Today’s reading: Matthew 18:1-20

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew‬ ‭18:3-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What is it about children that Jesus is envisioning here? As we consider what He may mean, we may note that little kids are naturally...

• Trusting

• Imaginative

• Unpretentious

• Inquisitive

• Sensitive

• Full of wonder

The list may go on from here. Jesus especially points out the humility that children possess.

While the disciples were jockeying for the top Jesus-follower spot, He was trying to show them that Christianity would never be a hierarchy system of value. All of us carry an incredible amount of importance when it comes to Jesus’ Church.

May we stop trying to get to the top or get more of the spotlight. Instead, let us seek to serve and find ways to live a humble lifestyle.

God is going to give us all the honor we can handle someday in heaven. Our genuine, lasting reward won’t be found here anyway.

Today's reading: Matthew 17:10-27

'Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."' - Matthew 17:26-27

There were so many reasons why Jesus could have shirked off this Temple tax. First, there were some Jewish groups who refused to pay it. Second, they usually took in more than they needed. So much so that they built a golden vine with the excess one year. Third, the Temple is about to be destroyed in 70 AD.

So, since Jesus had excellent grounds for not paying it, why does He go ahead and pay the tax from the fish's mouth? Couldn't that shekel have been used more wisely?

Can you go ahead and try to stiff the IRS this year?

I love what Craig Keener says about these verses:

1. Jesus cares about his disciples’ social obligations (17:24–26).

2. Disciples need to be ready to surrender their privileges and “rights” for the sake of the gospel (17:25–26).

3. Jesus supplies needs like these as well as other needs (17:27).

Believe it or not, Jesus cares about your tax-life. He actually cares about your entire life. He cares so much that He died on the cross to restore us to who we were really meant to be.

May we walk in this freedom today! 

Today's reading: Matthew 16:13-28, 17:1-9

'And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”' - Matthew 16:22-23

Leave it to someone like Peter to recognize the ultimate identity of Jesus (verse 16), and then just a few verses down, he resists the way that Jesus had planned to carry it out.

This goes to show us that the disciples still didn't have a clue as to how Jesus was going to carry out His Messianic plan. There were still hopes of Him taking this show to Rome for a literal setup of the Kingdom and rule. To ultimately give freedom to Israel once again. Like a Gideon or a Deborah or even a Samson, but way better (more permanent).

Yet Jesus asserts that He plans to die and rise.

Peter seems to be stuck on the "die" part of the plan.

Though I can be pretty hard on Peter here, I can find the same kind of mentality in my own life.

I definitely recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Yet do I resist when it comes to the paths that He asks me to walk, thinking that I know better than He does? In a way, do I try to "rebuke" the God of all creation because things aren't turning out how I had hoped they would?

May we both receive Jesus as both Christ (Messiah) and Lord (ruler of our lives and the entire world).

Today’s reading: Mathew 15:29-39, 16:1-12

“And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.” - Matthew‬ ‭15:30-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What would be like for Jesus to show up on this Sunday morning and empty all of the nation's hospitals by restoring them to complete health? What would the headlines read?

For sure, conspiracy-theories would abound!

I always love these 100% heal-rate scenes. Only our Savior could pull off something like this. Nothing before had been seen like it and nothing since.

Why only during the 3-year time period? Why can’t we see all of this today? It is evident that Jesus was showing us just how holy, how different He was from any other.

One day, when Jesus returns, we will also see a 100% heal-rate. Yet will be on a permanent basis.

“Jesus, we believe who you proved You were. Come quickly.”

Today's reading: Matthew 15:1-28

'“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.' - Matthew 15:27-28 ESV

We need to set this passage up a bit. The Canaanites were the ones that Joshua and the Israelites conquered to secure the Promised Land. They were enemies for many reasons. Religiously they were barbaric, condoning child sacrifice and temple prostitution. They also symbolized what stood between Israel and what God had said was rightfully theirs.

Yet this Canaanite woman confessed Jesus as the Christ by saying, "O Lord, Son of David." This unlikely woman offers a primitive confession of faith before their interaction.

She was persistent as well. So much so that the disciples were begging Jesus to send her away (her begging was annoying them).

In this account, Jesus almost seems insensitive and racist. I mean, He calls her a dog. Yet, she is unfazed. She says, "even the dogs," and this showed the extent of her faith.

Authentic faith doesn't quit with its incessant crying out to the God of the impossible.

It seems clear that Jesus was indeed not racist (or he would have sent her away). He was telling the common thought of Jews about "unclean" Gentiles and allowing her faith to be put on display.

This is to be contrasted with the earlier dealing with the Pharisees, who had allowed their traditions to squish their compassion.

May we have the same "great" faith as this Canaanite woman. May we never cease to cry out, "Lord, help me!"

Today's reading: Matthew 14:13-36

'But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”' - Matthew 14:27 ESV

Matthew uses the Greek words euthys or eutheos three times in verses 22-31 in our reading today. Below is how he used them:

1. When Jesus dismissed the disciples.

2. When Jesus announces Himself as He walks on water.

3. When Jesus snatches the sinking Peter.

The first was about self-care (for Jesus and the disciples). The second was about calming the disciples' fears (He was, indeed, not a ghost). The third was about saving the now doubting Peter. This leads me to ask three questions about the urgency in my own life:

1. Am I leading a balanced life that includes large amounts of prayer and proper times of rest?

2. Am I allowing fear to dictate how I live (which includes believing lies about myself and others)?

3. Do I trust Jesus enough to draw me out of impossible situations?

Jesus knows that we will put these off, allowing time for burnout, fear, and failure to take over.

May we act today, immediately, when it comes to these three questions, and experience the best life possible in this broken and fallen world.

Today's reading: Matthew 13:47-58, 14:1-12

'And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.' - Matthew 13:57-58 ESV

This goes to show us how ordinary of an upbringing Jesus had. He lived His first 30 years in such a way that it led everyone to believe that He was just another kid of Mary and Joseph. Though, maybe looking back, they could tell something was different with him not making a mistake at all.

It may remind us of the prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 53:2: "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him."

There was nothing about Jesus' appearance or family life that would have suggested He was the Son of God.

Yet this is why we have such an amazing Savior. He lived like them, like us. He experienced what we are experiencing. Jesus can honestly say, "I know how you feel.”

I pray that this doesn't make us think less of Jesus. I pray that it makes us love him even more. He was 100% man and 100% God, and He proved it with every day He was here in the flesh.

Today's reading: Matthew 13:24-46

'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”' - Matthew 13:30 ESV

This passage covers one of the most difficult things we will face as Christians. How are we to obey Jesus when He said this about us, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." (John 17:16)

Sure, we can insulate ourselves from those in the world, only hanging out with Christians who think the same as we do. Yet if we do this, how will we ever have the kind of influence we want to have on those who desperately need Jesus?

We must grow together, but at the same time, we don't go together.

What non-Christians are you currently avoiding that you need to be engaging? On the other hand, what non-Christians have you been engaging and allowing to influence you negatively?

This tension will always feel like it should: uncomfortable. If we are too confident either way, we probably aren't doing it right.

"Father, provide us with opportunities today to lovingly engage with those that have yet to say yes to Your Son, Jesus. We know we aren't of this world, but we also know we are in it for the purpose of helping turn weeds into wheat. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Today's reading: Matthew 12:46-50, 13:1-23

'And he told them many things in parables, saying, "A sower went out to sow."' - Matthew 13:3

In Eugene Peterson's book, "Tell it Slant," which is a book about the parables of Jesus, he builds off of the following quote from Emily Dickinson:

“Tell all the Truth but tell it slant--
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind--”

How do you get an individual to the point of believing/trusting in the name of Jesus? Spiritually, they may have ears that don't hear and eyes that don't see. To them, the Gospel isn't Good News; it is just more noise.

This is the power of the parable. It is a story that is telling us something that we may not have been interested in if it were told directly. The parables aren't meant to confuse us; they are meant to intrigue us into a deeper understanding of who we are and what God intends to do through us.

Today's reading: Matthew 12:22-45

'Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.' - Matthew 12:31-32 ESV

This has to be one of the most debated sayings of Jesus that we see in the four biographies of His life in the New Testament.

As a kid, I remember having extreme anxiety about this at night. I would think, "What if I accidentally blaspheme the Holy Spirit and go to hell? I mean, some crazy thoughts pass through my mind."

Rest assured, this is not what Jesus was communicating. This is no accidental act. It is an intentional refusal of God's presence, His breath (Holy Spirit translates literally as Holy Breath).

So when does someone reach the point of no return, they will not turn back to Jesus?

That's the thing; we don't know.

What can we do? We can wake up every morning and literally say out loud, "Holy Spirit, have your way in me. Create in me a new heart. Renew a steadfast spirit in me." This isn't so much about your entire life as it is about all the days that will fill your time on earth.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:25