Today we conclude the “Deeper Reading Plan” listening to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech “The Other America.” He was such an inspiring and amazing man, a true American legend; a gentle, peaceful soul. It is no wonder the devil stirred evil in James Earl Ray to assassinate the great Reverend King. 52 years after the assassination of Dr. King, America still struggles with hate, evil, discrimination, and a racial divide that continues to plague this land. We need a revival, a final revival, to sweep America from sea to shining sea. A revival that recognizes the true calling of our CHRISTIAN nation: to love everyone, to help the poor, to help the displaced, to help the sick, to help the lost, to help the lonely. That is our mission in 2020: save America, and then America can be the example to save the world.

January 24

²³Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, that it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  ²⁴Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”  (Matthew 19:23-24)

I have sat through sermon after sermon of many pastors trying to argue against what Jesus says plainly in these verses.  I even had a pastor once say that when Jesus said it is “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” that this was just an analogy, that He did mean an actual needle like someone sews with, but a needle was what the Jewish people called an entry way into a gate.  Meaning a camel would have to lower itself to pass through.  This pastor tried to argue that as long as you had wealth and you were humble about it, and gave all thanks to God, you would still find passage into the kingdom of heaven.

Make no mistake where Jesus stands when it comes to wealth.  He makes his point so clear he emphasizes it twice in this one passage.  And Jesus states twice “I tell you.”  These were Jesus’s personal warnings.  This doesn’t mean that you have to be poor to earn Jesus’s favor.  But there is a clear line in the sand where a person becomes wealthy and not just well off.  Jesus wants us to live a life of abundance, but not in the form of material wealth.  In America, really anyone making more than $100k a year, is wealthy, and they are hopefully tithing 10% and donating to those in need.  If God has blessed you with a career and ability to make even more money than this, pay it forward.  Don’t ever forget that everything comes from God, even your success. 

Reading plan:  Matthew Chapter 22

Deeper reading plan:  MLK’s speech:  “The Other America”

Prayer and meditation:  continue to pray for your request from day 1 and ask God to bless you so you can bless others.

Fitness challenge:  Week four of our 7×14 challenge.  2 sets, nice and slow reps, focus on form.

1.  Standard push-up                2.  Sit-up or crunches

3.  Air squats                                4.  Hand-release push-up

5.  Leg lifts                                    6.  Lunges (7-each leg)

7.  4-count flutter kick