Articles that reference the book of Matthew

Posted on November 15, 2014 by TonyNovember 15, 2022

If you have to suffer fools, remember Jesus did long before you.

There’s no getting around it. In this life you will have to suffer fools. To have no contact with fools you’d need to leave the planet. And sorry to say…that would make you a fool, and then your plan would self-explode. 🙂

Now, just because you have to suffer fools and their willful ignorance doesn’t mean you have to do it gladly. In fact, you should remove yourself from their presence if they refuse to listen to and acknowledge truth. And guess what…

…Truth does truly exist.

The Truth came to live here on Earth about 2000 years ago. Maybe you’ve heard of Him. His name is Jesus. He was welcomed and loved by many. But He was hated, scorned, and persecuted by many more. Why? Because He told them the truth. And truth is hate to those who hate the truth.

Have you found yourself having to suffer fools more viciously and maliciously recently? I certainly have. It’s incredulous to me how often I’ve reached out to others, in love…only to suffer their hatred in return. But it’s not really too surprising if you’ve ever read what Jesus said about that: “I chose you out of this world therefore the world hates you“.

I’m not saying I’m a good man, free from foolish decisions and untouched by sin. I’ve been a fool. So has everyone else at one time or another. The only good Christian who ever lived was THE Christ…Jesus. And, in His wisdom and understanding of how to suffer fools, even He said “why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God“. He was making a point.

If you’ve ever listened to my Christian songs, you may have noticed a common thread or theme. In the lyrics I consistently acknowledge my own need for a Savior. My own stupidity. My own shortcomings and failures. I’ve told people I need a Savior more than most. And the awesome news is…

…there IS a Savior. And even though He created the whole universe and everything in it from nothing…using only words…He thinks I’m worthy of saving. He loves little ol’ me enough to take my punishment. Knowing that enables me to suffer fools till the day I breathe my last breath…or until the Lord comes in the clouds and calls me into the air.

Stay tuned…

My Hiding Place

Posted on November 9, 2014 by TonyNovember 13, 2014

Even the bravest warriors, fighters, and soldiers need a hiding place once in a while. A place where they can rest from their battles. A place where they can eat and fuel their minds. A place where they can rise above the noise and plan their next moves. Do you have a hiding place you can go when this world weighs heavily on your shoulders? I do. My hiding place is in God.

OK…now that I’ve raised the name of God as my hiding place I’m certain I’ve just lost over half of the visitors who landed on this page…either by accident or on purpose. That’s alright. It goes with the territory. It’s in the job description where Jesus mentioned “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you“. It may not be enjoyable to know people despise you in spite of your message of love…but it happens. So there.

But anyway…

I love knowing my hiding place is in the living, loving Word of God. I can go to Him anytime I’m tired, anytime I’m unsure, anytime I need encouragement. I hate to think of a life where I didn’t have that reassurance.

Is your life challenging you right now? And do you feel attacked from all sides? Financial, marital, emotional, physical attacks that seem endless? If so, do you have the confidence of knowing who you can turn to for answers? I hope you do.

Psalm 119:114, in the Bible, talks about what I’m sharing with you right now. The writer of this Psalm obviously needed a hiding place. But you’ll also notice the mention of a “shield”. And remember, a shield is used in battle. So, the writer wasn’t giving up. That’s because in his hiding place he found rest, and more importantly…hope.

I hope your hope is in God and His Word. If not, I invite you to join me in my hiding place. Join me here on my website anytime. Leave me your questions and comments, and I’ll always share the clearly revealed secrets of my hiding place in Jesus.

Stay tuned…

Tomorrow Will Worry About Its Own Things

Posted on October 19, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

Don't worry about tomorrow because Tomorrow Will Worry About Its Own

A red letter edition of the Bible is a version where the words in red are the ones spoken by Jesus after He became a man. As far as I know you’ll only find those words in the New Testament. But one verse I always remember, when my soul wants to worry, is Matthew 6:34. You’ll see these words in red: “therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Notice Jesus doesn’t say something like “do not consider tomorrow”…or…”do not think about tomorrow”. He uses the word “worry”. Do not worry about tomorrow. Then He uses the same word in the very next sentence when He says “for tomorrow will worry about its own things”.

Does that mean tomorrow is a thinking, feeling entity? No. It means the only day you can do anything about is today. And today has enough of its own trouble to keep you busy. Wouldn’t you agree?

If you’re a Christian, maybe it’ll help you to realize worry as a sin. Worry means you’re not trusting God to help you through…to be there with you tomorrow. Or maybe you don’t even trust Him to help you through today. But I’d like you to consider this…which of your problems is the Grace of God not sufficient enough for?

And if you’re not a Christian, maybe you think you’re the ONE who Jesus forgot to die for. Or maybe you feel that you’re the ONE for whom the hope of salvation and eternal life in the Bible doesn’t apply?

Put those kinds of thoughts as far away from as the East is from the West.

If you’re dealing with worry and/or doubt, here’s what I suggest. Turn your focus outward. Stop thinking so much about yourself and your problems. Instead…think about others. Think about ways you can serve your fellow man. What are your gifts and talents? How could you put them to use to help ease the pain of worry in someone else?

Wouldn’t you love someone to do that for you when you’re worried? Well, another thing Jesus said…and you’ve probably heard this one called the “Golden Rule”…is this: “Therefore, iwhatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” This is a moral and ethical rule of thumb. Of course, there are many who would take your good deed and never return the favor. But your Heavenly Father sees what you’ve done, so your focus will not go unrewarded and unappreciated.

As you turn your focus outward, you’ll probably find many (maybe even most) people hurting and worrying much more than you. You can help alleviate some of that pain and suffering by sharing this same sort of message with them. Just start with one. Surely you know one person who could use your caring, your nurturing, your gentle hand on their shoulder.

Start today. Don’t put it off till tomorrow. Remember…tomorrow will worry about its own things.

Stay tuned…

Rivers of Living Water

Posted on October 15, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

Over the course of your life you’ll speak, read, and hear possibly millions of words. The words flowing from the mouths and minds of men and women will last for a time and then fade further away with each passing generation. But the Word of God is alive. And when you speak it, read it, hear it, or write it through faith in the One who gave it to you, it’s like having rivers of living water flowing out of your heart.

I used to think as long as I was writing “positive” songs and singing with joy, people would see it and wonder what kept me upbeat and happy. And maybe once upon a time that might have worked a bit. But in this day and age, when people all over the world are getting more and more violent and bolder in their selfish sins, I think Christians need to take things up a notch…or 10.

So…my happy-go-lucky persona can still be there, but I feel an urgent need to express the seriousness of the situation in this world, too. In many Christian circles and ministries you may notice more talk about the “soon return” of Jesus. Many of the signs Jesus talked about have occurred and are occurring now. And He said when these signs come, “see that you are not troubled for all these things must come to pass“.

You’ve probably heard of the “Second Coming”. That’s when Jesus comes back to rule and reign over the Earth. The “signs” point to this. But before that is a day when Jesus comes to take his church into the air. Christians call this the Rapture. If I’m still on the planet when that happens, I want to be caught up in the air with Him…in the twinkling of an eye. Don’t you?

Here’s a song I wrote about “living water” and the “bread of life”. It’s called “The Master’s Knife”. Enjoy it and may God richly bless you.

Stay tuned…

Heaven And Earth Will Pass Away

Posted on October 4, 2014 by TonyOctober 1, 2024

In certain Bibles, when you read the words, “Heaven and Earth will pass away“, the letters are in red. That kind of Bible is commonly referred to as a “red letter edition”. Simply put, the red letters represent Jesus speaking. And when He said “Heaven and Earth will pass away”, He also added, “but My words will by no means pass away”. What does that mean for you and me?

You have a choice. Because God loved you so much, He designed you with a will of your own. You’re not a robot. You don’t have to love Him if you don’t want to. In fact, you can even choose to hate Him. Many do. But here’s the thing to keep in mind as you choose.

Heaven and earth will pass away.

So God is the only sovereign being in existence. He is the only one who not only will exist forever…but also always existed in the past. His existence doesn’t depend on yours. But yours DOES depend on His. If you love Him and want to be with Him forever, He’s made a place for you to do that. Maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s typically called “Heaven”.

And in God’s loving wisdom, He’s also made a place for those who hate Him and would rather not spend eternity with Him. Maybe you’ve heard of that place, too? It’s known as “hell”.

Now, referring back to the part where I said “you have a choice”…remember…YOU choose which place you’ll go. God isn’t choosing for you. He’ll simply make sure you reach the destination of YOUR choice. There’s a key passage in the Bible I really love that illustrates this best. It says it in these three words, “therefore choose life“. Read the rest, too.

Do you realize how much love it took for God to give you your own will? Your own ability to choose to love or hate…what an incredible risk it was for God. And it cost Him the life of His Son. A greater loss and a greater love the world has never seen, does not see now, and will never see again.

But God promised this…that if you choose (there’s that word again) to trust Jesus as your personal savior, even though Heaven and Earth will pass away, you will live on forever. Not in your current broken-down condition, but in a glorified, resurrected, eternal reconnection of body, soul, and spirit.

Do you really want to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like that?

Stay tuned…

Humble Pie

Posted on August 20, 2014 by TonySeptember 23, 2014

When I was younger I remember hearing the expression, “you may have to eat some humble pie”. It was a common way of saying “you messed up and now you’d better man up”.

When you're the apple of your eye, have a slice of Humble Pie.

Humility is an important part of spiritual growth and wisdom. I compare humility to a drive in the Rocky Mountains. If you’ve never been to the Rockies, you may not completely relate to this analogy, but it’s like this. Many roads going over passes have multiple switchbacks (sharp turns where you can see where you’ve been and where you’re going), and you can see other vehicles way up the mountain side. The further up, the tinier they appear.

You get a real sense of just how small you are in this world as you observe even 18 wheelers looking like toys on the road.

That’s how it is with humility. Hopefully you’ve come to a point in your life (or soon will) where you realize there IS a God, you’re not Him, and His eternal attributes dwarf your own finite life. That’s what Christians are talking about when they say “humble yourselves before God“.

Most people don’t seem to want to humble themselves. They’ve already lifted themselves too high (they feel) to have to submit to some so-called higher will. And that’s a shame because they miss out on the best part of humility…where God lifts you up.

Go make the most of every day
In everything and every way.
Believe in changing things for good
As any caring person would.
Be like a little secret elf
And love your neighbor as yourself.
When you’re the apple of your eye,
You need a slice of humble pie.
It isn’t good, but it’s divine.
I know that’s true ’cause I’ve had mine.
So have a slice, and then you’ll know
God lifts you up when you are low.

Stay tuned”

Gold Frankincense And Myrrh

Posted on December 24, 2013 by TonyDecember 19, 2021

Imagine getting gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh just for being born.

It sounds like an awesome way to get started in life. And for most of us regular run-of-the-mill humans it would be. But if your birth was foretold for hundreds or even thousands of years…and if there were a lot of people who wanted to make sure you never saw the light of day…

Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh might take on a whole new importance.

Consider the plight of a young, newly-married couple…Joseph and Mary. They’ve just gotten through an explanation of how Mary came to be pregnant before they were married. It literally took visitations from angels to convince Joseph that Mary had remained chaste and to convince Mary that she’d give birth to the Messiah. After that situation is cleared up they find they have to go on a long trip to be registered for the census decreed by Augustus Caesar.

They make the trip to a town named Bethlehem with Mary pregnant, and they find nowhere to stay since so many people are in town for census registration. Next they discover that King Herod devises a plan to kill all the male children 2 years old and younger in Bethlehem in order to get to this possible Messiah. Herod had heard this newborn baby would be King of the Jews, and he’d have none of it.

Well, Joseph receives another visitation.

From an angel telling him of Herod’s plan. And the angel tells Joseph to take his baby and wife to Egypt. Yikes! That’s gonna take a lot of money. Oh wait…they have the gold from the wise men and others who came to worship the newborn King of the Jews.

Wow, a trip to Egypt would be treacherous with a newborn. The family would endure desert dryness and other harsh conditions. Hmm…the oil of Frankincense is an excellent skin moisturizer, and it also helps support the immune system. And the oil of Myrrh is also good for the skin. And it appears to have beneficial effects on the hypothalamus, and pituitary. Oh yeah, also the amygdala…for emotional balance.

In other words, it might not be a mere coincidence that Joseph, Mary, and their baby named Jesus got these gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh. It might have been God’s wisdom and foresight.

But…I’m just a writer who tells stories. What do I know?

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk

Your Life Has Rhyme And Reason Because God Made You

Category Archives: Matthew

My Hiding Place

Tomorrow Will Worry About Its Own Things

Rivers of Living Water

Heaven And Earth Will Pass Away

Heaven and earth will pass away.

Humble Pie

Gold Frankincense And Myrrh

Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh might take on a whole new importance.

Well, Joseph receives another visitation.