Matthew 11 - 11.17.25

Scripture

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Observation

“These last three verses of Matthew 11 are called the Great Invitation. Those invited are "all ye that labor and are heavy laden." Christ's teaching has a special appeal for the poor, the downtrodden, the despised, rejected, and suffering of earth; but it is incorrect to assume that only these are invited. Rather, ALL people are invited to fly unto Jesus for peace and redemption; and, in one sense or another, at one time or another, by some means or another, every soul ever born into this world is "weary," "heavy laden," and troubled by the common sorrows and calamities to which flesh is heir. In this larger view of the unmitigated sorrow in which all men dwell, the Great Invitation excludes no one. The common burden of sin, sickness, death, doubt, disillusionment, and sorrow is an invariable heritage of every man coming into the world. Reasons why men (and women) should come to Christ are: (1) for the rest He will give, (2) for the rest they will find, and (3) because Christ is meek and lowly in heart, thus fully qualified to provide sympathy, love, understanding, and whatever else may be required to alleviate human distress and to provide eternal life.” (Reference: Coffman Commentaries on studylight.org)

True rest comes from Jesus Christ alone. 

Sometimes I hear people say that they need a vacation from their vacation. This just proves that external rest never satisfies the way internal rest with the Lord does!

We find rest, refreshing and a lifting of the burdens from our souls by being with the Lord, knowing that we are loved, forgiven and cherished by Him just because He chose us first. 

Application

Take a break with Jesus. We are LOVED by Him just because we are His beloved child. 

None of us were created to run 7 days a week! I used to do that when I was younger and it literally caused my body to shut down! 

We need to get off the hamster wheel and stop to reflect once a week. For me, that means getting off of social media for a bit and not answering any emails, texts or phone calls unless it’s an emergency. I need to quiet my mind and soul down to read His Word, journal, listen, pray and fast. I need to be with Him with no distractions. On my Sabbaths, I also give myself permission to do other things that I enjoy, like reading and playing music, unrelated to work.  The work will always be there the following day and it’s healthy for people to not be dependent on us every single day. 

Pastor Levi did a great sermon on rest, titled “No More Bricks.” Here’s the link to it if you missed it: https://youtu.be/k2XU4b-iu8s?si=5v3a5LWgnaHJa37Z

What does rest look like for you? What needs to change in your schedule to make sure resting in Jesus becomes a priority? Praying that we all seek true rest for our souls through the Lord. 

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your gift of rest. I am reminded that Jesus went away OFTEN to be with you. (Luke 5:16) I pray that I would not just set aside a day of rest, but also go away with You often everyday to refresh and recharge. Thank You that I don’t have to work for Your love and affection, but that I work as a result of Your love and affection for me. I pray for everyone reading this that they would also set aside time to rest with You. Help us to stop carrying around weights and burdens that You have never called us to carry. We surrender and release it to You Lord. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Matthew 8 - 11.14.25

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Observation:

I have often been drawn to this passage. I am in awe of his faith, how someone who is not a Jew, and in a position of authority humbled himself for the sake of his servant. What stood out as I read this is Jesus asking the centurion, “Shall I come and heal him?” The man was obviously wanting Jesus to heal his servant.  Jesus by asking opened the door for this man to express his faith, a faith that Jesus later said was greater than any he had seen.  Then Jesus talks about the feast and subjects of the kingdom being thrown out.  As I went back to read this, for a moment I thought I accidentally copied part of Jeremiah. :-).   This part seems a bit out of place.  I’m guessing he did this to show that not only Jews would be present in Heaven.  If fact, some would not be admitted.  Then, he told the centurion to go home, he granted his request just as he believed.

Also notable is the centurion calling Jesus “Lord.”  He had come to believe in who Jesus was.  He was a man of authority and humbled himself.

Application:  

Are there times in my life when Jesus gives me a question to answer so I can come to a realization and declare my faith?

What do I believe?  How do my words and actions show it?

How can I handle times of questioning differently?  Times of trials?  Do I humble myself acknowledging Jesus as Lord and asking Him to move?

Jesus was amazed and declared to everyone that the centurion’s faith was greater than any He had seen.  Are people today looking at my faith that way?  Are outsiders looking at how I live my life and believing in a God who can do miracles?

I want to be a light for his kingdom.  I want to have faith that believes so strongly in Jesus and His power that God is amazed by my faith.

Prayer:

Father God, Jesus declared, “Nothing is impossible for you.”  Am I walking in faith like that?  Am I letting you work through me to do what is impossible for man, but easy for you? Lord, please help me keep your greatness at the front of my mind. So, I can walk in faith. May the worries of the world not choke out your truth.  You are mighty and holy, so awesome in power.  The centurion observed you working as an outsider and came to you.  Lord, we do not know who is watching.  I pray I am being a good example that draws others to believe like this.

Thank you for all you’ve done in my life and are yet to do.

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Matthew 9 - 11.13.25

SCRIPTURE

“Some men brought to Jesus a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.

When Jesus saw their Faith—

HE said to the man, “Take Heart. Son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this—some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

KNOWING—their thoughts—Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are Forgiven’, OR to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

But—I want you to know that the Son of Man—has authority—on earth to forgive sins.”

So—Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Get up—take your mat—and—Go Home.”

Then—the man—got up—and went home.

When the crowds SAW this—they were filled with (fear) and awe; and they Praised God, who had given such authority to a man.”

OBSERVATION

Some men brought their friend who needed Jesus’ help.

The friend was paralyzed so they carried him—possibly some distance—lying on a mat—to see Jesus.

When they arrived at the house where Jesus was teaching there was a crowd gathered at the entrance—so the friends had no way to enter into the house. The friends were desperate to get their friend to Jesus. Right here is where I begin to feel convicted. How desperate am I to get any of my friends or loved ones to Jesus? Desperate enough to carry them a long way on a mat through town? Desperate enough to carry that mat up to the roof when I couldn’t make it through the doorway?

These friends somehow managed to carry their friend up to the roof.

I’m guessing this made some noise. I’m thinking it took awhile to make a large enough opening for their friend to fit through. In Luke’s account we learn that Pharisees and Teachers of the Law had traveled from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem to hear Jesus Teaching. This was a large gathering with many influential Jewish Leadership included.

They must have all paused to look up—wondering what was going on—especially when the tiles began to come off. Then all of a sudden like something out of cirque to soliel---the paralyzed man drops down out of the newly created “sunroof” right in front of Jesus. There must have been a moment of shock and awe.

Jesus goes right to the heart—literally!

“Take Heart, son—your sins are forgiven”

APPLICATION

Take Heart—Your sins are Forgiven

Jesus is still offering the Same Forgiveness Today that HE offered that Young man.

Only God can forgive sins, so Jesus was claiming to be God. HE backed up His claims through the many miracles HE performed, His Teachings, and His death on the cross and His resurrection.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name but Jesus under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that HE purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

YOU are Holy—All knowing, ALL merciful, ALL powerful, ALL Worthy to be praised. You are not slow as some consider slow..YOU are giving every opportunity to bring people into Your kingdom and the saving knowledge of Your goodness and mercy. But there will come a day when there will be no more time.

Help me Heavenly Father to wake up to greater urgency for those things that burden Your heart. Give me the desperation to be like these friends who carried their friend on a mat and stopped at nothing to get him in front of YOU. People are lost and hurting and broken. Like I was once, they don’t know what they don’t know. Open the eyes of their heart. May I be one to always share my Love for YOU. YOU gave everything for me.

In Jesus Name. amen.

Tina L Kudelka