Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:33-46

Scripture

“I tell you that God’s kingdom will be taken from you and given to people who will do what he demands.”

Observation

Jesus continues to talk to the chief priests and leaders in the Temple area. He tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard, builds walls and a tower as well as digging a crushing pit. He then rents it out and leaves.

At harvest time, the owner sends some servants to collect his share of the grapes. The tenants beat and kill the servants. The owner sends a bigger contingent of servants but with the same result. Finally he sends his son, thinking that they will respect him. But they kill the son as well.

Jesus then asks the priests and leaders what will happen to the tenants. They reply that surely the owner will kill then and find more suitable tenants,

Application

The religious leaders of Israel had lost track of their responsibilities to God. Over many years, they had killed the prophets who rebuked them. The parable suggests that they will treat God’s Son in the same way.

The warning to all of us is that if we claim to be followers of Jesus, we had better take this seriously. If we don’t, then the Kingdom of God will be taken away from us and given to someone else.

We must remain faithful and obedient to Jesus. That means reading the Word and putting it into practice. It means praying for people and asking Father God , “What do you want me to do for this person?”

God’s kingdom is not just about words but deeds. The sinner’s prayer is the starting point of discipleship not the finish line.

God is looking for a people who will die to every selfish ambition and live only for Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, once again I give myself to you. Let my whole life be surrendered to you and your purposes. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18.21-35

Scripture

“This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you, if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart.”

Observation

Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive our christian brother or sister- is seven times enough? Jesus replies that the real answer is seventy times seven.

Jesus then tells a story about an official who stole a huge amount of money from the king. The man could not repay this, so the king ordered him and his family to be sold into slavery in order to repay the debt. The official begged for mercy, and so the king relented.

When the official met a fellow employee who owed him a small amount of money, he had him thrown into jail. So the king, enraged by the man’s lack of gratitude, has the first official put into jail to be tortured until he repays everything he owed.

Application

Jesus says that if we refuse to forgive our brothers or sisters we will be like the official thrown into jail for neglecting the law of grace.

Does Jesus mean literally that unforgiveness destroys salvation? Does He mean that God’s grace is not unconditional?

I think that the point here is that if we hold onto bitterness against those who sin against us, then we have not really experienced God’s grace in the first place.

Salvation means that God rubs out a debt we could never repay and continues to do that. If we understand that we should be dancing in the streets and kissing strangers! Forgiveness should flow from us in a torrent of joy and grace.

We were on death row preparing to die, but at the last minute an appeal came through announcing we are innocent. How can we do anything other than forgive our brothers and sisters?

Prayer

Thank you for the gift of salvation, Lord Jesus. As you forgave me my many sins I will forgive all who sin against me. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=book+ch.vs

Scripture

“Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Observation

Jesus begins to talk seriously about His suffering and crucifixion. Peter takes Him aside and says, “This must not happen to you Lord.” But Jesus responds with, “Get behind me Satan!”

Jesus then tells the disciples that in order to follow Him, they must take up their own cross and die to themselves. To seek to save our own life is to lose it, but to lose our life for His sake is to gain life.

Application

Peter thought he had it all worked out. Jesus was the Messiah, and He would usher in a new kingdom of prosperity in Israel. When Jesus started talking about being crucified, Peter was appalled and started to rebuke Jesus.

Peter could not see that God’s plan was different and far greater than he could imagine. He was seeing from man’s perspective rather than God’s.

We find it hard to break out of our mental strongholds to see our life from God’s perspective. We are surrounded by a culture that is focused on the here and now and which often denies God’s purpose completely.

The thought of dying to ourselves to follow God is nice in theory. In practice we want one foot in the Kingdom and the other in the world. Like Peter, we are always hoping that Jesus will avoid the cross this time.

I need to learn to die to my plans and ambitions, my dreams and visions. Instead I need to follow Jesus day by day, step by step. I need to do this without trying to impose my agenda on Him.

Being totally subservient to the Lord’s plans is a tough walk in an age of self-promotion. This is the path we are called to walk.

Prayer

Lord please show me the parts of my life that are filled with the plans of men rather than the plans of God. Give me grace to walk in your ways. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16.13-20

Scripture

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Observation

Jesus asks His disciples who people say He is. They reply, “Some say John the Baptist, other say Elijah or one of the prophets.” He then asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus commends Peter because he has made this confession through the revelation of God. He goes on to say that upon the rock of this confession Jesus will build His church, and hell will not prevail against it.

Application

This confession, “You are the Messiah (or the Christ), the Son of the Living God” is the heart of true faith. It is the rock that is the foundation of the church.

Jesus is the Messiah, the one anointed and sent by the Father. He lived the perfect sinless life that was acceptable to the Father. He laid down His life to set us free from sin.

He is the Son of the Living God. He is the Son, the Word become flesh. Every part of His character and ministry perfectly represented the likeness of Father God. When we see Jesus we see God.

The eye of faith recognises who Jesus is. By faith we take hold of this Son of God, and from Him we receive the free gift of salvation and reconciliation.

Christianity is not a set of rules to be obeyed or rituals to be performed in order to win God’s favour. It is a relationship. We are brought into God’s family and set free from all bondage.

Prayer

Jesus you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. You are my Lord and my Saviour. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14:22-33

Scripture

When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

Observation

After they have fed the 5000, Jesus sends the people home. He then tells the disciples to cross the lake in the boat while He goes into the hills to pray.

During the night a storm arises, and the disciples are struggling against the big waves. Jesus comes towards them walking on the water. The disciples, terrified, think it’s a ghost. Jesus speaks to them and tells them not to be afraid.

Peter tells Jesus to command him to walk on the water. He gets out of the boat, but fear causes him to sink. Jesus grabs him, and they climb into the boat. Then the wind stops, and the disciples worship Jesus.

Application

Faith enables awesome miracles. But fear kills faith and so blocks the miracles.

When I focus on the physical world or the circumstances around me, I can easily be gripped with fear, or its little brother, anxiety.

Terror, fear, anxiety, worry- whatever name we give it- looks at the potential for suffering. Faith looks at the potential for God’s grace to be manifested.

We might believe the miracles of Scripture are real, but still fail to believe that God is right here with me now. Many people believe that God heals, but they lack the faith to claim their own healing.

Often it is fear that God will not come through for them that stops them from asking. Sometimes it is fear of rebuke that stops us from offering to pray with a friend.

Imagine if Moses had let fear stop him at the Red Sea or if David had been afraid of Goliath. All the people Jesus healed had to ask and believe- what if they had let fear stop them?

When the storms rage I need to keep my eyes on Jesus.

Prayer

Lord please help me to always trust you no matter what is happening in my life. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14.13-21

Scripture

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and then the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Observation

Having heard of John the Baptist’s death at the hands of Herod, Jesus goes away to be alone. The crowds follow Him, and moved with compassion, He starts to heal them.

As the day goes on, the disciples tell Jesus that He should send the people away to get food. Jesus tells them they can feed them. All they have is five loaves and two fish, nowhere near enough. Jesus blesses the food, breaks it and gives it to the disciples to distribute.

When the people are fed there is more left over than when they started.

Application

God’s economic system is different to ours. He is not limited by lack, but He turns lack into abundance.

The disciples start off with a boy’s lunch and feed ten thousand people with it and end up with much more then they had to start with.

When we are following Jesus, inadequate resources are not a limitation but an opportunity for a miracle. The problem is that we often focus on what we don’t have instead of on what God can provide.

Here are the ingredients necessary for a miracle to take place:

• A need. People need food. God will not step in where there is no need.

• Availability. The disciples had a little and were willing to bring that to Jesus to use.

• Worship. Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it. This is a reference to Communion. When our hearts are focused on worshipping Jesus, any thing is possible.

• Obedience. The miracle took place in the disciples’ hands as they stepped out in faith.

I have seen these miracles take place as the Lord has provided for my family and my church in very special ways. He is always faithful and just needs us to trust Him to provide all that we need, regardless of how much we have in our hands.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your amazing provision and your awesome miracles. Thank you for providing more than enough. Please help me to trust you in every moment of my life. Amen.