Aligning with the Father for 2023
December 31, 2022

Aligning with the Father for 2023

Matthew 7:24
24  “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid
rock.  25  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that
house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  26  But anyone who hears my teaching and
doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  27  When the rains and floods
come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Matthew 9:2-8
2  Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the
paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”
3  But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s
God?”
4  Jesus knew [a]  what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in
your hearts?  5  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?  6  So I will prove to
you that the Son of Man [b]  has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the
paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
7  And the man jumped up and went home!  8  Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen.
And they praised God for giving humans such authority.
Matthew 12:22
22  Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He
healed the man so that he could both speak and see.  23  The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it
be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”
24  But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons.
He gets his power from Satan, [d]  the prince of demons.”
25  Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or
family splintered by feuding will fall apart.  26  And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and
fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.  27  And if I am empowered by Satan, what
about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have
said.  28  But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived
among you.  29  For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods?
Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

Matthew 23:1-12
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,  2  “The teachers of religious law and the
Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. [a]   3  So practice and obey whatever they tell

you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.  4  They crush people with
unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
5  “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture
verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. [b]   6  And they love to sit at the head table at
banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.  7  They love to receive respectful greetings as
they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’ [c]
8  “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers
and sisters. [d]   9  And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your
Father.  10  And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.  11  The
greatest among you must be a servant.  12  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those
who humble themselves will be exalted.
Philippians 2:1-11 - Having the Attitude of Christ
2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship
together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?  2  Then make me truly happy by
agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind
and purpose.
3  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than
yourselves.  4  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6  Though he was God, [a]
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges [b] ;
    he took the humble position of a slave [c]
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, [d]
8      he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9  Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11  and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 22:37-40
37  Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your
mind.’ [e]   38  This is the first and greatest commandment.  39  A second is equally important: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ [f]   40  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two
commandments.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
13  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:14
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
I Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant
between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of
me as often as you drink it.”