Category: Gospels
The “Bridegroom’s” longing!
Scripture reading for May 8th: Matthew 23, Psalm 91, Proverbs 29
Matthew 23: 37-39 “”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.'”
As Jesus came to the conclusion of His earthly ministry, for the last time He came to Jerusalem, the city of God. As He approached the city, He lamented over the city that had been given many opportunities to receive God’s instruction and correction from prophets, judges, and kings. Now Jesus Christ, Son of God, came personally to intercede for the city. In His foreknowledge, He knew that they would reject Him too. He would have loved to gather them under His wings. Jesus used a mother hen and chicks here. But this could likely refer to the Jewish Rabbi’s prayer shawl and the act of covering the bride during the wedding ceremony. Their unwillingness would leave them a desolate woman without a husband or inheritance or eternal provision. For those with open ears and hearts, the longing of Jesus calls out to us!
Psalm 91:1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.””
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this insight into Your heart of gathering a willing ‘Bride’ for Your Son from among Your own people. Thank You for sheltering those who come to Your through faith in Jesus Christ under the shadow of Your wings. Thank You for eternal life and protection and the grace of having justice done through the cross of Calvary in my life. I love You and willingly come under Your authority!
Proverbs 29:25-26 “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Many seek the face of a ruler, but it from the Lord that a man gets justice.”
Love is the greatest commandment!
Scripture reading for May 5th: Matthew 22, Psalm 90, Proverbs 28
Matthew 22: 34-40 “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 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. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
God is Love and to love is to be like Him! The Pharisees were seeking to trap Jesus so that they might accuse Him of blasphemy or call into question His authority and understanding of Scripture. A lawyer sought to trap Him with a question about which was the greatest commandment. Jesus answered him simply by quoting Scripture. The first and greatest commandment was to love God personally as Your Lord, and totally, with all your being. The second was like it, showing love for your neighbor, made in God’s likeness, as yourself. According to Jesus, love was the fulfilment of all the Law and Prophets! This is in fact, true as love for God and neighbor encompasses all other commandments and is God’s heart!
Psalm 90:13-14 “Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on Your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days.”
Prayer: Father God, I rejoice in Your amazing love, demonstrated to me through Your Son and His willing sacrifice for the sins of the world and my own sin. Forgive me for not always allowing Your love to flow in my heart. I have not obeyed You as I should and have certainly failed to show love for my neighbors at all times. Fill me today with a fresh anointing of Your love and teach me to love like You loved me!
Proverbs 28:9 “If one turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
Under conviction?
Scripture reading for May 4th: Matthew 21, Psalm 89, Proverbs 27
Matthew 21: 42-46 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they held Him to be a prophet.”
Jesus was always using the Scriptures to help those opposing Him to understand God’s will and ways. He had just told a parable of the tenants of a vineyard owned by a master. It was leased to them and when the season of ripened grapes arrived, the master sent servants to get his portion of the fruit. They mistreated and killed the servants. After sending other servants, the master sent his son, saying that they would surely respect him. But again, the son was killed and the vineyard taken over by the tenants. The Pharisees knew that Jesus was telling this parable (and others) about them and felt threatened. But instead of repenting, they plotted to arrest Jesus and ultimately do away with Him. We are all tenants in our Master’s world. We owe Him our lives and allegiance. Let’s not reject the Son of God, owner of all!
Psalm 89:3-4 “You have said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'”
Prayer: Father God, You alone are owner of all things and are the One that all of mankind owes honor, obedience and worship. Forgive me for not honoring You with all my life and even at times opposing You. You know my true heart and can bring about the needed transformation. I offer my whole heart, soul and body to do Your will and share Your Good News with a lost world.
Proverbs 27:19 “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.”
Crying out, not silenced!
Scripture reading for May 3rd: Matthew 20, Psalm 88, Proverbs 26
Matthew 20: 29-34 “And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed Him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed Him.”
When people who are living in a hopeless situation have a ray of hope, they get motivated to act. Such was the case of the two beggars outside of Jericho as Jesus traveled on to Jerusalem. They heard Jesus was passing by and began to cry out loudly for mercy, addressing Jesus with a messianic title, “Son of David”. They crowd considered them nuisances and tried to silence them. But these men would not be denied and cried out persistently. Jesus heard their cry and summoned them with the question of what they wanted Him to do for them. They plainly stated their desire for healing of their sight. Jesus, moved by compassion, touched their eyes and immediately restored their sight! Humbly and persistently crying out gets God’s attention!
Psalm 88:1-2 “O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for another example in this story of Your heart of compassion for those blind and hurting. Thank You that you take time even for those the world tries to silence as a nuisance. Forgive me when I have foolishly considered someone not worthy of time or attention that You want to touch. Use me to be Your hand extended to those blinded by the god of this world, and all to Your glory.
Proverbs 26:12 “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Back to basics for marriage
Scripture reading for May 2nd: Matthew 19, Psalm 87, Proverbs 25
Matthew 19: 3-9 “And Pharisees came up to Him and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that He Who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.””
Marriage and divorce issues have been a part of mankind since the fall. There has been enmity and violence sown by Satan against those called to love one another and live together in harmony. Even in the law of Moses, God made an allowance for divorce because of the hardness of heart that develops in these situations of strife. Jesus carefully explained God’s original design. God made male and female, man and woman, to live together in a holy relationship of marriage. Their union was blessed and ordained by God to become ‘one flesh’ and produce children made in God’s image. God loves children and designed a loving home with father and mother as a place to instruct the children, protect them, and provide for them until they would also marry and pass it on. Sacred marriage produces sacred children because it models Christ Jesus and His Bride.
Psalm 87:5-6 “And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High Himself will establish her. The Lord records as He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this clear and simple instruction about marriage and divorce. Have mercy on our nation for ignoring and twisting this instruction to mean something else. Forgive us for our own hardness of heart, broken families and hurt children. Heal our people of their rebellion against Your simple design and use Your people to model loving and sacred marriages and raise children to know You.
Proverbs 25:24 “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in house shared with a quarrelsome wife.”
Children are precious to our Father!
Scripture reading for May 1st: Matthew 18, Psalm 86, Proverbs 24
Matthew 18: 10-14 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father Who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of My Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Jesus made it clear to His disciples that children were precious to Him and His Father in heaven. Each child is made in God’s image and has a special place in God’s heart and kingdom. God has given each child at least one angel with access to God’s face. If a sheep is straying away from the shepherd and the safety of the flock, the shepherd goes after it. So too, are God’s shepherds to watch out for straying people who are young in the faith. Jesus emphasized that His Father’s will was that none of the little ones should perish. This teaching is like the honey from the honeycomb, sweet to the taste and like wisdom, nourishing to our souls. Take care of the children! Don’t neglect them! Don’t mistreat them!
Psalm 86:11-12 “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your Truth; unite my heart to fear Your Name. I give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your Name forever.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this strong Word from Your heart concerning children and those young in faith. As one of Your shepherds and a father and grandfather, I have sought to watch over the children. Help me in my old age to continue to value children as a heritage from You and precious in Your sight. Forgive our nation for its neglect, abuse and misuse of children for selfishness and immorality.
Proverbs 24:13-14 “My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Faith will move mountains
Scripture reading for April 28th: Matthew 17, Psalm 85, Proverbs 23
Matthew 17: 14-21 “And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Him and kneeling before Him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing shall be impossible for you.”
A man with an epileptic son brought him to the disciples for prayer while Jesus was with Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. They were unable to cast out the spirit. The man returned to find Jesus and again asked for mercy. Jesus was not happy with the disciples failure to have the faith necessary to complete the work. He rebuked the demon and the boy was instantly set free. The disciples came to Jesus afterwards for instruction. Jesus simply told them it was a lack of faith. Even a ‘mustard seed’ of faith has the power to move mountains. Jesus’ desire was that nothing would be impossible for those who believed His Word and walked in relationship with Him. He wanted them to show off God’s mercy that all might know His Father!
Psalm 85:6-7 “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your patience with me and others who follow You but walk in unbelief. I want to please You and walk in faith. Help me to grow in faith. I have only a ‘mustard seed’ of faith. Use it to move mountains and accomplish Your will to heal and deliver those needing freedom and salvation. I thank You and rejoice in You and Your great wisdom and words of knowledge and love.
Proverbs 23:12 “Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.”
“Little faith!”
Scripture reading for April 27th: Matthew 16, Psalm 84, Proverbs 22
Matthew 16:5-12 “When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Our human tendency is to think naturally about the issues of life and provision. We look with our eyes, hear with our ears, and process through our experience or others opinions. Jesus’ disciples did the same with a simple statement of warning from Jesus where He used the term ‘leaven.’ Leaven is yeast used in making bread. These disciples had forgotten the bread and were now concerned with what they might eat. Jesus was speaking to them about deeper issues–the ‘leaven’ of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which was their teaching of traditions of men instead of the Word of God. Jesus reminded them that their shared experience of the miraculous feeding of thousands twice should bring faith for the food needed.
Psalm 84:4-5 “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise! Blessed are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.”
Prayer: Father God, forgive me when I think naturally instead of with spiritual insight from Your Word and Holy Spirit. Give me discernment concerning the ‘leaven’ of false teaching and divisive doctrine found even in those claiming to know You. Use me to proclaim Jesus as the “Living Bread” of heaven. Use me to help those weak in faith to see danger and find strong faith through believing Your Word.
Proverbs 22:3-4 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
“Great faith!”
Scripture reading for April 26th: Matthew 15, Psalm 83, Proverbs 21
Matthew 15:22-28 “And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”
Jesus encountered a Canaanite woman who has sought Him out for the deliverance of her daughter from demons. She had diligently pursued Jesus and was crying out for mercy and help in this hopeless situation. Jesus at first did not even answer her request. Persistently, she kept on crying out to the disciples and finally the disciples begged Jesus to send her away. Jesus answered them by saying that His mission was to the lost of the Jews. The woman knelt before Jesus and asked again for help. Jesus responded by telling her that the ‘children’s bread’ (healing for her daughter) was not to be thrown to Gentiles (dogs). She persistently asked for crumbs from the master’s table! At this, Jesus proclaimed her faith as “Great faith!” The child was immediately delivered!
Psalm 83:1 “O God, do not keep silence; do not hold Your peace or be still, O God!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this example of great faith and persistence to press in to obtain the promises You have made. Forgive me for my ‘little’ faith of not trusting You or doubting Your goodness and mercy towards me or others I am ministering to. Strengthen my faith today and help me to always press in and trust You for the needs I have or prayers that need answers. Do not be silent, O God!
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
Jesus shows compassion!
Scripture reading for April 25th: Matthew 14, Psalm 82, Proverbs 20
Matthew 14: 13-16 “Now when Jesus heard this, He withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns. When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.””
God the Father’s heart of compassion was on full display through His Son Jesus. Jesus had just been told of His cousin John the Baptist’s death at the hands of Herod. He withdrew to a lonely place for solitude, but crowds of people ran to where He was going. They had great need of healing and encouragement because they all lived under the cruel reign of Herod. Jesus took time to be with them and minister to them. When the day was nearly gone, the disciples suggested that Jesus send them away for food. Jesus had other plans that put the burden of their need for food in His disciples hands. Taking the little that they came up with, Jesus blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples to distribute. A miracle of compassion flowed through His disciples as they gave out the bread and fish. God’s heart was revealed!
Psalm 82:3-4 “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your heart of compassion for the hurting, the sick, the needy and the poor, including orphans and widows. Challenge me and Your followers to show compassion by praying for the sick and hurting, feeding the hungry, and giving Good News to those in despair and darkness. Uphold Your Glorious Throne through acts of covenant love flowing through Your servants.
Proverbs 20:23 “Steadfast love and faithfulness reserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.”