SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He replied, ‘One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.’ [Matthew 26:23] In Jesus’ time, to eat together was an intimate, spiritually bonding experience. To break bread together meant you were one in heart and mind and spirit. This needs to be recalled when we hear…
Category: daily meditations
loving the King today!
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ [Matthew 25:40] Though it seems as if there is no one Ruler of this planet, and though it seems as if we…
ready or not, here He comes
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. [Matthew 24:36]. Interesting, Jesus seemed to think that “these things” would happen within the disciples’ time frame [Matthew 24:34], but then He says He doesn’t know when…
“the shack” series: forgiveness
The Shack is a parable about one man’s healing encounter with God. Part of Mack’s healing journey is forgiving his father (an alcoholic who abused him) and his young daughter’s murderer. The underlying theme of this book is that Mack will not find freedom from the great sadness (how he describes the depression that encompasses…
Jesus meek and wild
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the…
chosen???
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: For many are called, but few are chosen. [Matthew 22:14] When I hear Jesus say this, my thoughts are muddled because, growing up, the word ‘chosen’ always referred to the doctrine of predestination – where we are not able to choose God, but God chooses us. But this passage does not, I believe,…
the proper kingdom fruit
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. [Matthew 21:43] Here we have the clash of the kingdoms. The Kingdom of God as demonstrated in Jesus clashes with the kingdom of humanity. God’s modus operandi (method of operation)…
among us it will be different
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. [Matthew 20:25-26] In this chapter we experience (again) the contrary ways of God. How does God operate? Not like us!!!
love goes deeper than law
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. [Matthew 19:8] Did Jesus just say that what Moses permitted in the old covenant law regarding divorce was NOT what God originally intended? Should we not say, rather, that God permitted…
descending into greatness
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. [Matthew 18:4] Who will occupy the highest positions of authority in God’s restored world order? Who will be the most important, the ones in Jesus’ inner circle? This question, as well as Peter’s question about…