Keenly Interested In You

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word

 

1Pe 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

Last time, we looked at the word “casting” in this verse. It means “to throw” and in order for anything to be a throw, it must be released from your grip.

 

But what are these “cares” that we are to release to Jesus? Again I went to the Strong’s Concordance to find out what these “cares” are. The word “cares” here means “distractions.”

 

That’s an eye opener. Cares are those distractions that live rent free in your thought life. They will often interrupt your daily routine, and set you off on a bunny trail of worry. This verse from 1 Peter goes a long way in helping to deal with these distractions.

When they pop up, remember to throw them at Jesus and remember He is eager to take them from you.

 

Why?

 

Because He “cares” for you.

 

And the word “cares” here means that He is “interested” in you! Imagine that! The Creator of the universe is “interested” in you. So when “distractions” show up today, know and believe that Jesus is interested in whatever is distracting you!

 

Pray the Holy Spirit will be quick to remind you of this verse. Restate it this way: “Throwing all my distractions of Jesus because He is keenly interested” in me.”

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

 

Throwing Vs Casting

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word

 

1Pe 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

We have a small group of people who gather every Tuesday night for an hour of prayer at my home church. The immediate goal is to learn some things that God’s Word teaches us about prayer and of course to implement what we have been taught in our daily lives.

 

This week, we will be learning about God’s gracious invitation to cast our burdens onto Him as we learn from this verse in 1 Peter.

 

First of all, we need to know about casting, I think that the word casting  needs to be clarified. Fishermen cast their line into the water, but they don’t leave it there. They retrieve it, over and over again.

 

In that sense, “casting” is the perfect word  for many. We cast our burdens onto the Lord then reel them back in, time after time after time.

 

According to my “Strong’s Concordance though, the word used for casting means “throwing.” Do you see the difference? Put a football or baseball in your hand and throw it. It’s not a throw until you release it from your hand.

 

Think of your cares, your burdens as a ball. Throw them at Jesus confident that He will catch them and bear them with you. He said, in Mt 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

 

Let Him help you ease the burden and give your concerns a rest.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

The Prayer of the Beef Jerky Heart

 Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word

 

Ps 119:83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes.

 What a lament! I have been struggling of late to hear from God in my morning devotions. It’s been like a spiritual famine. My heart has become like a dried up piece of beef jerky, (a wineskin in smoke) but I am in good company as the Psalmist here was going through his own spiritual famine.

 

I think spiritual famines come upon all of us at one time or another. We read, we pray and it’s like the heavens turn to brass. It is the spiritual equivalent of a natural famine spoken of in De 28:23 "And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron.

 

What to do? God is still there! His Word has not lost any of its power. The psalmist here admits that he is in a dryspell, but he resolutely tells God that he will wait it out and while waiting, he will continue to follow God’s guidance (statutes)

 

Those guidelines found in God’s Word are there for a purpose. They help to keep us on the right path no matter the season.

 

They are that “lamp unto our feet” mentioned in Ps 119:105 NUN. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments.

 107 I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. 108 Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD This is the prayer of the beef jerky heart.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Post election results

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word

 

Da 2:21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

 

On this morning after the presidential election in America, it appears Donald Trump was the winner and will return to the office that he held from 2016-2020.

 

Some of you will gloat, (please don’t) others will grumble, (please don’t) rather, based on this scripture from Daniel,  and  Ro 13:1 we ought to be thankful, and we ought to view all election results through the lens of the Word of God!

 

Rom 13:1 Says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

 

And incredibly,  not one ruler or king is immune to the will of God! God is able to turn the heart any which way He chooses. Pr 21:1 assures us, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

 

In the meantime let us pray for the winners! Pray that the Lord would grant wisdom and knowledge to all elected officials! Pray as we are encouraged to do in 1Ti 2:1-4 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

The Lord concerns Himself with the leaders of the land and their policies. Be thankful for them.  Pray for an atmosphere conducive to a quiet and peaceful life in the land. which are marks of the followers of Christ, and above all pray and work for revival in America for it is God’s ultimate desire that all men, Republicans, Democrats  and all others to come to the knowledge of truth.

 

The knowledge of God’s truth is simply this: We are all sinners in need of a Savior and God sent His only Son into the world for that purpose, Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Stones Have Ears

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word

 

How many of you remember the “Pet Rock” craze of 1975? The rocks sold for 4 dollars apiece and came with a custom cardboard box complete with ventilation  holes and straw bedding imitating a pet carrier. The fad lasted six months and an  advertising executive (Gary Dahl) sold more than a million of them, becoming a millionaire overnight.

 

I want to spend a little time today on stones. Did you know stones have ears?

 

In Jos 24:27 – Joshua used a stone as a witness to a covenant that the Lord had made with the Israelites. He set the stone up by an oak tree and said, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God."

 

That stone heard what God had promised and what the people had promised and if God chooses, this stone could be called upon on the Last Day to testify!

We shouldn’t be surprised that God is able to call upon stones as witnesses! Jesus said in Lu 19:40 "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

 

Not only do rocks have ears, they can speak as well!

 

Makes me wonder about those stones the men were planning to toss at the woman caught in the act of adultery. They must’ve said something like “drop me.” Or “put me down!” Because none of them were without sin!

 

We pick up the story in  Joh 8:10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"  11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

 

Those stones on  the ground testify that He did not condemn the woman and they also heard His charge to the woman to not commit adultery again. Go and sin no more.

 

As Ro 8:1 says, “ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

 

The Path of Love

 Ps 119:33  Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.

As I read this portion of Scripture I found myself wondering why are statutes plural and “way” singular? Why didn’t the Psalmist say I shall keep “them” (the statutes) to the end instead of I shall keep it? Same thing in verse 35 concerning the commandments!

 

The answer is fairly simple. The “way” or “path” of the Lord is love! The statutes and commandments are guidelines to keep us on the path of love!

 

In Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

 

Jesus narrowed the ten commandments from 10 to 2, and the two can be summed up in one word….love!

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

 

Obedience without love is ice cold pharisaical legalism and it profits nothing. No wonder the Psalmist  asks the Lord to keep him on the path of love!

 

Similarly, love without commandments is no holds barred hedonism.

 

Do you want to know how you are doing concerning the way of love? Look in the mirror of God’s Word. Jesus said  “if you love Me keep My commands.”(Jn 14:15)

 

The commandments are a measuring stick of your love of God and love of man. They show us how to demonstrate love to both.;

Choices

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Ps 119:30 – The psalmist says, “I have chosen the way of truth” Joshua said  Jos 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

 

To have a choice is to have an option, the Psalmist choice was

(A)           The path of truth (The Word of God)

(B)           The path of lies in the ways of the world.

 

Joshua choice was one of service.

(A)           Serve the Lord

(B)           Serve the pawns of the devil.

(C)           

These choices come at us every single day, Circumstances that demand a decision. Options to believe and options to serve, and this is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Your flesh will opt for (B) in both cases but the Holy Spirit will always lead you to (A) trust and obedience.

 

Call on Him whenever and wherever the choices come your way, remembering 1Jo 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

The Original Daylight Savings Time

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Jos 10:12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." 13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

 

Ever have one of those days when you have much to do, but not enough time to get it done? Joshua was having one of those days. He was in the midst of a God-ordained command to conquer cities in the promised land and on this particular day he was running out of daylight to get the job done.

 

So he prayed for the initial institution of daylight Savings Time! (Blame Joshua)

 

Only instead of turning the clock ahead an hour he asked God to turn it back, and God didn’t stop at a mere hour! He turned it back “for about a whole day!”

 

 He provided the time Joshua needed to get the job done in daylight.

 

Finding yourself pressed for time these days? Have you brought your concerns to God? You don’t need to run around like a headless chicken. If God can stop the sun in its tracks, he can step into your time management problem and provide the time and help you need to get what matters done Ps 31:15 reminds us: ”My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.”

 

Look to God to be delivered from the “tyranny of the urgent. He will put His “honey do” list for you in proper order, multiplying your time supernaturally.

Believe it! Trust it! And see those items on God’s “honey do” list get checked off without all the stress.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

AI and Discernment

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Jos 8:34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.

 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

 

Say the word A-I today and most everyone knows you are talking about Artificial Intelligence. If you would’ve said that word to Joshua, his thoughts would’ve turned to a city by that same name, that handed his army their first defeat.

 

Long story short, they underestimated the army of AI and more importantly they underestimated God’s displeasure with disobedience in the camp.

 

After taking care of the disobedience in accordance with the Word of God, Joshua and his army crushed the army of AI in a rematch.

After the victory Joshua read God’s Word… all of it….to all of the people.

 

Here’s the connection I want to make. Modern day AI is capable of imitating anyone’s voice and can put words in their mouth. (You people viewing this vlog may be listening to an imposter, but if you are familiar with my past vlogs and their content you should be able to tell the difference.) Even so it’s not my voice that I want you to recognize, it’s the voice of the Good Shepherd.

 

With AI technology moving ahead at blinding speed, it’s going to be more vital than ever for you and I to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd, which is accomplished by doing what Joshua did…reading all of God’s Word (the Bible)

 

Read the Word of God yourself! Pass it along to your children and connect to a Bible believing church who does the same. Jesus said in

Joh 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone (including AI) snatch them out of My hand.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

The Burial of Moses

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

De 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.

 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.

 

Moses dies in the land of Moab, short of the Promised Land, just as the Lord had said, and isn’t it interesting that God dug his grave?

 

There was a little confrontation over the burial as we read in Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

 

Nonetheless, Moses was buried in a place that only God knows and his body is not to be tampered with.

Moses (who represents the Law, the Word of God, is not to be tampered with and further, he goes to his grave with full vigor and perfect sight.

 

I think we can learn two lessons here. First of all, the Word of God is not to be tampered with. De 4:2 "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

 

Secondly the Word of God does not lose it’s strength and insight. It is as Jesus said eternal! Mt 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

 

 

You want spiritual insight and vigor? Read the Bible. Trust it’s promises, and seek to obey it’s commands.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Sit and Listen

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

De 33:3 Yes, He loves the people; All His saints are in Your hand; They sit down at Your feet; Everyone receives Your words.

 

First of all understand that saints are not some kind of super departed Christians. Saints are simply all those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation!

 

God loves His saints…if you are a believer….that’s you!  They (you) are in His hand, and Jesus said in Joh 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

 

What comforting words!

 

And note a couple of earmarks of saints here. They sit  down at the feet of Jesus and receive His words! Does that remind you of anyone else in Scripture?

 

Mary and her sister Martha come to mind don’t they.

 

Martha who was preoccupied with busyness didn’t have the time to sit at the feet of Jesus….Mary made time to sit and receive and what did Jesus say about that?

Lu 10:41 "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

 42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

 

Beloved, busyness will always be with us, let us learn to prioritize and don’t neglect our time at the feet of Jesus…it is that good part that will not be wasted.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Don't Forget

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

De 6:10 "So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,

 11 "houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant-when you have eaten and are full-

 12 "then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

 

 

Would you agree that we Americans have houses filled with good things? Central air and heat, microwave ovens, air fryers, smart Tv’s comfortable recliners, even beds with sleep numbers!

 

We have water (hot and cold) that comes from wells that we did not dig, and it is at our disposal with the flick of the wrist. We have food in abundance at grocery stores that we did not grow.

 

Materially speaking, we’ve got it made. It seems that often our most pressing problem is, what to do with all our extra time! What can we do for entertainment? How can we busy ourselves in this opulent world of ours?

 

God has one word for us here.

 

BEWARE!

 

In the midst of all this luxury, don’t forget Jesus. Don’t forget that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, and that forgiveness came to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

It came through no merit of your own. Just as you did not dig the well that is providing water for your thirsty body, so too, you did not suffer on a cross to bring living water to your soul! God provided it all!

 

Enjoy the material blessings God has graciously provided for you, but don’t forget to thank Him! Don’t forget to worship Him! BEWARE that you don’t forget Him!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Unintentional Sins

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Nu 15:28 'So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

 

 

Let’s say you are a baby Christian. You have come to the realization that you are a sinner in need of the forgiveness that is promised through faith in Jesus.

 

Now what?

 

The journey begins and as with every journey it is taken one step at a time. Some of those steps will be errant you will sin along the way. Some of those sins will be born out of biblical ignorance….they will be unintentional. Unintentional or not they need to be atoned for.

 

One of the workings of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sins. He speaks to us through God’s Word and lets us know what is sin and what is not sin.

 

As you spend time in God’s Word the line between right and wrong will become more and more distinct. Armed with this knowledge, we can be more specific about the sins that we confess.

 

And as we confess, we have the sure promise of forgiveness given to us in 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

In the meantime you can also ask God to forgive you of your unintentional sins as well!   

Ps 19:12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

 

Remember, you are not along just for the ride, you are to continue your walk growing in the knowledge of Him who saved you from your ALL your sins, intentional or not!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

How Do You Know A No?

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

De 3:25 'I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.' 26 "But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: 'Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.

 

Today, we are hopping into the prayer closet with Moses. Evidently it had been a persistent prayer of his to be able to cross into the promised land, but God, who advocates for persistency in our prayer life, (See the parable of the persistent neighbor in Luke Lu 11:5-10) tells Moses to stop it! He flat out told Moses “Enough of that!”

 

Wow! Makes you wonder about your own unanswered prayers doesn’t it. Sometimes the answer is a definite no!

 

But how do you know a no? How do you know when to stop asking?

 

I would recommend getting more in tune with God’s spokesperson given to you as a believer……the Holy Spirit, that’s a request God will not turn down.

 

  Lu 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

 

You can’t go wrong with more of the Holy Spirit. He will bring clarity to your situation; He will lead you in your prayers.

 

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

 

Sometimes that “will” is a definite no, other times a yes, and other times it’s not yet.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Wholly Follow the Lord

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

De 1:36 'except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the LORD.'

 

Caleb was one of the spies who checked out the land God had promised the Israelites and in spite of giants in the land and great fortified cities. He and Joshua believed God would overcome those obstacles and give them victory.

God rewarded Caleb and his offspring simply because Caleb believed God, he “wholly followed the Lord.”

 

Friend, it is a good thing to “go all in” with the Lord. But what does that look like? Simply put, you believe God’s Word and if you believe it, you will act on it.

 

2Ti 3:16 tells us: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

 

Complete trust in the truth of God’s Word must be your starting point. The journey begins at that point and each step of obedience to God’s revealed truth will guide you along the way to “wholly following the Lord.”

 

This definitely will require some course correction in the way you live. It will require repentance and confession of sin, but the end result is a life lived out more and more in alignment with God’s will for your life.

 

Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Wars and Rumors of Wars

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

I’ll never forget the picture. I saw it at the start of the war between the Ukraine and the Soviet Union. It was a Ukrainian father tearfully saying goodbye to his young daughter. I pray for them often, asking that God would safely reunite them at the end of this conflict.

 

Wars! Caused by the lust and pride of sinful man as we are reminded in Jas 4:2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.

 

It is because of this unshakeable pride and lust of man that we will always have war and rumors of the same.

Jesus said in Mr 13:7 "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.

 

 

Even though wars “must happen,” doesn’t mean that we can’t pray for an end to any specific conflict. I was made aware of this truth today as I was reading in  Ps 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.

 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

 

God is able! Go to Him in prayer for the many conflicts taking place in our world today. Pray with me that that daughter and father and thousands just like them may be safely reunited.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word