85th Week Matthew Chapters 7-9 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)
Monday Matthew Chapter 7A (verses 1-6
Matthew 7A
Verse 1-2
Kristen Strayer
Verses 1-2: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
THOUGHT
I think the point Jesus is trying to emphasize here is that we need to show grace to those around us. Every person in our lives is going to let us down at some point...the great part of being human. I know it is easy for me to expect perfection from others.
For instance, I would love to have a perfect husband and sometimes my expectation is that he will be perfect. The reality is he is human, and there is no way he can meet these expectations. Sometimes when he doesn’t meet my unrealistic expectation, I get upset. The problem is, in these moments I still leave myself room for error. In these moments I need to remind myself that Matt is a wonderful but imperfect husband and show him the grace God has shown me.
PRAYER
God, thank You for the grace You have given to us. We mess up all the time, but You continually shower us with Your grace and mercy. Help us to be as generous to those around us. AMEN
Tuesday, Matthew Chapter 7B (verses 7-12)
Matthew 7B
Verses 7-8
Mindy Strayer
Verses 7-8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
THOUGHT
What a promise from God! He will not hide from us, and He will not keep the door to the kingdom of heaven closed. So then, if we are seeking God, and we cannot find him or if we are asking God for something that we are not given, does this mean that He is not being true to His Word? No!!
Chapters 9—12 hits on this very question. God is our loving Father, and He will never hide from us or leave us.
Sometimes we, because of our human nature, cannot see God due to pain we may be experiencing or because of our sin that is blinding us from being able to see God. And then there are those times when we are just plain asking for something that is not good for us, something that goes against God’s will and His purposes for our lives. How many of us have prayed for things that God does not grant us only to find out that He blesses us later on with something else that is incredible. I think of the Garth Brooks song that goes, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” And then let me ask this question. How many of us have prayed and prayed for something and we finally got it, only to find out that what we received is causing us greater problems and anguish?
God gave us free will. There are times when we refuse to listen to Him or wait upon Him. He allows us to obtain things in our own strength that are not His will for us in order that we may learn from the mistake later on. Praise God that He is the giver of grace. When we realize our sin and run to Him, He will comfort us.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank You for Your Word this day. Help us, Lord, to seek You daily and to wait patiently for Your response to our prayers and requests. We thank You for all of our answered prayers, and we thank You for those that have gone unanswered as well. Be with every Salt Shaker this week as they
go about the business of the Kingdom in their daily lives. Help us Lord to tell about our God who answers, can be found, and opens the door to the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus Name. AMEN
Wednesday, Matthew Chapter 7C (verses 13-29)
Matthew 7C
Verses 13-14
Mindy Strayer
Verses 13-14: “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.”
THOUGHT
Luke 13:24—30 is the same recording of Jesus’s teaching only Luke presents it in the conversation form that it took place in. Someone asks Jesus how many people will be saved. Jesus says that many will try to enter the kingdom but won’t be able to. Jesus said to the listeners, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
The Word of God is definitely a double edge sword. Praise God that there is a gate to go through leading to life. Fear God for there is a gate that exists also which will lead to destruction. According to Jesus this wide gate (sin and life apart from Him) is easy to enter through and many people do. Jesus is the way, the narrow road that we must make every effort to follow. Jesus saves us as soon as we repent of our sins and ask Him to come into our lives. He gets us on the right path. But we must continue to make every effort to speak with Him, to know Him, to love Him, to live for Him. Continual love and devotion to Christ is the way to life eternal with Him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your Word of truth. Jesus is the way, the only way to life eternal with You. Thank You so much for sending Your Son to save us from our sins. Help us, Lord, to tell others about this small gate and narrow road leading to life eternal. Help us to be strong in our efforts to tell others about Jesus, the way maker, so that they too can live each day with the hope of living out eternity with You. We love You, Lord. AME
Thursday, Matthew Chapter 8
Matthew 8
Verses 16-17
Mindy Strayer
Verses 16-17: When evening came, many who were demon—possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah. He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.
THOUGHT
These two verses were very comforting and encouraging for me as I read them. All of us have prayed God’s healing for those who are suffering from illness, disease or disorders. I have been praying for a colleague to be healed of breast cancer now since last February I believe. She is still battling. These verses give me great hope and faith in the Lord’s ability and willingness to heal, not only physically, but spiritually as well.
Even today, over 2000 years since Jesus walked the earth, He is still driving out evil spirits, and He is still healing sick people. He is still taking up our infirmities and carrying our diseases. One word from Jesus Christ, one touch of Jesus and we can be healed. Upon performing His miracles, Jesus always made a statement about the person’s faith healing them. We must have faith in Him.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we thank You for who You are. We are so grateful for Your love. Lord, I pray that You would increase our faith that we may trust and believe in You more and more each day. Thank You, Lord, that You are still healing Your people. For those, Lord, that we know who are suffering with illness and disease, I pray, Lord, Your healing touch in their bodies and in their souls. Heal them Lord for Your glory that they may give testimony to Your love, power and presence in their lives. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. AMEN
Friday, Matthew Chapter 9
Matthew 9
Mindy Strayer
THOUGHT
In chapter 9 Jesus heals the paralytic, raises a girl from the dead, heals a woman with a bleeding disorder, restores sight to two blind men, drives out a demon from a man, and Matthew records that He went through all the towns and villages healing every disease and sickness. With all of these requests of healing, we see that what is important to Jesus is the people’s faith in Him for He comments on their faith with every healing. His main concern for us is our spiritual health. He wants us to trust in Him for forgiveness of our sins. Yes, Jesus is concerned about our physical health but first priority is our heart and faith in Him.
When I first started to pray for my colleague at work, I of course prayed for God to heal her of cancer. I wanted that physical healing. I still do pray for physical healing but now more so than ever I pray for Jesus Christ to come into her life. I pray that she would know how much He loves her. I pray that by her faith she would be strengthened, allowing Christ to bring her peace and comfort and a hope that cancer cannot kill. I pray that the name of Jesus would be lifted up in and through her life, and that she might give a testament to all what He has done for her. As we pray for those who we know to have God take away their disease or illness, we must also and pray first for their spiritual health. What an encouragement chapter 9 is for us as believers to share the gospel with those who need a healing touch from Jesus.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for blessing us each with faith in You. Lord Jesus, thank You for healing us spiritually by forgiving us our sins. Thank You, Jesus, that You also heal our bodies and our minds. In Jesus Name. AMEN
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