SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [Matthew 10:19] Jesus sends out His…
how sweet the Name
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” [Matthew 9:33-34] Jesus defied expectations, He was not the Messiah anyone expected. He claimed to forgive people, like…
who is this guy???
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” [Matthew 8:27] What kind of man is this Jesus? Willing and able to heal a leper, but what is more, He touches him – shocking! A man with authority…
hard… but true
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. [Matthew 7:13-14] If Jesus were a…
worship or worry?
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. [Matthew 6:24] There seems to be two sections in this chapter, about worship and worry. The first part deals with giving,…
flying right-side up!
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [Matthew 5:11-12] Jesus’ words…
working for Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. [Matthew 4:19-20] It was an ordinary day at work for Simon and Andrew, until Jesus came along. Their lives were both typical and predictable, until…
Spirit and fire
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his…
God’s anger
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what…
God with us… forever!
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: (Read my reflection from 2008) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). [Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:14] Ever since humanity rebelled against God, we have lost our ‘face…