Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+018

 

MATTHEW 18 (ESV)

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus gave us a compelling reason to forgive one another by telling the story of a wicked servant (vv23-32).
• This is a reminder for us when we harden our hearts toward a brother or sister after a few repeated hurts. After all, God, the great King, has forgiven us an absolutely unpayable debt, our sins.
• Who do you find it hard to forgive? Think about the forgiveness you have received from the Lord.  Imagine yourself as the first servant.  Ask God for grace to forgive the other person.

 

PRAYER:

Loving Lord Jesus, thank You for promising us that if two or three of us pray together on earth for anything, it shall be done for us of Your Father which is in heaven. For wherever two or three meet in Your name, You are among us. Heavenly Father, You are the God of salvation and forgiveness. You have forgiven us sinners and cleanse our sins to become Your children. Dear God please give me the strength to live in harmony with those around me, to connect with them in love. Dear God, help me remove the bitterness and resentment from my heart, forgive those who have hurt me, and let me be spiritually empowered and free. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Majesty (Here I am) – youtu.be/too8lqTp0Hk

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+017

 

MATTHEW 17 (ESV)

¹After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.  ⁴Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  ⁵While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”  ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.  ⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”  ¹⁰The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”  ¹¹Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹²But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

 

REFLECTION

• Peter, James and John witnessed a special event on the mountaintop. They fell down before the transfigured Jesus and when they looked up “they saw no one except Jesus”.  In the brightness that blazed from Jesus, in the brilliant cloud that enveloped them, and in the voice announcing Jesus as God’s Son, they had a glimpse of Christ’s glory.  The disciples were deeply, completely, totally immersed in worship.
• How did you ever come to realize that Jesus was the one above all others that you should listen to? How has God said to you, “This is my child, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased”?  What was your response?

 

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, may you reign in my life so that I see no one but Jesus. Please give me the wisdom and the power to understand Your Word and Your truth. Let me know that in the way of the cross, suffering and glory are always closely linked and cannot be separated from each other. Allow me to look to You and rely on You in times of suffering. Because I know there is suffering in the world, but You have overcome the world. Keep me and watch over me so that I can glorify Your name in times of trouble and adversity. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Hosanna – youtu.be/JFUa_PBJ_-U

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+016

 

MATTHEW 16 (ESV)

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. ²⁸ Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

REFLECTION

• Now that the disciples have been with Jesus for a while, he must prepare them for the true nature of His kingdom. They are shocked at the cost of His mission and His requirements for discipleship.
• Peter had just been commended by Jesus (vv16-19), is now rebuked by Him. Peter didn’t like the idea of Christ facing death by crucifixion so he urged Jesus to avoid it! Jesus angrily pushed him away for he lacked the perspective of God.
• Every disciple must learn to look at his or her life from God’s perspective and “take up his cross and follow”. Most of the time, our cross doesn’t represent suffering or death, but it represents the plan and purpose of God for each of us.  We need to find and do God’s will just like Jesus did.
• We may think that if we do the will of God, we will “lose our life”. However, the truth is that we will only “gain” our life and become what we most desire to be when we do the will of God each day.
• From Jesus’ “gain and lose” teaching (vv25-26), what do you think of your current priorities?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, may Your will be done in me. I know You are the treasure in my life. I am willing to take up the cross and follow You. Because You said, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever sacrifices his life for me will find it.” When I repented and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, my old self was crucified, I have gained a whole new life in Jesus Christ. Lord, I’m willing to forget what lies behind me, strain forward to what lies ahead, and press on toward the goal. Amen!

 

HYMN:

One Pure and Holy Passion – youtu.be/jc2hXYeZXzY

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+015

 

MATTHEW 15 (ESV)

¹ Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ² “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” ³ He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” ⁶ he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. ⁷ You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

⁸ “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
⁹ in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

¹⁰ And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” ¹² Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” ¹³ He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. ¹⁴ Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”¹⁵ But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”¹⁶ And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

 

REFLECTION

• The delegation from Jerusalem challenged Christ with not teaching His disciples to “wash their hands” before they ate. This washing was not hygienic, but a matter of ritual “cleanness”. In Old Testament religion, to be “clean” meant to be in a state of ritual purity that permitted a person to approach and worship God. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law had multiplied the rules governing ritual purity, and treated them as though their rules had the force of Scripture.
• Jesus directly attacked this whole way of thinking when He taught that “what goes into a man’s mouth” (external) cannot make him unclean. What really disqualifies a person for worship are those things which “come out of the heart”.
• Are you like the Pharisees, caring much about how you look on the outside, but neglect the purity on the inside; focusing on legalism/following the rules instead of being faithful to God and sensitive to the Holy Spirit?
• Read through the sins listed in v19. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the filth and darkness inside you. Ask God for forgiveness and cleansing of your heart.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, You have said, “What goes into the mouth cannot defile a person, but what comes out of the mouth can defile a person.” Lord, restore the holiness of my heart, create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me, and sanctify me to be a vessel of your honor and glory. I have resolved to present my body as a living sacrifice, to be a vessel of Your holiness, and to proclaim the name of Christ all my life. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Cleanse Me (Search Me, O God) – youtu.be/55voUa0u8Vc

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+014

 

MATTHEW 14 (ESV)

²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴ but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

²⁸ And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

REFLECTION

• Events moved rapidly. John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 and walked on water. But official hostility grew.
• Why do you think Jesus invited Peter (and us) to step out onto the water? When did Peter begin to sink? Why then and not earlier?
• When are you most tempted to take your eyes off the Lord and to sink in doubt?
• In verse 33 the disciples worship Jesus and declare, “Truly you are the Son of God.” What do you see in this incident that leads you to worship Jesus?
• How can these things help you to trust Jesus the next time you are tempted to doubt?

 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a person of little faith! I keep saying that I trust You in everything, but every time I encounter problems and hardships, I still use my own method to solve the problem. Lord, let me learn to rely on and look to You in everything, because You are the God who calms the storm and moves the mountains. I no longer look down at my footsteps in trembling, I want to take my steps to follow You closely, knowing to call on You in times of crisis, “Lord, save me! Help me!”

 

HYMN:

Still – youtu.be/KL3fXs8mhQs

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+013

 

MATTHEW 13 (ESV)

¹ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.  ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear.”……

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus told a series of parables to the puzzled crowds. He told His disciples another series, explaining the unexpected aspects of His kingdom..
• This parable makes clear that reception of the gospel depends on the soil, i.e. the condition of the recipient. In this parable, the seed and the sower are the same in each case, but the soil varies.  There are many who do not respond favourably to Jesus’ message, but the few who did produced remarkable fruit.
• What kinds of worries have potential to choke your growth in Christ? How can you free your life from these “thorns”?
• What helps a believer to have deep “roots” which prevent one from falling away? What gives you root?
• What “crop” does Jesus want believers to yield? How would you increase your “crop productivity”?

 

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me among all people, giving me the hope of eternal life and the right to be Your child. Please protect my heart and mind, not be taken away by this materialistic world, please remove the thorns and weeds in my heart, so that I will act according to Your Words. You said that a man cannot serve both the Lord and mammon. I am determined to read the Bible and pray every day, so that my heart can be watered and nourished in time, so that my faith can take root, sprout and grow in this good soil. I hope that one day this small mustard seed will grow into a towering tree, and the birds in the sky will also perch on it. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Cornerstone – youtu.be/CCMErIUIOzk

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+012

 

MATTHEW 12 (ESV)

⁹ He went on from there and entered their synagogue. ¹⁰ And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. ¹¹ He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹² Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” ¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

¹⁵ Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶ and ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸ “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰ a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
²¹     and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

 

REFLECTION

• As it became increasingly clear that one must choose for or against Jesus, opposition to Him and to His kingdom hardened. Jesus claimed to be Lord of the Sabbath and the Servant of God prophesied by Isaiah. This brought direct conflict with the Pharisees.
• Jesus didn’t have a smooth ministry. In fact, He met a lot of opposition.  Jesus responded to the hostility by simply asking those healed not to tell who He was (v16) and leaving the area.  Why?
• Matthew explained by quoting a passage from one of Isaiah’s “servant songs” (Is 42: 1-9). Messiah “will not quarrel or cry aloud”.  He will be so gentle that He will not even snap a worthless bruised reed, or quench a smoldering candle wick.
• Continue concentrate on your Lord Saviour and get to know Him deeper by reflecting on the characteristics listed in the passage. Praise and thank Him for His humility and gentleness and also the wonderful work He’s done in your life.

 

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, let me learn Your disposition, neither loud nor quarrelsome, gentle and humble. Allow me to be gentle with those around me. Made me more patient with my family. Be slow to anger and does not provoke my children. In the process of evangelism, let me preach Your Word with love and wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to work. In the face of difficulties and setbacks, I will not be disheartened, nor discouraged. Look up to You and keep running for You. Amen!

 

HYMN:

The Servant King – youtu.be/C4FtZ9XzZag

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+011

 

MATTHEW 11 (ESV)

¹ When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

² Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁶ “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

¹⁷ “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus encouraged and praised the discouraged John the Baptist. Jesus then damned the cities that refused to repent despite His miracles. Yet the weary who come to Jesus will find rest.
• What kinds of “prison” tend to bring out doubts for you regarding Jesus? In those period of discouragement and doubt, what most renews your courage and faith? How might Jesus’ reply to John the Baptist “Go and tell John what you hear and see…” (v4) help to answer your doubts?
• Where have you seen the work of Jesus in your life and lives of those around you? Write down at least three things. Then, utter a thanksgiving prayer to God.
• In what specific way can you be an encourager to someone in church leadership? In your family? Among your friends?

 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, please increase my faith. In this crooked and rebellious age, people in the world are living in sin and transgression and do not repent. Life can also overwhelm us. But God, You have promised that those who are weary and heavy laden can come to You and find rest there. Father, please open the hearts of people in the world. Let more and more people come to know You, and give me the ability to preach the gospel to the friends around me. When encountering difficulties and rejections, please give me perseverance. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Oceans will part – youtu.be/YoG6azD8g3k

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+010

 

MATTHEW 10 (ESV)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, ⁶ but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. ⁹ Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. ¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ……

¹⁶ “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ……

²⁶ “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ³² So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

³⁴ “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. ³⁷ Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 

REFLECTION

• There is no greater challenge than to live our lives as disciples of Jesus, the Servant-King. The marks of Jesus’ disciples according to this passage include: acknowledging Jesus before men (v32), placing loyalty to Christ above even the bonds of family (vv34-35), taking up his cross and following Jesus by subjecting one’s will to God as Jesus chose to subject Himself to the cross (v38), surrendering all for the sake of his Lord (v37).
• In a culture that values family highly, is it possible that you can be blinded by familial loyalty to the truth of the Gospel?
• What does “take his cross and follow Jesus” mean to you? How are you sharing Christ’ suffering in discipleship?
• What does the paradox “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (v39) mean to you? How can you lose yourself for Christ this week?

 

PRAYER:

Loving Father, thank You for choosing me so that I can be Your child. I am determined to take up the cross, be Your disciple, and follow You from now on. In my family, Jesus Christ is always the Lord. I pray that God will protect and guide my children to walk on the path of God, and that they will not deviate from it even when they are old. I pray that the Lord will work in the hearts of my unbelieving relatives, so that they too have this hope of eternal life. Heavenly Father, please give me wisdom, courage and confidence, so that I can bear a good testimony in front of others, please give me strength, so that I will not be afraid of hardships and labour to spread Your name, so that more people will belong to You. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Lead me to the cross – youtu.be/YzEft_p7PaM

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Matthew+009

 

MATTHEW 9 (ESV)

¹ And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. ² And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” ³ And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” ⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he rose and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

¹⁰ And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 

REFLECTION

• Jesus’ kingly authority can overcome not only nature and demons (Ch 8), but even human sin. This shows that God was doing a brand new work among men. Jesus raised a dead girl and continued to heal and cast out demons, providing a ministry model for workers in His kingdom.
• The calling of Matthew exhibited Jesus’ calling of outcasts and despised sinners. The Pharisees, with their strict following of both ritual and moral purity, could not understand why Jesus would have meals with these unworthy people.  Whom can you identify more easily, Matthew or the Pharisees?  Why?
• Do you see Jesus’ calling of you, inviting you to follow Him? What’s your response?  Do you enjoy eating, drinking, celebrating, resting, having fun with Jesus?
• Why did Jesus quote Hosea 6:6 “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (v 13)? Could it be because love and mercy reveal that we have a transformed heart, while sacrifice is an outward act that can be done regardless of the condition of our heart?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, please heal me, not only my physical sickness, but my spiritual weakness as well. Forgive me of my hidden sins. Please give me faith and let my faith grow day by day. You have said that you love mercy more than sacrifice. Dear God, You are love, You are the source of love. I would like to be like a tree planted beside a stream, drawing the nourishment of love from You. I am willing to help those in need and pass on Your love to those around me. Please give me a heart of love and compassion. Amen!

 

HYMN:

Call me higher – youtu.be/IosW70RxJ3o