Today’s Reading: Matthew 12:1-14

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” – Matthew 12:1-2

The Pharisees watched Jesus closely, especially on the Sabbath. They wanted to catch him breaking the Jewish traditions and laws so as to have grounds to accuse him and shut down his ministry. They had his disciples under close surveillance.

The question they asked Jesus also exaggerated the truth; it made it sound like the disciples were harvesting the fields on the Sabbath. The truth was that they simply broke off some heads of grain, rubbed off the husks with their hands, and then ate the grain. In other words, they fixed themselves a quick snack as they walked through the grainfields.

“The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.” – Luke 6:5

Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! – Luke 6:8-10

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there in that moment as Jesus took the time to make eye contact with each and every one of his accusers? Jesus knew their thoughts and he knew their motives. He knew what he was about to do was going to make them very angry — angry enough to make them start plotting against him.

Jesus looks at the heart of each and every one of us — individually. He knows when we use the Sabbath as an excuse to make the day about ourselves when His intention has always been that the Sabbath would be about Him. The Sabbath is not a day for us to focus on our own needs for rest but to slow down the busyness of our lives and focus our attention fully on Him.

“I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” – Matthew 12:7b & Hosea 6:6

When we are fully focused on Him and we feel His eye on us, God may move on our hearts to show mercy to someone or to do something for Him. Our response should be one of obedience. The Sabbath is a great day to worship God and a great day to hear from Him. Isn’t it also a great day to respond in obedience, no matter what He is asking us to do?

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” – Matthew 12:11-12

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. – Mark 2:27

Mark describes Jesus as experiencing both anger at the Pharisees’ manipulation and sadness at the hardness of their hearts. Knowing how they were about to respond, he told the man to hold out his deformed hand.

Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! – Matthew 12:13

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

Jesus restored that which was broken and healed that which was wounded, but first the man had to hold out his hand — an action that showed obedience to the Lord’s instructions and faith that God can take our biggest weakness and restore it for His glory. Let’s respond to Jesus today by holding out our hands in faith, allowing God to use our hands however and whenever He asks.

Lord, give us a heart of mercy that sees the needs of those around us and puts their needs ahead of our own. Use us in ways we don’t expect in order to meet the needs of others. May we believe in faith that you are able to heal our body, restore our spirit, and build our strength. Lord, we hold our hands out to you this morning. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 11:20-30

Jesus traveled from town to town, preaching the message of repentance and performing miracles. But there were many who clung to their self-righteousness rather than recognizing their own need for salvation. While the unrighteous were turning from their wicked ways and asking for God’s forgiveness, the self-righteous were continuing to rely on their religious practices and traditions rather than respond to the message of repentance. They chose their own merit over humbling themselves and admitting that they were sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus had strong words for them:

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” – Matthew 11:20-24

COME TO JESUS WITH CHILDLIKE FAITH.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! – Matthew 11:25-26

It is good to study God’s word in order to gain a better understanding; it is wise to spend time daily allowing the bible to mold us and teach us. To study the bible with the intent of finding errors, or to disprove the Spirit-anointed writings, is like the reaction of the religious leaders to Jesus’ teachings. They had a choice to receive the Messiah with childlike faith or to challenge the authority of Jesus. We see this same dichotomy in the church today.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” – Matthew 11:27

God revealed Himself to HIs creation by allowing us to get to know the Son. When we study the life of Christ, we gain understanding of who God is and how deeply He loves us. We recognize our need to let go of our striving and attempts at righteousness in order to fully rely on the grace of God — undeserved, unmerited, and unearned.

COME TO JESUS IN HUMBLE SURRENDER.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

Father God, we approach your throne today with all that is weighing us down. We are tired of making our best effort to serve you; we are weary of our self-righteousness. Lord, we thank you for the yoke that is placed upon us — that we can live this life in relationship with you. Teach us, lead us, guide us. We pray for the experience of childlike faith today, resting in who you are and what you want to make out of our lives. We love you, Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 11:2-19

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” – Matthew 11:2-6

John had been longing for the arrival of the Messiah. He knew the Promised One was coming soon because God had called him to prepare the way. He had dedicated his life to preaching this message — “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). This was not only his purpose, it was his passion.

John sent his disciples to find out if Jesus was the One they had been waiting for. He knew Jesus was special, because he was there when the dove descended on Jesus as he came out of the water after John baptized him. He heard the voice say, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:17). John’s whole life had been dedicated to this moment and he longed to know for sure whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. It was uncertain whether or not he would survive this prison, but he could die in peace if he knew with certainty that the Messiah had arrived.

There was a trail of evidence of Jesus’ power in every town he visited. Those who had been without sight could now see; those who had been crippled or sick were healed. The deaf could hear and those who had once been dead were now alive. The same Good News that John had preached was now being declared by Jesus. And the evidence of God’s blessing fell on everyone who chose to accept the words of Jesus rather than to find offense at what he said.

As John’s disciples walked away, Jesus turned to the crowd and revealed how the prophecies were fulfilled through the life of John the Baptist. John’s disciples were checking to see if Jesus was the real deal, and Jesus turned around and made sure the Jews knew that John was special: “John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you’” (Matthew 11:10).

John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Scripture but they did recognize the messenger because he did not appear as they expected him to. Jesus asked the crowd, “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:7b-9).

THE MESSENGER DID NOT APPEAR IN THE WAY THEY EXPECTED HIM TO; HE DIDN’T MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

John dressed in camel hair and he wore a leather belt around his waist. He preached in the Judean wilderness, and he ate locusts and wild honey to sustain himself. They came from all over to hear him preach, and many repented of their sins and were baptized. Jesus took this time to affirm everything John had taught them.

“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” – Matthew 11:11-15

John had not played their game and bowed to the wishes of the religious leaders or Roman officials. He did not behave as they expected him to so they criticized him. Jesus’ ministry would look different than John’s but he knew they would still not accept his words or his actions.

THE MESSIAH DID NOT APPEAR IN THE WAY THEY EXPECTED HIM TO; HE DIDN’T MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

“To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’ For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” – Matthew 11:16-19

What if God does something in your life this week that you were not expecting? What if He challenges your way of thinking or asks you to do something you are reluctant to do? Jesus wants to be both our purpose and our passion, and we have the opportunity this morning to point others towards him. He wants us to bear fruit for His kingdom as we receive Him just as He is — even if He surprises us and does not match our expectations.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:35-11:1

“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:37b-38

Right after saying this, Jesus called his twelve disciples together and equipped them for ministry. He gave them the authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. He gave them instructions for ministry that are still helpful to us. He taught them to be generous (10:8), to be wise (10:16), and to make the most of every opportunity — even in the moments where ministry is hard.

“But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.” – Matthew 10:17-18

Be filled with the Spirit.

“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking – it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” – Matthew 10:19-20

Be a humble follower of Christ.

“Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!” – Matthew 10:24-25

Be strong.

“Don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.” – Matthew 10:26

Be a voice.

“What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!” – Matthew 10:27

Be God-fearing.

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” – Matthew 10:28

Be aware you are valuable to God.

“What is the price of two sparrows – one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” – Matthew 10:29-31

Be loyal and true.

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33

Be faithful and put God above everyone else, including yourself.

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” – Matthew 10:37-39

Be the body of Christ.

“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” – Matthew 10:42

When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went to teach and preach in towns throughout the region (Matthew 11:1). Jesus taught his disciples by what he said and by how he lived. He ate with them and walked with them. By doing life with the disciples, Jesus was strategically positioned to teach them and to show them love. Jesus became an example of what it means to truly BE about the Kingdom of God – how to BE a servant and how to BE a follower. Now it is our turn to BE all God calls us to BE.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:18-34

As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”
So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. – Matthew 9:18-19

HE KNELT BEFORE JESUS.

Consider the posture of this leader as he approached Jesus. Consider the heart of this father as he responded to his grief by going to the one who had been healing so many others. In this moment of physical submission and emotional heaviness, this man of God did not make a request of Jesus but instead he made a statement of faith. This is, but you can; this happened, but I believe you are able.

Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. – Matthew 9:20-22

SHE REACHED OUT TO JESUS.

Consider the posture of this woman as she approached Jesus. She did not feel worthy of interrupting Jesus. She was not culturally as important as the leader of the synagogue and her illness did not compare to the death of a child. But what stands out to me in this passage is that she did not wonder if touching the hem of Jesus’ garment could heal her; she believed it would. This is, but you can; this happened, but I believe you are able.

JESUS TURNED AROUND.

Just as Jesus acknowledged the faith of the man, he responded to the faith of this woman. Feeling the power go out from him (Luke 8:46), Jesus turned towards the woman and he gave her his full attention. He called her “daughter” and he recognized the discouragement that had weighed her down after twelve years of bleeding. If she questioned her value in the eyes of God before this moment with Jesus, she now received the affirmation that her faith in Jesus had made her well.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. – Matthew 9:23-26

SHE STOOD UP!

Consider the posture of this 12 year old — a posture that represents the healing power of Jesus. The fact that she could stand was evidence that Jesus lifts us up out of the death we are experiencing and gives us the strength to be upright. He breathes life into our darkest moments and takes us by the hand when we are waking up from our spiritual sleep. This is, but you can; this happened, but I believe you are able.

THEY FOLLOWED JESUS.

After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”

Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! – Matthew 9:27-30a

Believing that Jesus could heal them, the two blind men followed him. Knowing he had a reputation of compassion, the men called out to Jesus for mercy. When asked if they believed, they testified to their faith. And because of their faith, they were healed. This is, but you can; this happened, but I believe you are able.

How am I postured to receive Jesus today? I want my story to include kneeling before Jesus believing that he can do anything. I want to reach out in faith believing that Jesus has the power to heal. Recognizing the impact Jesus has had on my life, I want to stand in faith and follow his every lead. Lord, give me a faith that moves mountains and a heart that responds in mercy to the needs of those around me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:14-17

One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. – Matthew 9:14-15

WHY AREN’T YOU FASTING?

People were watching Jesus and his disciples closely, and they noticed that Jesus did not lead his followers in a regular routine of fasting like the religious leaders did. He was not living in the way they expected him to, so they brought their question to Jesus. Perhaps this question was asked more out of curiosity than out of challenge.

WHY WOULD WE BE FASTING?

Jesus’ answer was thought provoking. What would be the reason for fasting at this time? It was not the Day of Atonement, they were not spiritually preparing themselves for something, and they were not in mourning. Perhaps it was at that moment that John’s disciples realized that fasting had become more of a ritual than a spiritual discipline. Their religious lifestyle had become routine, and they needed fresh perspective on why they were doing what they were doing.

Now was the time for celebration. The long-awaited Messiah had arrived and they had the opportunity to listen to him teach and watch his healing power. No more anticipation of the coming king; he was there in their presence.

Jesus fasted for forty days and nights when he was led into the desert to be tempted by Satan, so we should not take from this interaction that Jesus was telling the disciples to no longer fast. What Jesus wanted the disciples to understand was that fasting was not a requirement of salvation, nor did it earn them an eternal reward. Just going through the old rituals of religion was not enough. Why fast to draw closer to God when the Son of God is standing in front of you inviting you into a relationship with him? Perhaps Jesus paused to give them a minute of contemplation before continuing with his explanation.

“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” – Matthew 9:16-17

It was a new day. Jesus had not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). He was inviting John’s disciples to take the faith of their childhood and to become a follower of Christ. With the arrival of Christ came a new gospel of grace and they needed to open their minds to what Jesus was teaching them.

Are we focusing on the rituals of religion to get us to heaven, or are our rituals making us authentic disciples of Christ? Are we taking the practices of the church and using them to draw us closer to God, or have we lost sight of the reasons why we do what we do? Is our idea of God limiting our faith or allowing us to stretch and grow in our understanding of who God is and the kind of relationship He is calling us to.

Father God, we thank you for the ways in which fasting helps us to focus our attention on you. May our hearts be willing to abstain from something when you call us to those moments of surrender. And may our hearts be prepared to receive the new work that you want to do in our lives. May we not be so set in our ways of religion that we miss out on the stretching and filling that you want to do today in order to make us a new creation in Christ. Our eyes are focused on you this morning, and we ask you to overflow our cup with all that you are and a clear understanding of all that you are creating us to be. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. – Matthew 9:9

Matthew was not the first person Jesus called to be his disciple. Jesus already had a group of fishermen who had left their nets and their boats to follow him. But there was something more offensive about Jesus choosing a tax collector than there was when he chose Simon Peter and the others.

Just like today, people in those times found a job that would support themselves and their families. If they were farmers, they could trade or sell their produce to others. If they were fishermen, they could take the catch of the day and trade with the farmers. If they were carpenters, they could use their talent to build homes or furniture for others in exchange for fresh eggs, woven fabric, or whatever produce that person had to offer. The people worked together for the good of both their families and the community.

But choosing to be a tax collector was different. Choosing to be a tax collector meant working with the Roman government, collecting taxes from the Jews in order to give the Romans what they demanded. Each tax collector would add on an additional amount to keep for themselves. They were known for greedily demanding more and more from their fellow Jews in order to get rich off the Roman oppression.

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” – Matthew 9:10-11

The tax collectors had given the Jewish people plenty of reason not to like them. They were considered disloyal and dishonest, and the people did not trust them. So naturally they questioned Jesus when he agreed to go to Matthew’s home to socialize with those outside the church.

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” – Matthew 9:12-13

I WANT YOU TO SHOW MERCY.

When we recognize the sin in our own life and our own need for salvation, it changes our perspective on someone else’s sin. Humility helps us to recognize that our sin is just as ugly as the sin of our brother or sister. We see that others need Jesus in the same way that we do.

Jesus is calling us to extend mercy to those who are struggling with sin. Recognize the sin of self-righteousness in ourselves and start seeing others through the eyes of Jesus. God is in pursuit of their heart and we either need to help lead them to Jesus or get out of the way. Don’t be surprised when sinners sin, instead show mercy for the sake of their salvation.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. – Colossians 3:12-15

AND ALWAYS BE THANKFUL.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! May God bless you and keep you as you seek to serve him with all of your heart, soul and mind — showing love and extending mercy to those around you.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:28-34 and 9:1-8

When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.

They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

“All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. – Matthew 8:28-32

Not only did Jesus have power over the wind and waves, Jesus had power over the demons who had been torturing these two men. The demons were bothered by the presence of Jesus and screamed out at him. They did not want the Lord to interfere with their plans. But Jesus saw beyond the violence of sin and saw two men in need of a Savior. Knowing in advance the response he would receive from the owners of the pigs, Jesus chose the freedom of the two over the popularity of the masses.

The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone. – Matthew 8:33-34

ANGER SWEPT THROUGH THE TOWN AND THEY ASKED JESUS TO LEAVE.

How would that day have been different if the townspeople had welcomed Jesus? How many among them would have experienced their own healing if they had chosen to believe rather than to push Jesus away? Opportunities were missed and bondage remained for those who were unwilling to make the sacrifice for another person’s freedom. They chose the status quo over the experience of change that Jesus could have brought about for them and their community.

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 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.”

But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” – Matthew 9:1-3

SURPRISE SWEPT THROUGH THE CHURCH AND THEY CHALLENGED THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS.

When Jesus saw the man who had been brought to him, he did not see what the man was unable to do but instead saw what the man needed in order to truly be whole. Before meeting his physical needs, Jesus took the time to meet this man’s spiritual needs. But there were others in the crowd with spiritual needs, and it was time for Jesus to address those as well.

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man 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!”

And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority. – Matthew 9:4-8

FEAR SWEPT THROUGH THE CROWD AND THEY RESPONDED IN PRAISE.

How often does Jesus want to perform a miracle in our midst but we chose the comfort of our routine over allowing the Spirit to take over? We have our plans and we have prepared our schedule, but perhaps Jesus wants to do something different today. And perhaps what he wants to do requires us to let go of our expectations, lift up our arms in submission, and praise the One who has authority over the storms in our life, the evil in this world, and the sin in our hearts.

Lord, we thank you for your presence in our lives. We are grateful for the freedom we experience because you were willing to die for our sins. We recognize the impact of your amazing grace and we praise you for the healing that is taking place in our midst. May we always respond to you with arms raised up and hearts wide open. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:18-27

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.

Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.” – Matthew 8:18-22

FOLLOW ME NOW.

When Jesus calls us to do something for him, he is looking for full submission and immediate obedience. Following him is not always comfortable, but it is spiritually rewarding; giving your life to the call is not always easy, but God is faithful to provide for your needs. We may not always have what we want; we may not always get to keep what we have, but Jesus is calling us to accept the cost of following him.

Jesus had instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake, which meant leaving where they were and moving to the next place of ministry. There was no time for hesitation or divided devotion. If they were going to follow the call of Jesus, it required leaving the comfort of the beach and stepping into the boat.

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27

LEARN WHO I AM.

By following Jesus across the lake, the disciples were able to gain perspective of what Jesus was capable of. Their obedience opened their eyes to who Jesus was and what he could do. They had to experience the storm in order to experience the power of Jesus. And once they arrived on the other side of the lake, they had to make a new commitment to remain on this journey of faith.

What does the boat represent for you this morning? What has it looked like for you to follow Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? What did you have to walk away from or give up in order to be fully devoted to Jesus?

What storms have you survived because you were willing to follow the Lord? Remember back to that place of fear and uncertainty. What did Jesus do for you when you were being tossed by the wind and waves? What have you experienced that has allowed you to find a faith that says — my Jesus is able to calm the storm because there is nothing my God cannot do!

IF THE WINDS AND WAVES CAN OBEY HIM, SO CAN I!

As we near Thanksgiving, I pray that all of us are able to look back and celebrate the wonderful life we have experienced because we were willing to leave our old life in order to experience the new. Let’s express our gratitude for the call Jesus has placed on our life and the many ways he has revealed himself to us over the years. May we walk in obedience every day of our lives, always willing to do the next thing Jesus is asking of us. And may God bless you and your family during this season of thankfulness!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:1-17

As he traveled from place to place, Jesus healed those who were sick or crippled. Many who were possessed by demons were set free. But not everyone who needed healing came to Jesus believing that he could and that he would. Some had only experienced a lack of sympathy and thoughtfulness throughout their life, and they could not imagine that someone as special as Jesus would care enough to heal them. But some had enough faith to at least ask.

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” – Matthew 8:1-4

I KNOW JESUS CAN; I JUST DON’T KNOW IF HE WILL.

Wow, that’s powerful! Do you identify with this man who had faith to believe that Jesus could heal him of an incurable disease, but struggled to believe that Jesus would choose to do something that amazing for him? Maybe you have seen him do it for others, you have heard the testimonials of those who have experienced healing, yet you have not come to understand how much God loves you — how much He wants to hear you ask and wants to see you walk in wholeness and healing.

I KNOW JESUS CAN AND I AM ASKING HIM TO.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!…”

Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour. – Matthew 8:5-10,13

The Roman officer is a great example of what it looks like to believe Jesus has the power to do anything. He came to Jesus with a humble spirit and his request was granted. Because he believed in Jesus, his servant was healed; because he had the faith to believe on behalf of another person who needed healing, that person experienced the magnificent power of Jesus.

I KNOW JESUS CAN AND I HAVE THE FAITH TO BELIEVE HE WILL.

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” – Matthew 8:14-17

JESUS HAS HEALED ME AND I WILL SERVE HIM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I made a decision as a teenager that I would spend my life serving God. I counted it as a privilege, and I was honored when I received my call during a youth conference. When I experienced the need for healing, I asked for it. During the time of waiting for God to respond, I daily laid the desires of my heart before him and humbly asked him to align my desires with His, believing the life He had for me would be good — with or without healing.

If you are in that place of petitioning God for your healing or the healing of someone else, I pray that you will experience the power of Jesus. As you humbly lay out your requests before God, I pray that He will hear your prayers and make Himself known to you. I join you in praying for healing. Father God, would you do amazing things in our lives today? May we see the power of your healing and may we faithfully serve you for the rest of our lives! Amen.