Streetlights New Testament - Flipbook - Page 19
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M at t h e w 5
Will you follow?
WE ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS SIMON PETER. One moment we tell God,
I’m all in—I’ll never deny you! But the next moment, we fail Him. God knows us better
than we know ourselves. He calls us even though He knows we can’t uphold perfection
like Him. And yet He still tells us, “Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect”
(Matthew 5:48).
So how do we keep following Jesus if we know we will inevitably fail? Our great
hope is in the fact that God gives us His grace for our mistakes. He has made us perfect
through faith in Him and is making us perfect as we continue in that faith. Meanwhile,
His faithful hand is working in us in both our failures and our victories over sin. (Check
out Romans 6, 7, and 8 when you get a chance.) God also gives us His Holy Spirit, His
Word, and other Christians to teach us from our failures and help us continue to grow in
becoming obedient, joyful followers of Jesus who desire to live as He did.
Peter continued to get up and follow Jesus—even after denying Him many times
and stumbling in sin—because Jesus Himself picked him up and said, “Follow me” (John
21:22). Jesus will not deny us, and He always wants us to receive His grace and depend on
Him to grow through every mistake and victory. Follow Him, and don’t give in to failure or
condemnation. Our perfect heavenly Father does not give up on His kids—Peter or you!
&
TH I N K
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and
realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst
for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for
doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you
and persecute you and lie about you and say
all sorts of evil things against you because you
are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very
glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.
PR AY
And remember, the ancient prophets were
persecuted in the same way.
Teaching about Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good
is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it
salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled
underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city
on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one
lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.
Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it
gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the
same way, let your good deeds shine out for
all to see, so that everyone will praise your
heavenly Father.
Teaching about the Law
17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I
did not come to abolish the law of M
oses or
the writings of the prophets. No, I came to ac
complish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth,
until heaven and earth disappear, not even the
smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until
its purpose is achieved. 19So if you ignore the
least commandment and teach others to do the
