Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+028

 

MATTHEW 28 (ESV)

¹ Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

¹¹ While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. ¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers ¹³ and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

REFLECTION

• Matthew 28 focuses on the messengers of Jesus’ resurrection—the angel tells the women, the women tell the disciples, the disciples tell the nations, even the guards tell the religious leaders. As Matthew concludes his Gospel, we are invited to join with those who throughout history have been witnesses and messengers of Jesus, the victorious resurrected Lord.
• The eleven did go to Galilee, and Jesus appeared as promised. He gave them the Great Commission and authorized His disciples to make disciples of all nations, and promised to be with them until the end of the age.
• Why did Jesus tell the disciples that He would be with them to the end of the age? In what way is Jesus Christ with you today?
• How can you be more involved in making disciples and fulfilling the Great Commission?

 

PRAYER:

Thine be the glory, Risen conquering Son! Lord, Your resurrection shows me that we believe in a true and living Lord; You live because You rose from the dead, and You not only came to Mary and the disciples in those days of Your resurrection, You are still among us today, calling out to us, accompanying us, to know You, to draw near to You, to receive comfort and peace from You. Lord, Your resurrection has overcome all the powers of darkness. The power of Your resurrection can renew our lives, let us not value this perishable body, but strive to fulfill the Great Commission You entrusted to us! Let us have this eternal, heavenly hope to be with You to the very end of the age! Amen!

 

HYMN:

Heal Our Land – youtu.be/LO38Ztptxko

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+027

 

MATTHEW 27 (ESV)

³² As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. ³³ And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴ they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. ³⁵ And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. ³⁶ Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. ³⁷ And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” ³⁸ Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹ And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” ⁴¹ So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, ⁴² “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁴⁷ And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” ⁴⁸ And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. ⁴⁹ But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” ⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

⁵¹ And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

 

REFLECTION

• This chapter began with the news that Judas hanged himself. Jesus was condemned by Pilate, mocked by His executioners, and crucified. He was buried and His tomb placed under guard. But death is not the end!
• The central event of Christian faith is the incredible humiliation of our God. His own people demanded His death, His friends deserted Him. And now even His loving Father has turned away.
• Imagine yourself there at the scene watching as Jesus hangs on the cross, and is repeatedly mocked and insulted. And then as death begins to engulf Him, you heard Jesus’ crying out to God.


My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. (Ps 22:1-2)


• What wells up inside you as you meditate on Jesus’ death? Read the passage again. Allow yourself to sink into the event deeply, be aware of your reaction and talk to Jesus about it.
• Find a place to be silent, such as walk in a quiet place or sit in an empty church sanctuary. Continue meditate on Jesus’ sacrifice for you, and wait for what God’s response to you.

 

PRAYER:

Jesus Christ, our Savior, to bear our sins, it is You who put on the crown of thorns for us, it is You, despised, ridiculed, reviled and scourged! For us, to be hanged on that cross! Your blood cleansed us of our sins, freed us from the bondage of sin and made us free. You are the mighty Lord, yet on Calvary, You were silent and let people insult You, and You were the lamb for our sins. You only say to the Father, “It is finished!” Three days later You are resurrected! The cross is no longer a shame, the cross has become the redemption we look up to, the glory of the Lord and us! Amen!

 

HYMN:

Above All – youtu.be/_p7qjYd6__s

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+026

 

MATTHEW 26 (ESV)

³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ³³ Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ³⁵ Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” ³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”⁴⁰ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

 

REFLECTION

• With these last chapters of Matthew, we enter the Christian’s holy of holies. We witness with a deep awe again the death and the resurrection of our Lord. Jesus predicted His imminent death as Judas plotted with the chief priests to betray Him. During a final meal Jesus instituted Communion, and predicted Peter’s denial. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, where He was arrested and taken before the Jewish high court. Peter did deny his Lord.
• Here recorded three times of Jesus’ prayer. It clearly portrayed Jesus wrestling with God’s will and then finally accepting it.  It started with Jesus asking if it is possible for the cup (referring to God’s judgment expressed in and by the cross) to be removed from Him. Jesus’ cup was not so much the physical torment He was about to experience, as it was the awful prospect of taking on Himself the sin of humankind. At that prospect, He said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (v38) The next two times of prayer He says, “If this cannot … your will be done” (v42).  In all cases, Jesus addresses God in the most intimate terms as “My Father” (vv39, 42).
• The disciples could not understand, or even stay awake to share the awful loneliness with Him. Jesus then said to the disciples, “Watch and pray … The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (v42)

 

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, you prayed this way on the eve of your murder: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” I would also like to pray this way, one day I will be able to deny myself completely and be a vessel of Your precious glory. Lord, may Your will be done in me. Heavenly Father, please remind me and give me strength not to get tired, but to watch and pray lest I fall into temptation. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Gethsemane Hymn – youtu.be/mKfzrNs4-UU

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+025

 

MATTHEW 25 (ESV)

¹⁴ “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus used two parables to emphasize the importance of service. Ultimately Jesus will come again and establish His kingdom. God gives gifts to all His disciples: wealth, skills, time or opportunities. God wants us to use them fully. This is how we can serve Him.
• The master praised two of the slaves for they had done their best. But not the third slave. This slave was doing the safest thing, and the least work, to protect himself from hard work and punishment he thought he might receive if he lost it.
• What resources and responsibilities has Jesus given you? How can you handle them in a good and faithful manner?
• Think of one way you can use your gift today and this week. Ask God to help you do it well for His sake.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, please keep me vigilant in these last days, and let me be a faithful servant. Whether at church, at home, or at work, enable me to do what You say and honor Your name. Let me be able to fulfill my responsibilities in my service, let me not please others, but only please You, so that in this life I can accomplish Your beautiful will for me. You look around and say that the harvest is ripe, but there are no reapers. Lord, here I am, send me! I wish that day, when I give an account to You, You will praise me as a faithful servant. Amen!

 

HYMN:

I Surrender all – youtu.be/kfQm6o4V1SI

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+024

 

MATTHEW 24 (ESV)

¹ Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. ¹⁰ And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus did make specific predictions about the future. But He emphasized what His servants are to do until the future arrives. Jesus answered His disciples’ questions about the end of the age, the signs of His coming, and when these things will happen. He went on to emphasize the importance of being ready.
• Think about the fact that Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Does this promise make you happy? Or is it like a danger to you? Make a list of what you might lose on that great day. Then make a list of what you will gain. Why is it hard for some Christians to believe that Jesus will return?
• Imagine that Jesus will return in a month’s time. What would be different in your church? What would you do?
• Let this question linger in your heart for a while. Wait for God to show you how you may get ready for Jesus’ coming.

 

PRAYER:

Lord, heaven and earth will pass away, but Your Word will not pass away. We are in the end times, country against country, people against people, there are natural disasters everywhere, people’s morals are lost, and they are chasing fame and fortune. Lord, I will guard my heart. Concentrate on waiting for Your return, and try to seize the time to preach Your gospel and work for You. I look forward to a beautiful and eternal home in that day. Lord, I want You to come again! Amen!

 

HYMN:

Turn Your Eyes – youtu.be/ZJDELcuYX3g

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+023

 

MATTHEW 23 (ESV)

¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ²“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.  ⁵“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’  ⁸“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. ¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. ²² And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus pronounced woes on the Pharisees and scribes for their spiritual blindness, and lamented over the doomed city of Jerusalem.
• Jesus’ disciples are commanded not to accept the title rabbi, father, or teacher, for there is only one final and authoritative teacher – not Moses or Solomon, but the Christ (v10). Thus, Jesus’ followers must always remain learners.
• Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and vice versa (v12). Jesus repeatedly condemns play-acting, which is what the word “hypocrite” actually means.  Jesus’ criticism is aimed at the dichotomy between appearance and reality, between word and deed (vv13-33).
• How can you keep from being hypocrite: teaching (or saying) one thing and doing another? Ask God to make your Christian life consistent with your beliefs.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to follow You all my life because there is only one ultimate and most authoritative teacher – not Moses or Solomon, but Christ. Let me follow You and be Your disciple all my life. You said that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Let me not be a hypocrite, be realistic about others and myself, and let my words and deeds be consistent with my Christian faith. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Take My Life – youtu.be/y4ZxAAMLhcs

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+022

 

MATTHEW 22 (ESV)

³⁴ But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

⁴¹ Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, ⁴² saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” ⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

⁴⁵ If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” ⁴⁶ And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus continued His parables pointing out the hardness of the heart of His people to God’s Kingdom. He turned aside verbal challenges and silenced His critics.
• The entire law hinges on its central commands to love God and neighbour. All the law and the prophets spoke was intended to nurture love for God and love for one’s neighbour.  God is to be loved wholeheartedly, which is the greatest commandment.  But this is impossible without the aid of God.
• Hence the words of Augustine of Hippo, “Give what you command, Lord, and then command whatever you will”.
• In what way do you want to grow in love right now: Toward God?  Toward those in your family?  Toward the needy?  Toward yourself?  How would you do it?  Use the above prayer of Augustine of Hippo and ask God to help you grow in love in the specific way shown by the Holy Spirit.

 

PRAYER:

Loving Father, You chose me while I was in my mother’s womb. You died on the cross for me, an unworthy sinner. You are the source of love. I want to love the Lord with all my heart, my strength, and my mind, and put the Lord first in my life. You are the river of living water, and I am willing to receive Your love in a steady stream in You, and pass this love on to the people around me and become a blessing to others. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Build My Life – youtu.be/G5oim3KEnXk

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+021

 

MATTHEW 21 (ESV)

¹ Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

⁵ “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. ⁸ Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”¹⁰ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹ And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

¹² And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹³ He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, ¹⁶ and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,

“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”

¹⁷ And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus now entered His last week on earth. He entered Jerusalem hailed as the Messiah. This angered temple leaders.
• These merchants and money exchangers were extorting the pilgrims and making a big profit on the trade. They have turned the temple into a high profit lucrative business enterprise.  No wonder Jesus was furious and drove them out.
• If Jesus were to visit your church today, where might He begin “turning over tables”?
• What about your life if Jesus comes to visit your heart, where might He begin “turning over tables”? Identify one area in which your actions need to be more consistent with your beliefs. Ask for God’s help.

 
PRAYER:

Dear God, please cleanse our church, let our church only preach and glorify Your name, the church should be heavenly, not worldly. Only then can our church be a beacon light to the community. Lord, please cleanse our hearts, remove the filth from our hearts and the entanglements of this world, and let us have a clean heart. Let us live in the humility and meekness of Jesus Christ. Let us be true Christians. We have to be in You always in order to be fruitful, because apart from You we can do nothing. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Lord, I need You – youtu.be/qUGXP9gbQoM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+020

 

MATTHEW 20 (ESV)

¹ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ ⁵ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ ⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

 

REFLECTION

• This story troubles many. It seems obvious that the owner of the vineyard wasn’t being fair.  Jesus is saying that some people want to put relationship with God on an equal-work-equal-pay basis.  And these folks often assume they’ll be rewarded for being so busy.
• Relationship with God, in fact, is based on His generosity (v15), His grace, not our works. We don’t advance spiritually by being busy.
• Are you becoming so caught up in doing things for God that you forget to simply love Him? Do you forget to stop, listen to people, and try to respond to their needs?  Are you actually drying up spiritually but still spending your energies in an unproductive way?  What is God telling you?

 

PRAYER:

My Lord, my God, please grant me a humble heart, not to compete with others, but to thank the Lord for the grace I have received. Instead of looking at what I don’t have, learn to appreciate what I already have. Lord, You have especially shown us that the rewards You give us are not based on the length of our work, the weight of our burdens, or the gifts given to us, but entirely on our faithfulness. All this is by Your grace. Lord, I am willing to be Your faithful servant, fulfilling my duties in every ministry, big or small, and fulfilling the mission You have entrusted to me. Amen!

 

HYMN:

My Jesus I Love Thee – youtu.be/RzIJfsSDvAU

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+019

 

MATTHEW 19 (ESV)

¹⁶ And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”²⁷ Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” ²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

 

REFLECTION

• When Jesus remarked that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom, the disciples were shocked. In general, people view the wealthy as blessed by God, for they had the opportunity to do good with their wealth and so gain merit with God.
• Jesus had a different perspective. The more we have, the more our possessions may possess us!  It is hard for a person with many resources tied up in this world to focus his or her attention on eternity.
• Thank God that He can do what we cannot. We can be saved for eternity.  And we can be saved from slavery to our wealth so that we can instead become slaves of God.
• Do you love God above all else? Is there anything hindering you to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ? Ask God to give you strength to stand against the world and to make His values your values.

 
PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, the creator of heaven and earth! We give thanks and praise to You, and to Your Son Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us at Your right hand, and to the Holy Spirit, who guides us into the truth. You have shown us Your glory, You are working in our lives at all times so that our hearts will be willing to turn away from the temptations of the world and be drawn to the glorious life of our Lord. Loving Father, You teach us to lay up treasures in heaven, because treasures on earth will perish one day. Please increase my faith so that I can keep my eyes on heaven. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Be Thou My Vision – youtu.be/i9cuRc1RMbE