Matthew 5:31-37
Reflect
The red light gives me time to read the truck’s writing in front of me: “This truck carries extremely fresh fruit and vegetables”. Why would someone have to emphasize that specifically? Is extremely fresh really more fresh than fresh? Isn’t it interesting that in the world around us, more and more things need to be specified. Lean meat/extra lean meat, organically grown, you can trust (is there reason not to trust?), I will be there…for sure! Even in raising our children, an extra “I promise” at the end of a sentence gives away that our word is not always dependable.
Jesus challenges us in today's passage. Take your marriage vows seriously! Marriage is for life! Think hard before you say YES to a spouse in front of God! Make no oath or vows! Jesus sums it up in, “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” (v37)
Apply
Ask God to reveal to you where you are hasty in speech, to promise things and not keep them.
Ask Him to change your heart and make you a truthful person, that your word would be enough and people could count on your "yes" to be a yes and your "no" to be a no.
Annette Faszer
Pray
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor and Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Associate.
- Pray for Karen Alksne, our Congregational Life Ministry Associate.
- Pray for our Evening Event Hosts, Ethan Okken and Noah Okken
- Pray for our office staff: Vicky Bailey, Naomi Voss; bookkeeper Liudmyla Lushchyk.