Jesus is trying to tell us in this passage that those things that consume us, as a treasure does, should be those things which have to do with Heaven. Such things as being with God and His Son and joining with angels to sing praises to Him. We should not let our lives here on earth be consumed by those things which pass away: money, jobs, family, clothes, boats, cars, houses, friends, vacations, food, habits, feelings, and list could go on forever. We need to let our lives be consumed by thought of, and longing for eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25) This passage and thought is really a continuation of above passage. First Jesus tells us not to let life's desirable things consume us, then He says don't let life's bad things consume us either. We should not put our efforts into worrying about life's problems. God will take care of our daily needs, on this you can rest assured. Are there going to be troubles in life? You better believe it! But don't worry about it. Live each day in God's grace, and follow His commandments, and He will provide for you and help you bear up under life's problems. Worry indicates that we really don't have faith that God will provide. We do not show God love by worrying, we show Him love by having faith and not worrying.

"Judge not, that you be not judged." (Matthew 7:1) "And why do you look at speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider plank in your own eye? Or how do you say to your brother, 'Let me remove speck out of your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:3-5) What in world does this passage have to do with showing love for God? Well, let's consider this. If we are judgmental and critical of our brothers and sisters in Christ, it tears down church. We all have things in our lives which are not right, planks in our eye. How can we see clearly (because of our sin) to be able to rightly judge our brother or sister? How do we know what they are really dealing with, concerns they have, and problems they have to overcome? The answer to both is that we can't. Since we can't be a righteous judge, we do our brothers and sisters wrong by trying to judge them. Instead of judging them we should pray for them and ask God to help them and guide them to right answers. This is showing love for both God and our brothers and sisters.

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is Law and Prophets." (Matthew 7:12) If every person on earth would follow this command of Jesus, we would have Heaven here on earth. Every ill on earth is a result of us (as humans) not caring for our fellow man. All greed, envy, jealously, hatred, and strife would end. If we as Christians would follow this command, church would not have strife it has as well. By treating our fellow Christians as we would like to be treated, we are truly showing love for them. By treating those outside of Christ, and our enemies too, way we would like to be treated, we again show love. Jesus told us to love all people. How can we? Read this passage again!

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15) If we really love God, we will do everything in our power to keep ourselves true to doctrine as given in Bible. The Bible is God's word. To allow false teachers to destroy its meaning, to distort its teachings, and to attribute ideas to God which are not true, is to put ourselves and others in danger of loosing salvation. God is loving and righteous, but He is also just. If you or I follow a false teaching, even if it is taught as if it came from God, we are putting ourselves in jeopardy. Let's make every effort to "rightly divide word of truth."

"Therefore pray Lord of harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:38) We need to keep lost in our prayers daily. Not just "the lost" as un-named people, but those we know have not accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Peter tells us in his second epistle that God does not want anyone to perish. Therefore, if God loves all people (and He does), then we should join in through prayer for harvesters. But, we should be one of those harvesters!

"But seek first kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) This is one of my most favorite scriptures in Bible. If every Christian would follow this command, troubles of church would be over. If we would follow this command, we would honestly show our love for God.

I hope that you have never thought to yourself, "I love God but I don't know how to show Him." But if you have, then I pray that what I have said to you through this article has helped show that we can truly demonstrate our love for God and His Son each and every day. I hope that we can live each day in fullness of God's love. At close of each day as we reflect on day's activity let us truly be able to say, "Today I told God that I love Him by manner in which I have lived this day."

All scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.

Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org

Jesus did not beat around bush when talking about who He was. He made it very clear that He was Son of God. Time after time He refers to fact that He is God's Son or that He should be treated as such.

When Jesus performed His miracles in cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum people rejected Him. They did not recognize Him as Son of God. Jesus therefore reproached or condemned them for their disbelief. In account of this in Matthew Jesus tells us specifically that all authority has been given to Him: "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father..." (Matthew 11:27a)

If indeed Jesus is Son of God, and has authority and power over all things, then we - creation of God - should give honor and praise to Jesus. Jesus taught this to His disciples: "that all should honor Son just as they honor Father. He who does not honor Son does not honor Father who sent Him." (John 5:23) John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to this earth so that those who believed in Him could have eternal life. For God to do this for us, and for us to not give Jesus honor due Him would be a terrible thing. Jesus also told us many things about Himself that shows that He is Son of God. He said that He was sent by His Father into world (John 8:42). He said that He had been appointed judge over all mankind (Matthew 25:31-41). He said that only way man can receive salvation, only way to Father was through Him (John 14:6). Jesus told us that His blood was shed for remission of sins for many, or for all that accept Him as Lord and Savior (Matthew 26:28). And finally, Jesus said that He could submit Himself to die and raise from dead under His own power (John 10:18).

In a court of law, if there are two witness who will confirm same set of facts to be true, it is very difficult for apposing attorneys to disprove their testimony. In fifth chapter of John we have recorded for us not two, but four forms of witness concerning fact that Jesus is Son of God. In verses 31-35 we have witness of John Baptist, in verse 36 there is witness of works of Christ, in verses 37 and 38 we have witness of Father, and in verses 39 through 47 we have witness of Scriptures.

In like manner, four gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - also bear witness to life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and deity of Jesus Christ.

"When Jesus came into region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' And Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are Christ, Son of living God.'" (Matthew 16:13-16) Even today people will say that Jesus was someone other than Son of God. Some say He was a good man, but not Son of God. Others will say He was a prophet, a great teacher, or a great religious leader but reject Him as Son of God. Still others say that He was an impostor, or even from Satan. If Jesus is really Son of God (and He is), then we should follow His teachings and obey His gospel. So important question for you is not who do others say that He is, but who do you say that Jesus is? I say that Jesus is Christ, Son of living God.

One of most beautiful parts of Bible, in my opinion, are places where Jesus is called by various names. All these names point to or show that He is God's Son. Let me give you some examples of these beautiful names.

"And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in churches. I am Root and Offspring of David, Bright and Morning Star." (Revelation 22:16)

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away sin of world!'" (John 2:29)

"This is stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become chief cornerstone." (Acts 4:11)

"But one of elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, Lion of tribe of Judah, Root of David, has prevailed to open scroll and to loose its seven seals.'" (Revelation 5:5)

I am closing this article with a passage from Old Testament. It does not speak about Jesus specifically, but I feel that message is still applicable. "...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

All scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of The Home Bible Study Institute.

Visit our site at http://www.james1-22.org