieve other’s struggles and make things safer.

Isaiah saw what the world could be like if everyone was salt and light. In Isaiah 2: 1-5, he tells us to “walk in the light of the Lord.” Jesus is our night light.

Or think about Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in Exodus 34:29-35. His face was shining so bright that he put a veil over it. Moses was a night light for the people. He radiated God’s light.

We should be like Moses. We need to radiate God’s light. We should help others see better. We should be night lights.

We are called to be salt and light.

Do You Feel Blessed?

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If Not, Here’s What You Do

With the snow that we’ve had there has been a lot of shoveling to make paths through the snow. This gives a clear direction and makes our journey easier.

Jesus makes a path for us.

We can follow this path, or we can go tromp through the snow on our own.

Jesus lays out some instructions that will help us on the journey in the Sermon on the Mount. These are known as The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Beatitudes are “blessed sayings” delivered by Jesus. In the beatitudes, Jesus stated several blessings, each beginning with the phrase, “Blessed are …” Each saying speaks of a blessing God will bestow on a person who exhibits these qualities.

The beatitudes introduce and set the tone for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by emphasizing humans’ humble state and God’s righteousness. Each beatitude depicts the ideal heart condition of a citizen of God’s kingdom. In this idyllic state, the believer experiences abundant spiritual blessings.

These declarations given to us by Jesus are like ‘If this, then that’.

They are conditional statements that set up a condition and then describe what happens if that condition is met. For instance, ‘If it rains, then the ground gets wet.’

The list of ‘if this, then thats’ given to us by Jesus are as follows:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(This is not about being sad or discouraged. It’s about being humble and realizing that we need God. We would have nothing and be nothing without Him.)


Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

(This is mourning over our sinfulness and repenting of those sins.)


Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

(This is being meek and submitting to God’s authority. The world wants us to believe nice guys finish last. It’s being like Jesus and showing gentleness and self-control.)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

(Hunger and thirst speak to the deep need and driving passion for what is right to God, not to our worldly wants. Righteousness is the quality of being right in God’s eyes.)


Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

(We reap what we sow. We show mercy through forgiveness, kindness, and compassion toward others.)


Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

(Being pure of heart is being cleansed from within. It’s not an outward display of righteousness that others can see. It’s an inward holiness that only God can see.)


Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

(This is an inward peace. It’s a peace through Jesus. It’s not a worldly peace. There will always be conflict as long as Satan is here on earth.)


Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Just as Jesus faced persecution, so will his followers. Those daring enough to openly live for Christ rather than hide their faith are genuine followers of Christ.)

Beatitude is supreme blessedness.

This is extreme happiness. A state of great joy. I don’t know about you, but I want extreme happiness.

Living out these declarations will lead to a blessed life. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. But it is worth it.

Wise Ones Still Seek Him

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Are You Going to be Wise?

Epiphany is an “aha” moment. A sudden revelation. When you become aware of something important. The appearance or manifestation of something.

Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6, twelve days after Christmas. Many countries refer to it as “Three Kings Day”. On this day, Western Christianity recognizes Christ’s manifestation to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were represented when the Magi visited Jesus. It showed how God’s gift of the Good News is for everyone. Epiphany celebrates God revealing himself to the world

Because the church celebrates Epiphany on the first Sunday in January, this past Sunday was Epiphany. Pastor Lisa pointed out that –

The song We Three Kings is a fitting message for Epiphany.

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

The men in the song weren’t really kings, they were Wise Men or Magi. They were astronomers or stargazers. This is told to us in Matthew 2:1-12 where they follow a star to go visit Jesus as a child.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (verses 1-2)

These wise men had been looking for the fulfillment of prophesies for generations. They were paying attention and ready.

When God sent them the star they acted and went to find and follow Jesus.

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

The Magi brought gifts to Jesus that showed that they had been paying attention and knew who He was. They gave Him gold. Gold was a gift given to kings.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign

They gave Him frankincense. This represents divinity. Frankincense is a fragrant resin that was poured out in worship. It was something given to gods. They knew who Jesus was.

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

They gave Him myrrh. Myrrh was used for embalming. These wise men knew what was coming.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

The wise men paid attention. God spoke to them through dreams and a star. God told them to not tell Herod and to go home a different way.

God told them what to do and they listened. Then they acted.

The last verse of the song tells the story going forward.

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav’n replies

We need to be like the wise men. We need to read Scripture. We need to seek Jesus. We need to discern and obey God. We need to act.

At the end of Matthew, Jesus tells us what we’re supposed to do.

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The wise men were seeking Jesus. They found Him and shared that with others. They wouldn’t have found Him if they hadn’t acted on what they knew.

We need to be wise and do the same thing.