Nathan Neighbors
Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, & Youth Pastor
Today’s reading spans much of the three years of Christ’s earthly ministry. So much depth and wisdom from Christ covers these pages. As I re-read these words from the Gospel of Matthew here are a few of the phrases of Jesus that stand out:
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move… Matthew 17:20
They are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Matthew 19:6
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14
With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:26-28
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…Love your neighbors as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40
Our fifth summer at Morningside is coming to an end. It’s been a fantastic summer filled with Vacation Bible School, three local Bible clubs, a mission trip to Charleston, a rafting trip, and a trip Carowinds for the Big Youth Thing. This is also the fifth summer that we’ve passed my Tuareg Cross. Each summer we pass a cross necklace that is called a Tuareg Cross from person to person within the Youth Ministry. My sister brought it to me as a gift from her mission trip to Africa in the 90’s, but now it’s passed among our students as a way for them to encourage one another. They pass it each day of our summer adventures to someone in whom they see Christ. Here’s the path of the cross this summer:
- Meredith Pheffer (VBS Day 1)
- Anna Robinson (VBS Day 2)
- Brittany Eberhart (VBS Day 3)
- Aaron Ross (CEF Training Camp)
- Lindsey Tate (Bible Club Day 1)
- Caroline Ross (Bible Club Day 2)
- Emily Parker (Bible Club Day 3)
- Steven Chen (Bible Club Day 4)
- Jacob Ross (Bible Club day 5)
- JD Weeks (Mission Trip Prep Week)
- Jacob Balmer (Mission Trip Day 1)
- Hunter Smith (Mission Trip Day 2)
- Nic Moore (Mission Trip Day 3)
- Justin Briscoe (Mission Trip Day 4)
- LeAnn Ross (Mission Trip Day 5)
- Lindsey Tate (Mission Trip Day 6)
- Elisabeth Lytle (Mission Trip Day 7)
- Janna McClure (Space Invaders – Ross’)
- Aaron Ross (Space Invaders – Bastin’s)
- Connor Bastin (Space Invaders – Dodds’)
In today’s reading we’re now officially into the to New Testament. There is so much depth to all that Jesus says in these pages. It’s hard to know what to write about. The thing that strikes me most of all is Jesus’ constant knack for turning what the people thought about the law on its head. Here are some examples:
Law = Do Not Murder….Jesus says….don’t be angry with your brother (Matt 5:21-26)
Law = Don’t Commit Adultery….Jesus says, don’t even look lustfully on a woman (Matt 5:27-30)
Law = Love your neighbor…Jesus says, love your enemies too (Matt 5:43-48)
Ultimately, Jesus came to give the people a radically different view of what it means to follow God than they had once thought. He truly came to show them how to live life abundant and free. Following Christ means paying a high cost. It means putting Him first in everything…even before your parents, spouse and children. (Matt 10:37-39) Though it’s a high cost to follow Christ, it is well worth it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Nathan Neighbors 