Matthew 19 : 1-12 When the Pharisees question Jesus about the law regarding divorce, Jesus begins with the foundational truth, " Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ' For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'" The Pharisees could have no argument over this, for they knew the Word. Their argument would come from the conclusion that Jesus draws, "Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. "
Putting aside the debate about divorce for the moment... just think about God's view of marriage here... "..two.. become one". God, Himself "has joined together " a man and a woman. It is a divine act of co-joining, yoking, uniting 2 people together in a unique way that is altogether different than any other relationship. Brothers and sisters, parents and children.. even these precious relationships are not like a marriage which makes two people - one.
And yet the people, God's people, wanted to be able to separate themselves from their wives for any reason at all. They wanted to take them... what was really part of themselves by God's design... and throw them out of their homes and their lives. They wanted to rip themselves in two on a whim...
Yes, Moses had made provision for divorce, "because of.. hardness of heart" . But, this was meant to be a protection for the divorced woman. Otherwise she was without any hope, unable to remarry or without means of support.
Even the disciples were surprised by Jesus' statements. They wondered if it was worth getting married at all. The alternative is not easy to handle either, Jesus tells them. To become a eunuch..whether castrated or simply unmarried for the rest of your life... is not for everyone. In fact, Jesus says, ".. but only those to whom it has been given."
Verse 9 has been used as the excepting cause - ".. whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality and marries another woman commits adultery. " When the unity of the two, who have become one flesh, becomes broken due to the immorality of either partner, then it has already separated that which God had joined. They are no longer yoked together. They have joined themselves to another.
This same word " immorality" is also used for idolatry. Those who belong to God, joined together with Him, yoked with Him.. and then separate themselves to worship another god... are committing the same sin as the one who commits adultery, but on an even more devastating level.
Father in heaven, Your ways are perfect. Your plans for us are perfect. But, we are far from being perfect.. we are weak and flawed beings. We lack the ability to see as You see. We hurt ourselves and our loved ones... missing the mark that You have offered to us in Your Word - that which is wonderful and blessed and holy. O bless You, Lord, for You have pardoned our iniquities and healed our diseases! You have given us mercy and forgiven our debts. You have redeemed us and set us free. Amen!
Monday, May 29, 2017
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Matthew 18: 15 - 35 Jesus is teaching His disciples that greatness is not about power or position when it comes to the Kingdom of heaven... but about humbly serving others...the little ones and the lost. Jesus goes on to teach them about forgiveness.
Verses 15-20 reveal God's plan for helping each other when one falls away due to sin. We are, first of all, told to go privately to our "brother". "... if he listens to you, you have won your brother."
If that does not work, then 2 or 3 brothers are to go together and speak to him. It is important that the facts are confirmed. Only then, if the person refuses to listen or repent, does the matter go before the church as a whole. Finally, if the person won't turn from their sin, are they removed from the church.
Jesus gives the disciples a powerful responsibility here. " Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. " From what I have read, this idea of binding and loosing has to do with condemning or forgiving. The Holman Bible Dictionary states that "Heaven sets the standard and earth follows heaven's lead." The church either "binds" or condemns the sinner... or it "looses" or forgives him... based on the sinner's response when reproved. This gives us a different perspective to the next 2 verses, " Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven . For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst."
Perhaps we have been misusing this verse? In this context, the agreement is about binding or loosing... not about asking for things. It is about condemning the sin... of an unrepentant individual, or forgiving and restoring into fellowship one who has listened and repented of their sins. It is a decision that must be based on Heaven's standards. It must be decided in agreement and unity with the Lord Himself. This is a serious and sacred situation. It is truly life or death... for the soul of a brother is at stake.
(Verses 21-35) Peter's question about forgiveness takes on a deeper meaning in light of the above thoughts... If the one who sins does repent and is forgiven... what happens if he sins again? " ... how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" No, Jesus says, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."
Again, Jesus goes deeper... He teaches a totally different idea about forgiveness... that goes beyond numbers, beyond the surface.. " The kingdom of heaven" ... looks at forgiveness in this way... like
a king who is settling accounts with his slaves and one comes before him owing ten thousand talents. This is an astronomical debt - $10,000,000 worth of silver. The man could never in his lifetime pay this back. When he begs for the king to have "patience" and to not sell him and his family, the lord "felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt." He was free from the debt and from the punishment. "Loosed"!
However, that is not the end of the story. The slave goes out from the king's presence and finds a fellow slave who owed him a "hundred denarii" - one day's wages. He chokes the man. He refuses to listen to his plea for patience. He throws him into prison. He will let the man stay there until somehow he is repaid. He "binds" his fellow servant.
When the other slaves witness this, they are "deeply grieved". They report to the king about what has happened. The king calls the first slave back in and this time he is condemned... not for his debt, but for his unforgiveness and lack of mercy. " And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. " The debt that had been forgiven was now owed once again. The man was "bound" because of his failure to "loose" his brother.
Jesus says " So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
To forgive - to send away, separate , lay aside, yield up - the debt, the sin, or the trespass of another.
This is such an important part of what Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 6 Jesus taught His disciples to pray, " And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
( v12) He went on to say, " For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (v14-15) This is perfectly illustrated in the parable of Matthew 18.
Father in heaven, You alone are worthy of all glory and praise. You are faithful and You are willing to forgive us the great debt that we owe and can never pay on our own. Thank You that Jesus has paid it all! What marvelous grace and mercy You have lavished upon us! I choose now to forgive every debt and trespass that has been done to me and release them into Your hands. May Your will be done and Your Kingdom come Lord! Amen!
Verses 15-20 reveal God's plan for helping each other when one falls away due to sin. We are, first of all, told to go privately to our "brother". "... if he listens to you, you have won your brother."
If that does not work, then 2 or 3 brothers are to go together and speak to him. It is important that the facts are confirmed. Only then, if the person refuses to listen or repent, does the matter go before the church as a whole. Finally, if the person won't turn from their sin, are they removed from the church.
Jesus gives the disciples a powerful responsibility here. " Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. " From what I have read, this idea of binding and loosing has to do with condemning or forgiving. The Holman Bible Dictionary states that "Heaven sets the standard and earth follows heaven's lead." The church either "binds" or condemns the sinner... or it "looses" or forgives him... based on the sinner's response when reproved. This gives us a different perspective to the next 2 verses, " Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven . For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst."
Perhaps we have been misusing this verse? In this context, the agreement is about binding or loosing... not about asking for things. It is about condemning the sin... of an unrepentant individual, or forgiving and restoring into fellowship one who has listened and repented of their sins. It is a decision that must be based on Heaven's standards. It must be decided in agreement and unity with the Lord Himself. This is a serious and sacred situation. It is truly life or death... for the soul of a brother is at stake.
(Verses 21-35) Peter's question about forgiveness takes on a deeper meaning in light of the above thoughts... If the one who sins does repent and is forgiven... what happens if he sins again? " ... how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" No, Jesus says, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."
Again, Jesus goes deeper... He teaches a totally different idea about forgiveness... that goes beyond numbers, beyond the surface.. " The kingdom of heaven" ... looks at forgiveness in this way... like
a king who is settling accounts with his slaves and one comes before him owing ten thousand talents. This is an astronomical debt - $10,000,000 worth of silver. The man could never in his lifetime pay this back. When he begs for the king to have "patience" and to not sell him and his family, the lord "felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt." He was free from the debt and from the punishment. "Loosed"!
However, that is not the end of the story. The slave goes out from the king's presence and finds a fellow slave who owed him a "hundred denarii" - one day's wages. He chokes the man. He refuses to listen to his plea for patience. He throws him into prison. He will let the man stay there until somehow he is repaid. He "binds" his fellow servant.
When the other slaves witness this, they are "deeply grieved". They report to the king about what has happened. The king calls the first slave back in and this time he is condemned... not for his debt, but for his unforgiveness and lack of mercy. " And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. " The debt that had been forgiven was now owed once again. The man was "bound" because of his failure to "loose" his brother.
Jesus says " So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
To forgive - to send away, separate , lay aside, yield up - the debt, the sin, or the trespass of another.
This is such an important part of what Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 6 Jesus taught His disciples to pray, " And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
( v12) He went on to say, " For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (v14-15) This is perfectly illustrated in the parable of Matthew 18.
Father in heaven, You alone are worthy of all glory and praise. You are faithful and You are willing to forgive us the great debt that we owe and can never pay on our own. Thank You that Jesus has paid it all! What marvelous grace and mercy You have lavished upon us! I choose now to forgive every debt and trespass that has been done to me and release them into Your hands. May Your will be done and Your Kingdom come Lord! Amen!
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Matthew 18: 1-14 The disciples ask Jesus a question. " Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" In Mark's ( 9:33-37) and Luke's ( 9:46-48) gospels we read that they were actually arguing among themselves.. as to which of them was the greatest. In all three accounts we find that Jesus takes a child and sets him before them. Mark tells us that He holds the child in His arms, so it was a small child, perhaps a toddler.
The lesson is clear in all three accounts... the question should not be who is greatest, but who is humblest, who is least, who is the servant... who is like Jesus? ( Luke 22:24-27)
Who is willing to receive a little child in His name? Jesus is revealing a total opposite meaning to the idea of greatness in His Kingdom, as opposed to the cultural and religious ideas of that time (and ours too). Greatness is found in receiving a child in Christ's Name... which Jesus says is the same as receiving Him and receiving the Father in Heaven also. Greatness in God's eyes is determined by :
the attitude of humility
the heart of a servant
the absence of pride over one's position
Matthew continues with what Jesus chose to focus on as more important than one's position in the Kingdom.. becoming a stumbling block, causing another... even one little child, to stumble. This is what is most important in God's Kingdom!
A stumbling block - a trap, a snare, an offense; causing one to fall or to sin;
Jesus says, "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks." ( v7)
If your hand, your foot, or your eyes causes you to stumble... then "cut it off", Jesus says. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones..." The Father sent the Son to "save that which was lost". He is not willing "that one of these little ones perish."
Do we, like the disciples, ask ourselves the wrong question? Do we worry that we aren't great enough ... aren't religious enough.. aren't wise or knowledgeable or strong enough in the faith?
Be like a little child? Are we content to trust Jesus.. to come when He calls.. to sit on His lap?
Can we count ourselves as less than others?
Can we serve instead of expecting others to serve us?
Can we take time from our busyness to touch the life of one small child?
Are we diligent and careful to make sure we are not causing a child to sin?
Father in Heaven, we need You to sanctify us through and through that we might be blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. Forgive us for the times that we have been stumbling blocks. Forgive us for times when we focus on ourselves and our positions instead of on those who are lost and perishing and in need of the Name of Jesus. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and lead us in Your paths today, we pray. In the Name of our Gentle Savior, Jesus. Amen.
The lesson is clear in all three accounts... the question should not be who is greatest, but who is humblest, who is least, who is the servant... who is like Jesus? ( Luke 22:24-27)
Who is willing to receive a little child in His name? Jesus is revealing a total opposite meaning to the idea of greatness in His Kingdom, as opposed to the cultural and religious ideas of that time (and ours too). Greatness is found in receiving a child in Christ's Name... which Jesus says is the same as receiving Him and receiving the Father in Heaven also. Greatness in God's eyes is determined by :
the attitude of humility
the heart of a servant
the absence of pride over one's position
Matthew continues with what Jesus chose to focus on as more important than one's position in the Kingdom.. becoming a stumbling block, causing another... even one little child, to stumble. This is what is most important in God's Kingdom!
A stumbling block - a trap, a snare, an offense; causing one to fall or to sin;
Jesus says, "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks." ( v7)
If your hand, your foot, or your eyes causes you to stumble... then "cut it off", Jesus says. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones..." The Father sent the Son to "save that which was lost". He is not willing "that one of these little ones perish."
Do we, like the disciples, ask ourselves the wrong question? Do we worry that we aren't great enough ... aren't religious enough.. aren't wise or knowledgeable or strong enough in the faith?
Be like a little child? Are we content to trust Jesus.. to come when He calls.. to sit on His lap?
Can we count ourselves as less than others?
Can we serve instead of expecting others to serve us?
Can we take time from our busyness to touch the life of one small child?
Are we diligent and careful to make sure we are not causing a child to sin?
Father in Heaven, we need You to sanctify us through and through that we might be blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. Forgive us for the times that we have been stumbling blocks. Forgive us for times when we focus on ourselves and our positions instead of on those who are lost and perishing and in need of the Name of Jesus. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and lead us in Your paths today, we pray. In the Name of our Gentle Savior, Jesus. Amen.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Matthew 17 I remember once hearing a Bible teacher talk about the transfiguration of Jesus, saying that it fulfilled what Jesus had said in Matt. 16:28, that " there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." I think of that every time I read this passage, although I'm not sure that this is true. However, Peter, James, and John experienced something mysterious and majestic up on the mountain with Jesus that day:
Jesus was changed before their eyes - revealing Himself in glorious Light.
Elijah and Moses appeared - physically present, amazingly real!
Then, they heard the voice of the Father speaking to them, " This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him."
The disciple 's next question reveals what they were thinking, " Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" They were so confused! In their minds, since they had seen Elijah, then Jesus should be taking the throne.. now! But, Jesus was telling them that He was going to suffer first, and they couldn't even tell what they had seen until after He was raised from the dead.
God's plans are so much greater and wonderful than anything we can comprehend. The men that walked alongside of Jesus and knew Him best, couldn't begin to understand what was about to happen. Even with the hindsight that we have from the recorded Word of God, we do no better at grasping the infinite mind of the Holy One. Once again, I am reminded of Tozer's words about how God reveals Himself to us, not to our ability to reason, but to our exercise of faith.
As Jesus and the three disciples come down the mountain they are confronted by a man with a demon-possessed son, and the inability of the other 9 disciples to help him. Unbelief and puny faith cannot do the impossible, Jesus tells them. True faith, even if it is as small as a mustard seed - can move mountains though!
Again, Jesus tries to prepare His disciples for the future, for His death and resurrection. This time the response is grief.
Father in heaven, let our faith be true and growing. Open our eyes to know Your great power, Your great love, and Your infinite wisdom. All things are in Your hands. You know us, intimately and completely. There is nothing impossible for You. Thanksgiving and praise belong to You ! Lead us in Your paths and let Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Jesus was changed before their eyes - revealing Himself in glorious Light.
Elijah and Moses appeared - physically present, amazingly real!
Then, they heard the voice of the Father speaking to them, " This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him."
The disciple 's next question reveals what they were thinking, " Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" They were so confused! In their minds, since they had seen Elijah, then Jesus should be taking the throne.. now! But, Jesus was telling them that He was going to suffer first, and they couldn't even tell what they had seen until after He was raised from the dead.
God's plans are so much greater and wonderful than anything we can comprehend. The men that walked alongside of Jesus and knew Him best, couldn't begin to understand what was about to happen. Even with the hindsight that we have from the recorded Word of God, we do no better at grasping the infinite mind of the Holy One. Once again, I am reminded of Tozer's words about how God reveals Himself to us, not to our ability to reason, but to our exercise of faith.
As Jesus and the three disciples come down the mountain they are confronted by a man with a demon-possessed son, and the inability of the other 9 disciples to help him. Unbelief and puny faith cannot do the impossible, Jesus tells them. True faith, even if it is as small as a mustard seed - can move mountains though!
Again, Jesus tries to prepare His disciples for the future, for His death and resurrection. This time the response is grief.
Father in heaven, let our faith be true and growing. Open our eyes to know Your great power, Your great love, and Your infinite wisdom. All things are in Your hands. You know us, intimately and completely. There is nothing impossible for You. Thanksgiving and praise belong to You ! Lead us in Your paths and let Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Matthew 16 Once again the Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus seeking a sign. Once again He refuses to be manipulated and repeats His answer that they will only be given the "sign of Jonah".
Jesus tells his disciples to "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The disciples get distracted by the fact that they forget to bring bread with them. Jesus considers this a lack of faith and understanding. They worried about bread when they had witnessed Him feed the multitudes with a few loaves! What was more important than bread? Truth! The religious leaders were missing the Word of Life... and we must all beware of being led astray by those who speak falsely.
Jesus goes further into this with His question about who people say that He is. Others were saying that He was a prophet.. a reincarnation, if you will, of Elijah or Jeremiah, or even John the Baptist.
But, when He asks, " But who do you say I am?" Peter gets it right, " Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Only by the revelation of the Father could Peter know this, Jesus tells them...
"Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
In Matthew 11 Jesus had taught them this truth, " All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Finally, Peter understood. It was a step in the right direction. He wouldn't truly get it until later, but it was enough for Jesus to declare him to be a "rock".... bedrock, a foundation, for the building of His church.
Jesus then begins to set the stage for another Truth that the disciples would need to grasp - that He would be crucified, buried, and raised again. Peter takes 2 steps back it appears. He had just been given the keys of the kingdom... and the first thing he wants to do is stop what God had planned since before the foundation of the world!
Discipleship is hard.. it is costly, Jesus tells His followers. It means denying yourself and what you want. It means taking up a cross, losing your life, and putting it all on the line for Jesus. All the world offers is not as valuable as the soul, Jesus reveals. To stand before the Throne of God on that great day, nothing else will matter except this... did we give Him our life?
Father in heaven, open our eyes to see and hearts to receive Your Word of life. Let us not be distracted by the cares of this world. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God - who alone can reveal the Father to us - come and draw us nearer. Reveal Yourself to us in new ways, that we might worship You more and give You glory and praise with all our hearts and minds and strength. Amen.
Jesus tells his disciples to "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The disciples get distracted by the fact that they forget to bring bread with them. Jesus considers this a lack of faith and understanding. They worried about bread when they had witnessed Him feed the multitudes with a few loaves! What was more important than bread? Truth! The religious leaders were missing the Word of Life... and we must all beware of being led astray by those who speak falsely.
Jesus goes further into this with His question about who people say that He is. Others were saying that He was a prophet.. a reincarnation, if you will, of Elijah or Jeremiah, or even John the Baptist.
But, when He asks, " But who do you say I am?" Peter gets it right, " Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Only by the revelation of the Father could Peter know this, Jesus tells them...
"Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
In Matthew 11 Jesus had taught them this truth, " All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Finally, Peter understood. It was a step in the right direction. He wouldn't truly get it until later, but it was enough for Jesus to declare him to be a "rock".... bedrock, a foundation, for the building of His church.
Jesus then begins to set the stage for another Truth that the disciples would need to grasp - that He would be crucified, buried, and raised again. Peter takes 2 steps back it appears. He had just been given the keys of the kingdom... and the first thing he wants to do is stop what God had planned since before the foundation of the world!
Discipleship is hard.. it is costly, Jesus tells His followers. It means denying yourself and what you want. It means taking up a cross, losing your life, and putting it all on the line for Jesus. All the world offers is not as valuable as the soul, Jesus reveals. To stand before the Throne of God on that great day, nothing else will matter except this... did we give Him our life?
Father in heaven, open our eyes to see and hearts to receive Your Word of life. Let us not be distracted by the cares of this world. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God - who alone can reveal the Father to us - come and draw us nearer. Reveal Yourself to us in new ways, that we might worship You more and give You glory and praise with all our hearts and minds and strength. Amen.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Matthew 15 :1-20 The Pharisees were more concerned with their traditions than they were about the Truth . They were teaching their own "doctrines and precepts" instead of the Word. "Hear and understand", Jesus says to the crowd and to us. It is not about what we eat and how we eat that is important .. it is what goes on in our hearts that concerns God. If our hearts are far from Him, if it is defiled with thoughts that are evil, with murder and adultery, with theft and slander... it won't matter how religious we act, how much money we give, or how pious we appear.. for God looks at the heart.
Jesus saw the heart of the Canaanite woman. She came in faith and asked Jesus to heal her daughter.
Jesus saw the hearts of the multitude who brought broken and needy loved ones to Him on the mountain. With great compassion He healed them all.
Jesus saw the need of the multitude who remained with Him three days with no food left. He took the 7 loaves and broke it, feeding the 4000 men and their families.
Jesus sees my heart. He knows my need. He heals my hurts.
He ministers to a single woman and to a great multitude.
He ministers to the "lost sheep of Israel" and to the Gentile woman.
Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever! His compassion and kindness are the same for us as for the multitudes. Praise His holy Name!
Thank You Father in heaven, for Your great faithfulness and love. Work in our hearts today to root out all that might defile us. Cleanse, pardon, and fill us once again with Your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Jesus saw the heart of the Canaanite woman. She came in faith and asked Jesus to heal her daughter.
Jesus saw the hearts of the multitude who brought broken and needy loved ones to Him on the mountain. With great compassion He healed them all.
Jesus saw the need of the multitude who remained with Him three days with no food left. He took the 7 loaves and broke it, feeding the 4000 men and their families.
Jesus sees my heart. He knows my need. He heals my hurts.
He ministers to a single woman and to a great multitude.
He ministers to the "lost sheep of Israel" and to the Gentile woman.
Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever! His compassion and kindness are the same for us as for the multitudes. Praise His holy Name!
Thank You Father in heaven, for Your great faithfulness and love. Work in our hearts today to root out all that might defile us. Cleanse, pardon, and fill us once again with Your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Matthew 14
Jesus would not have been surprised at the news of John the Baptist's death, yet He withdrew from the crowds in grief.
He would not have been unaware of the multitudes who would follow Him, nor would He be worried about their need for food, yet they took along only 5 loaves and 2 fish.
Jesus was not concerned about how He would meet up with His disciples in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of a storm. The water, the wind, and the storm were not obstacles to Him, but vehicles under His control, for His use.
All of creation... made by Him, for Him, and under His command. In this passage the power and greatness of God is revealed. But, beyond that, His compassion and kindness are made known too.
Jesus has great compassion on those who are sick.
He has compassion on those who are weak and in need.
When Peter began to sink, Jesus reached out and took hold of him, He rescues even those who doubt.
In Tozer's book, The Knowledge of the Holy, about the immutability of God.... I read this , " Today, this moment, He feels toward His creatures, toward babies, toward the sick, the fallen, the sinful, exactly as He did when He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die for mankind."
Just the same as Jesus revealed to us when He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and rescued the drowning man. He feels the same toward us. I just need to meditate on that thought for a while. What wonderful truth!
Father in heaven, all that is within me blesses Your holy Name. You are great and greatly to be praised. Your greatness is unsearchable.. infinite and unchanging. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word and through Your Son. To once again, be reminded that all of creation is at Your beck and call.. and that You love us with such mercy and compassion... brings me to my knees in worship and thanksgiving. I love You Lord and I lift my heart to You. You are God and there is none like You! Keep changing me... from glory unto glory, growing me in the knowledge of Christ my Lord. In His name I ask this, amen.
Jesus would not have been surprised at the news of John the Baptist's death, yet He withdrew from the crowds in grief.
He would not have been unaware of the multitudes who would follow Him, nor would He be worried about their need for food, yet they took along only 5 loaves and 2 fish.
Jesus was not concerned about how He would meet up with His disciples in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of a storm. The water, the wind, and the storm were not obstacles to Him, but vehicles under His control, for His use.
All of creation... made by Him, for Him, and under His command. In this passage the power and greatness of God is revealed. But, beyond that, His compassion and kindness are made known too.
Jesus has great compassion on those who are sick.
He has compassion on those who are weak and in need.
When Peter began to sink, Jesus reached out and took hold of him, He rescues even those who doubt.
In Tozer's book, The Knowledge of the Holy, about the immutability of God.... I read this , " Today, this moment, He feels toward His creatures, toward babies, toward the sick, the fallen, the sinful, exactly as He did when He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die for mankind."
Just the same as Jesus revealed to us when He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and rescued the drowning man. He feels the same toward us. I just need to meditate on that thought for a while. What wonderful truth!
Father in heaven, all that is within me blesses Your holy Name. You are great and greatly to be praised. Your greatness is unsearchable.. infinite and unchanging. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word and through Your Son. To once again, be reminded that all of creation is at Your beck and call.. and that You love us with such mercy and compassion... brings me to my knees in worship and thanksgiving. I love You Lord and I lift my heart to You. You are God and there is none like You! Keep changing me... from glory unto glory, growing me in the knowledge of Christ my Lord. In His name I ask this, amen.
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