But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” v13

Jesus' line about desiring mercy and not sacrifice really struck a chord with me today and I feel Jesus speaking to me on this.  I sense that Jesus wants us to have humility and a servant heart.  These are I believe core to other fruits of the spirit to be on display.  We are no better than anyone else and our sin is no less sinful than anyone else's sin.  If we remain humble we are better positioned to see others as Jesus sees them.

Of course there are other factors but I sense this is something Jesus wants me to more firmly grasp.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are indeed a great God, full of love, compassion, grace, patience, etc. for me.  I am clearly not worth this much love and blessing but You provide it anyway and then some.  Thank You that You love me despite my sin but please forgive me for arrogance, my harshness, my anger, and my lack of patience, among just a few of my sins.  Help me also be more like You Jesus.  Help me be and remain Your humble and faithful servant.

 

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

Matthew 9

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? v5

My initial question upon reading v1-8 in this chapter was - why didn't Jesus heal the paralyzed man when He first encountered Him instead of just forgiving the man of his sins?

I believe Jesus does this because Jesus wants us to recognize a few key things, including (1) that grace and forgiveness are available to all people regardless of who they are, etc; (2) that our physical circumstances are less important than our spiritual condition.

Too often I focus on my physical (or more broadly my earthly) circumstances which ARE less important.  I worry about too much.  I really should only focus on being right with God and if I have this I should no reason to worry.  This is certainly easier said that done but nonetheless worth pursuing.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO full of grace and forgiveness for me and this is a tremendous blessing.  I am not worthy of the love You have for me and the blessings You provide.  I worry far too much.  Thank You that You love me despite my worry but please forgive me for this worry.  Help me love, trust, and obey You with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Matthew 8

³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. v34

Jesus performed a miracle by healing the demon-possessed men but then the town "pleaded" with Jesus to leave!  Amazing.  Why would they do this?  After thinking about it for a few minutes, I thought to myself that I often do this - when confronted with a truth I run from the truth.  I either say NOT TRUE , HIDE the TRUTH, etc.  

I need courage to embrace truth - in this case Jesus and everything He represents.  Life change, transformation, etc.  I should submit fully to Jesus because He is great, His ways are great, and His plan for me is great.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

My Prayer: Lord, You are indeed a great God - full of love, mercy, kindness, patience, compassion and more, for me!  I am not deserving of such rich blessing.  Thank You that You love me and provide such blessing despite my sin.  Please forgive me for my neglect of You and how I run from You.  Help me run the race with my eyes fixed on You. Help me trust and follow You with all of My heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Upon first reading it was not apparent what Jesus was saying here - my first thought was that this man was just offering an excuse for why he could not follow Jesus.

I found this commentary which helped clarify this statement for me and it is very relevant to me as of course all of the bible.

Control of people and circumstances is a big deal to me and I currently in the midst of how I can give this to God and submit to Him.  I worry too much about this or that and should just trust that God can sort things out.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God - totally in control and in love with and for me!  I am not deserving of such a great God.  I sin - I worry too much.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my worry and for my desire to have control.  I desire to submit to You....everything.  Please help me Jesus.

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Matthew 8

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  v10

 What is great about this story is, as Jesus says, the strength of the centurion's faith and the courage required to have such faith.  Although it is not explicit in the text, it is not likely that the centurion had ever met Jesus but had only heard about Him and this required great courage, particularly because he was a roman soldier - a man of authority.  I suspect not many roman soldiers at the time became Christians...I don't know for sure I just suspect.  

What is also striking, again particularly because the centurion was a man of authority and power, is that the centurion had great concern for his servant:

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” v5-6

Such humility allows the strength of Jesus to shine. 

My Prayer: Lord, You truly are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, You are the only God for me.  I desire no other.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve and in many instances because I don't deserve anything.  I need You desperately.  Thank You that You love me even though You don't need me.  You died for me just so that I could have life, life in abundance.  Help me grow in my faith and trust in You.   

Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Matthew 8

Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” v4

As I posted yesterday, listening and understanding of God's message is not enough.  I am to do as the Word says - I must be in action.  Similarly, the power of action is reinforced in Matthew 8:4 where Jesus tells the man He just healed of leprosy to "not tell anyone".  Instead, go to those who claim you were not worthy to be in the temple - go to the priests - and demonstrate this healing.  Words alone will only do so much...Jesus recognizes this.  In person testimony and evidence of Jesus' as Lord is more powerful than hearing of it.

In the same way, I am called by Jesus to SHOW how Jesus transformed both my heart and my life.  This is indeed a great challenge.  I fall down on this challenge yet I know that Jesus can help me with it...I must trust that it is only Him that can help me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are indeed a great God and You have healed me, and transformed both my heart and my life.  I know how You have blessed me.  Yet I am not deserving of such blessing and love.  I have faith in myself more so than I do You.  Thank You that You love me Jesus but please forgive me.  Please help me grow my faith and trust in You. Help me give up control of all aspects of my life to You.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Matthew 7

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." v24

Jesus says that the greatest commandment (Mark 12:30) is that we must love Him with all of our "heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength".  

In Matthew 7, Jesus provides another perspective on how this love manifests itself - through actions.  James says the same thing in James 1:22-24:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

My Prayer: Jesus, there is no other God but You - You are the creator, the provider, the healer, the teacher, judge, protector, conqueror....and SO much more!  Yet, I fall short in my love for You...even so You love me anyway.  How amazing You are!  Thank You that You love me Jesus, despite my sin.  Please forgive me for my lack of faith, trust, and love of You.  Please help me Jesus...grow in my heart and my life Jesus.  Take over my heart, my life, and transform me so that I am more like You and more pleasing to You.