Scripture

Matthew 28:16-17 NLT

“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!”

As both Marys went to visit Jesus’ tomb, they were greeted by a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the huge stone that lay in front of the door of the tomb, and showed both Marys that the place where Jesus’ body laid, was now empty! Just like Jesus told them…He would rise again! Jesus is alive! Now the angel told the women to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is alive, and to tell them to head to Galilee, because it is there that they will see him.

So when the disciples arrived in Galilee, they went to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. It was there that they saw him and worshipped him, yet some of them still doubted.

Transformation does not happen quickly.

I must allow the Holy Spirit to make me be a better disciple each and every day, month, and year!

As Christ Followers we should be all about the transformation. We should be allowing the Holy Spirit to mold us and change us to be more like Jesus each day. We all need to start somewhere in our walk with God. The key is to make sure we don’t settle where we are at, but we continue to seek growth to become more and more like Him each day . 

-Moses Gaddi

Scripture

Matthew 27:28-31

28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had [h]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Observation

In many ways, this is the beginning of the end…but also the end of the beginning.

Judas had basically sold Jesus off to his death for 30 pieces of silver, felt great shame and guilt and tried to return it then hung himself.

Jesus had been taken before the governor, Pilate, who did NOT find him guilty but upheld the custom of releasing only one prisoner of the crowd’s choice – of which they chose Barabbas.

Now, Barabbas has been released and they begin the process of crucifixion.

Understanding

The accounting of Jesus’ death is always heart wrenching. No one deserves a death like this, especially not an innocent, peaceful and loving man…for whom the governor could find no wrong. One thing to take away though, is Jesus’ example of humility.

I’ve always felt that spitting on someone was among the most disgusting and disrespectful things one could do to another. And here we see our Savior being mocked, subjected to pain, spit on, struck, stripped down, fed sour wine, hung, nail pierced…yet, even here – subjected to humiliation and holding the power to bring down whatever he wanted on to these people (fire and lightening come to mind for me) – he remains innocent, peaceful, loving and humble. Talk about raising the bar in living a life of example!

Life Application

God, I thank you that you have such incredibly high standards…but that in the short time you physically walked the earth, you set the best example of living up to those high standards. I’ll be honest, it still doesn’t possible and I know I fail daily…but make me more like you. May my humility, my love, my kindness, my attempts to bring harmony and peace be reflective of you in me and may it turn hearts towards you.

In your name I pray.

Rei

To check out the discussion or to join in click here.

Scripture:  Matthew 26:39  Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Observation-What does it say?  Jesus is in the final stretches of his first mission on earth.  He has made the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and is about to be betrayed.  In light of what is about to happen, Jesus stops to pray.  He prayed with fever and passion, as described in Luke 22:39-46.  “The prospect of his suffering fills Jesus with horror…Peter, writing later, says that Jesus ‘was bearing our sins in his own body on the cross’ (1 Peter 2:24)” (Zondervan Handbook of the Bible, p.575).   Despite his vehement prayers, Jesus ultimately submits and God’s plan is still carried out.

Understanding-What does it mean?  My son, Ezekiel, suffers from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).  He also has some food allergies.  And so, he really shouldn’t be eating certain foods that irritate his stomach and that he is allergic to, like wheat, dairy, and eggs.  We learned this when he was four years old.  And do you know what four year old boys like to eat?  I can give you a short list: pizza, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, peanut butter and jelly.  These all include at least two of the three foods he is allergic to, and I haven’t even begun on desserts.  

Having to suffer through this with Ezekiel has been a painful, but effective, object lesson in why we sometimes have to hear the word “no” when we earnestly pray for something.  It hurts to see the look on Ezekiel’s face at a birthday party when he can’t have cake.  It’s not fun having to forego pizza as a family, because of the way it hurts his stomach.  But, I know these are good things for him to abstain from.  Just like God knows the things that are best for us.  

Something else I have learned in having kids, is that I love to hear their stories.  I also love when they want to spend time with me, especially if it is doing a mundane task.  It can get really annoying if the only things coming out of their mouths is, “Can I have a…?  I want a…  I need it now.”  And so, I know our heavenly father feels the same way.  C.S. Lewis writes, “Prayer in the sense of petitions, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine.  In it God shows Himself to us.  That he answers prayers is a corollary- not necessarily the most important one- from that revelation” (The World’s Last Night, p. 7).

Deborah Lee

Scripture

• 36″No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only the Father.
• 42″Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
•  45″Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Observation

Understanding

Life application

Scripture

Psalm 105:8,42-44

⁸ He remembers his covenant forever,
    the promise he made, for a thousand generations,

⁴² For he remembered his holy promise
    given to his servant Abraham.
⁴³ He brought out his people with rejoicing,
    his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
⁴⁴ he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—

Observation

Starting with praise, this book shares a summarized version of the story of Abraham, the story of the Israelites – from being set free (with the use of plagues) to the traveling by cloud and fire, to the provision in the desert (manna and quail from heaven, water from rocks)…and why?  All because God had made a promise.

Understanding

There was so much good stuff in today’s reading – especially in Matthew, with the “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21) and the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) – it was hard to choose just one theme.  But I think even those can be summed up with…  

God is faithful.

And Psalms brings it home with just how faithful God is…so much so that he remembers his covenant FOREVER, the promise he made for A THOUSAND GENERATIONS.  I’m lucky to remember something for a thousand minutes or a thousand seconds.  Yet the God who spoke us in to creation, who knew the beginning, middle and end of our stories before we took our first breath, He remembers the promises he made FOREVER.

Life Application

What promises are you holding on to?  What things have spoken to you and over you by God?  May today be a reminder that He hasn’t forgotten.  Stay the course, you serve a faithful God who remembers you and remembers the promises He’s made you.

God, I thank you that you are a faithful God…a follow through God.  Not one thing comes out of your mouth only to return void.  May I be faithful to you like you are to me. 

Oh, and give me opportunities today to exercise the greatest commandment – love.

In your name I pray. 

Rei

To check out the discussion or to join in click here.

Scripture  Matthew 21:28-32   “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’  “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.  “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.  “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered.

Observation-What does it say?  Jesus is speaking with a group of the chief priests, and they decide to question his authority.  Jesus answers with a group of parables: the parable of the two sons, the parable of the vineyard tenants, and the parable of the wedding guests.  The three parables display different aspects of disobedience to Jesus.  In the parable of the two sons, we see an example of a sincere act of obedience in the first son, even though his words would show otherwise.  The second son mocks his father through his disobedience.  

Understanding-What does it mean?  Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy when I am yelling at my kids to clean their room.  I mean how many times do I have to tell them calmly and quietly.  The first 82 times I asked them to clean their room I was able to hold my composure.  Why at 83 did I suddenly turn into the Hulk?  Smashing Lego creations that took them two weeks to build.  Putting their favorite stuffed animals in the trash.  This is when my kids really show concern for their belongings, once the reality sets in that I can make it all disappear.  It’s like they don’t understand the value of a dollar.    

I know that I did the same thing when I was their age.  And, the reality is, I still struggle with being obedient.   I often struggle with being generous with people who I “don’t deserve it.”  Or I treat people the way I feel have “earned.”  I treat the outcasts with disdain because I don’t care for the way they smell, or how they look.  I play favorites and treat people the way I feel they deserve, even though God’s word clearly states this is sin.  I go to church, pay my tithes, I even volunteer to help in different ministries.  But, these things are all in my comfort zone.  

In Matthew 20:1-16, we learn about God’s amazing generosity with us.  In the parable of the workers, we see that God shares equally with all who will come to him.  Why, then, do I find it so hard to show love to the outcasts.  I let my pride get in the way.  

Life Application  Jesus, I am sorry for being so prideful.  I am sorry for showing favoritism and not showing love to those who are “less desirable.”  Help me to love others the way I love myself.  Help me to let go of my biases and see people with the same love you do.            

-Tyler Galloway

Matthew 20:20,16

12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Observation

Jesus was describing what the kingdom of heaven was like. He compared it to a landowner who went out to hire laborers to work in his vineyard. Some he found early in the morning and agreed to pay them a denarius, a whole days wage. Others he found later at different times even towards the end of the day, and paid them the same amount as the laborers who started in the morning. Say what!?

Understanding

Father God is so good!

Ephesians 2:7-8  “7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

I am humbled by God’s generosity of love.I get to share in the inheritance no matter when I started. Father God is so good! I don’t deserve any reward! Certainly not the same reward of those that have gone before me.

I can only imagine what it must feel like to have been laboring, putting in the time and effort for so long only to receive the same reward.

Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

However, I think in this scripture Jesus was commenting on the first workers complaining, bad attitude toward unfair division of wages, and desire to be recognized for hours of laborious work. Their heart was ugly toward their fellow laborers who came in late. He should have shown gratitude for the wages and  having a fellow laborer to help, the humility to be happy for the latecomer who was receiving such an amazing wage!

Application

Desire to serve over wanting to be used.

When we want to be used it comes with a longing to be seen for our work and to be recognized for our gifts and talents. When we desire to serve it comes with a longing to do what is being asked of us even if it doesn’t fit into our gifts and talents and it remains unseen.

Humility and gratitude are always the right response. Do away with pride and allow humility to reveal our true condition.

Father, thank you for your salvation through your son Jesus Christ that allows me to be a laborer in your kingdom. We take off our pride that distorts the truth and put on humility that reveals our true condition. Holy Spirit come empower us to work alongside my brothers and sisters with a happy heart of gratitude for them coming into the kingdom and forever grateful for your immeasurable grace and mercy! In Jesus name, Amen!

Deborah Lee

Scripture

Matthew 19:13-14

13Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Observation-What does it say?

When the little children were brought to Jesus, His disciples rebuked them. They rebuked the people who brought the kids to Jesus. The Oxford American dictionary defines rebuke as, “express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.” The disciples were critical of the fact that little children were brought to Jesus, but Jesus told His disciples to let them come. Jesus welcomed the children, blessed them and prayed for them. 

Understanding-What does it mean?

It doesn’t matter what age, race, gender, or past we have. We can all come to Jesus and He will accept us with open arms.

Children were just like women back in those times in Jewish culture. They were not highly regarded. However, Jesus continued to break those social barriers. When doing research on gotquestions.com, it said that, “It is likely that their (the disciples’) move to hinder the parents from bringing their children to Jesus was motivated not by unkindness, but by a desire to respect Jesus’ position as a teacher.”

To the disciples, Jesus’ position as a teacher gave Him no time to pray over children because He had more important matters to attend to. However, Jesus continued to show His disciples that He was there to serve people no matter what gender or age they were. He came to serve everyone, to die for ALL and to resurrect from the grave so that we could have life in Him. The Kingdom of Heaven did not only belong to the religious leaders or to men, but to the sinners, the poor, the women, the children and everyone else who weren’t socially accepted in those days.

Life Application

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28 NIV

Think of people today who are not socially accepted or people we write off because they are unlike us. Poor/homeless, mentally ill, sick, broken, needy, hurt, dependent….you fill in the blank. 

Those are the people that Jesus went out of His way to minister to and who we should to as well. There are no cultural, social, age, gender, or political gaps with Jesus. Everyone has an opportunity to be part of the Kingdom of Christ because in His Kingdom, those barriers do not exist.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You loved and love the “least of these” and as we were adopted into your family, we inherited more than the world has to offer, life with You. I pray against any cultural or social filter/barrier that prevents us from reaching out to those You desire in Your Kingdom. As Your Word says, “the last shall be first and the first shall be last (Matt. 19:30).” May we have a humble servant’s view towards people just like You had towards us. We love You Jesus and thank You for choosing us despite who we were. May we extend that same love and grace towards others when reaching out. Amen. 

Source:

gotquestions.org/let-the-little-children-come-to-me.html

-Michelle Gaddi