Matthew 28 - 12.4.25

S - Matthew 28:6, 17-20

6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

O – Jesus had just been crucified and laid in the tomb 3 days prior. The tomb was closed, secured AND guarded. However, we see in verse 6 that He was gone! Just as He said He would be. He then went to the disciples and spoke His final words to them.

Jesus’ resurrection is the key to Christian faith because just as He promised, He rose from the dead. We can therefore be confident that He will keep all of His promises. Jesus is more than a leader or powerful teacher, He is the son of God and His resurrection is the ultimate victory over sin and death, a promise of new life and hope for believers. Verses 18-20 are known as the Great Commission and Jesus’ final command to His followers.

A – “Go” is an active word and a command, not a request. So where are you (WE) going? Whether we go next door, into our communities, or to another country (maybe India?), we are told by God to “Go and make disciples.” And if these are His final words to his Disciples, to us, then they must be very important.

Sometimes the going can be very intimidating for some of us, but that’s okay. God didn’t equip us all with the same gifts to use for evangelism. We don’t all have a natural disposition to evangelize to the masses, but He did indeed give us each individual gifts which we are to use to help fulfill the Great Commission.

1 Peter 4:10 - Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Some simple steps to get started:

·       Discover your talents (abilities). What is it you are naturally good at?  Teaching, cooking, giving, caring for others, leadership?

·       Seek Guidance. Ask spiritual brothers and sisters, your pastors, what they see your gifts as. Sometimes we may think we are gifted in one area, but others would say not so much : ) I think I would like to be on the worship team because I love to sing AND worship the Lord. That’s a perfect place for me, right? But I can’t sing! NOT my gifting. But I can cook an amazing meal and take it to someone in need of some TLC.  A non-Christian may be skeptical that we want to help them out for nothing in return, but we build on those relationships and God uses us in those moments.

·       Simply PRAY. Ask God to show you where He wants to use you.

·       Then Apply it. Do something…take a meal, buy a meal in line or a coffee, pray for the woman limping through the store, or give a blanket to the homeless guy on the bike path. Find moments to share your personal story with others. Invite someone to church. Now is a great time for that as so many feel a pull toward Jesus during this time. They are more apt to say yes to the invitation…they just need someone to show them the way to the door. 

P – Lord help us not be a generation that continuously asks you for signs and miracles, but instead believes in you because of the faith that we have that you are who you say you are and that alone can be trusted.  Forgive me for any times that we doubt you and your powerful presence. Lord I thank you for all that you have done in my life, for the way you use me to minister to others, for the miracles you perform every single day, whether we see them or not.

Lord, I thank you that we can have confidence in your resurrection and promises for each of us. You have sacrificed everything so that MY sin could be washed clean and I would never have to be apart from you. May I honor you with my life, my choices, my thoughts, my love for others and may I be bold to GO and make disciples, share my story and take care of your people. Give me eyes to see the hurting, especially during this holiday season when so many people are struggling spiritually, financially, and many with loneliness. Help me bring joy to as many people as possible through attention and obedience to your promptings, and generosity this Christmas. Would you help me be bold and willing to share my story so that others can see what the resurrection can mean for them as well. In Jesus’ name! Amen

- Crystal Flory

Jeremiah 42 - 12.3.25

Scripture

Jeremiah 42:5-6

Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”

Observation

Babylon had seized Jerusalem, razed the city, and deported thousands. The small remnant that was left asked Jeremiah the prophet to pray to God for direction, that God would tell them where to go and what to do. They promised to obey God’s directions whether they liked them or not. (Spoiler alert – they did not like the direction they received or follow it.)

Application

Many times when we come to God in prayer, we come with preconceived expectations. We are not asking for God’s will to be done, we are asking Him to do what we want Him to do. And when His answers are different than we expected, we are disappointed and lose hope. Or we become angry and blame God for not working in the way we want Him to. He tells us His ways are not our ways. Will we trust Him, that He is in control and has a purpose and a plan?

Prayer

God, this is a lesson I need to learn new every day. Help me to continue to trust You at all times, in all situations. You love me more than I can imagine. You have a plan for my life. Help me to place my life in Your hands.

- Debbie Dunn

Matthew 26 - 12.2.25

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 26:6 – 13

6 “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

OBSERVATION

I can relate to the thought the disciples had towards the “waste” of the perfume. They had a good and practical idea with how the jar of perfume could be used to help the poor. In my financial brain, I would have come to the same conclusion as the disciples. The problem is they were only thinking in one dimension. You see, the woman who anointed Jesus was doing so to honor Jesus in preparation for his burial. She understood His teachings about what would happen to Him, taken them to heart, and wanted to provide a worthy honor for his burial.

The disciples are sure quick to judge and criticize the expensive use of the perfume. They are more concerned about how it could have been better used rather than understanding she was on a mission to honor and worship Jesus. The disciples had a completely different view based in the world’s ideals, but the woman was thinking more in the spiritual and what would be a perfect way to show her love for and worship to Jesus.

Although this scripture doesn’t mention the name of the “woman,” we can see the same story is told in John 12:1 – 7 and the woman is Mary (sister to Martha and Lazarus):

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

In doing some research on this scripture, the jar of perfume was valued at more than a “years wages.” In today’s value, the cost was possibly from $30,000 to over $50,000. The value speaks more of the sacrifice Mary made to honor Jesus. This jar might have been her life savings, possibly a dowry, or a special inheritance. No matter where the expensive perfume came from or the intended use in the future, she wanted to give her absolute best to honor and worship Jesus.

Mary loved Jesus very much. She followed and worshiped Jesus many times by being at his feet. In Luke 10:38 – 42 we see the famous story of Mary and Martha:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Although the scriptures don’t specifically mention Jesus’ feelings about Mary, we can see that verse 13 shows Jesus valued her sacrifice and worship. Jesus honors Mary by saying  “wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”  Interesting he says it will be in memory of her – not about Him, his coming death, burial and resurrection – but He wanted everyone to know, throughout time, that Mary’s act of love and worship would forever be remembered. I can’t think of any other time Jesus has done this for anyone else. Jesus found a way to honor and show his love for Mary.

APPLICATION

In reading this section of scripture, I began to think are there situations in my day-to-day life where I’m fulfilling practical service when I should be doing spiritual service? I’m sure there are practical situations when something should be done with a spiritual intent. The key is to be mindful of spiritual service to God before practical service. Think outside the normal box of life to serve God.

Mary’s sacrifice to Jesus was in giving her best and most valuable thing in life to Jesus. She didn’t use half the bottle or chose an everyday perfume. She chose the best she had. She knew nothing else in life meant more than giving her best to Jesus. Everything I do in life needs to reflect giving my best in service of my time, talents, and finances to the Lord.

Is analyzing what other people do in service or worship to God necessary? This scripture shows how judgmental and shortsighted the disciples were – and reflects what happens in life today way too often. If someone is serving God or in worship, that’s between them and God. It’s not up to me or anyone else to critique what they should or shouldn’t do in service or worship to God. Jesus knows our hearts and if we’re giving our best, that’s all that matters.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for this wonderful section of scripture that shows what true worship looks like, how we shouldn’t judge others in their worship, and to always give our best to you! Help me, Lord, to always have Mary’s heart and give you my best and most valuable in my time, service, worship, tithes and offerings. You deserve it all Jesus! Forgive me, Lord, where I’ve not given my best or where I have criticized others in their worship. Open my heart and mind to love you like Mary did - with all that she had. In His mighty name, Jesus. Amen

- Mary Oberg