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Songs are usually born out of surrounding circumstances that so affect the thinking of the composer, he cannot help but burst forth with a melody and an accompanying set of lyrics describing his plight.

Read Psalm 102:25; Psalm 111:10

Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.Psalm 102:25

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!Psalm 111:10

Two lingering questions are yours—and only yours—to answer:

Read Matthew 7:24–29

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise,like a person who builds a house on solid rock.Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters riseand the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish,like a person who builds a house on sand.When the rains and floods come and the winds get against that house,it will collapse with a mighty crash.”Matthew 7:24–27

Read Matthew 7:13–14

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.The highway to hell is broad,and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.But the gateway to life is very narrowand the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.Matthew 7:13–14

Read Matthew 7:15–17

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheepbut are really vicious wolves.You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.”Matthew 7:15–17

Read Matthew 7:12

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.Matthew 7:12

Being the ultimate wordsmith, Jesus has saved the most significant words until the last. What you are about to read is commonly called the Golden Rule.

Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Read Matthew 7:6; Hosea 4:17

Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.Don’t throw your pearls to pigs!They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.Matthew 7:6

Our Lord neither extols the virtues of gullibility (there are none), nor does He wink at a lack of discernment. To walk with God in a quiet, uncomplicated manner, sharing our faith with non-Christians, in no way suggests that we keep hammering away at stony hearts and indifferent wills.

Read Galatians 6:1–2

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin,you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.Galatians 6:1–2

Read Matthew 7:1–5

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.For you will be treated as you treat others.The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?How can you think of saying to your friend,‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye;then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.Matthew 7:1–5

Read Matthew 6:33–34

Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,and he will give you everything you need.So don’t worry about tomorrow,for tomorrow will bring its own worries.Today’s trouble is enough for today.”Matthew 6:33–34

Do you really want to live a worry-free life? I mean, are you serious about getting rid of those mental distractions and emotional drains? If so, these concluding verses in Matthew 6 offer the two passwords for entering that new mode of existence: priorities and simplicity.

Priorities