"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

"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."  v19-20

Through BSF and our study of Matthew, I am reading alot about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is always with you.  This theme is certainly present in 10:19-20 when Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about what to say.  I really need to impress this in my heart because I need to pause when I speak so that I can ALLOW the Holy Spirit to speak through me.  Too often I am NOT quick to listen and slow to speak as encouraged by James:

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...]." James 1:19

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always there not only to listen but to empathize, to speak to, and to be a comfort and source of peace like no other.  You are the Lord of Lords, the Name above all Names.  You are SO GREAT!  I am clearly unworthy of the blessing You provide DAILY!  Thank You that You love me despite my apathy towards You, my sloth, my impatience, my anger, my fear, etc.  Forgive me for these and my other sins.  Help me love You with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

"...no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep."

Matthew 10

"...no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep."

As Jesus sends His disciples out to spread the Good News, He urges them to take no money.  I think what is going on here is that first He does not want the disciples to be focused on earning money but instead on saving the lost - purely a matter of focus and everyone is worth saving regardless of who has any money or not.  Another thing I think going on here is that Jesus is giving them all jobs and He wants the disciples to know that ONLY Jesus will provide so their trust should remain in Jesus alone.  Also, while I may be reading into this perhaps I think Jesus wants us to feel blessed by blessing others and to enjoy the riches of this reward vs any monetary payment.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are incredible...that You love and bless me!  I am not deserving of all the ways You bless me...I am not even worthy of identifying all the ways You bless me because there are too many for my human mind to comprehend!  How great You are!  Thank You that You love me despite my apathy and neglect for You - that I don't run to your feet daily.  Please help me love You with all of my heart, mind and soul.

 

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Matthew 10

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. v2-4

What is interesting here is how Judas is introduced both as one of the twelve apostles but also as someone who betrayed Jesus....to me this is written this way to communicate how God uses even those who sin as part of His plan.  Although it is not clear, perhaps Judas was a great apostle before he betrayed Jesus.  Also, God redeems all sin for His glory.

My Prayer: Lord, You are pure and holy and sinless. Of course I am NOT.  I am full of anger, stress, anxiety, fear, impatience, all things I am guilty of today or very recently.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” v37-38

Matthew 9

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” v36-38

 In v36, Jesus sees people as humans and he sees right through the "face" all us, myself included put up that mask our humanity.  Our humanity is of course a jumble of fears, concerns, sin of course, etc.  All of humanity craves love and craves peace....who does not crave fruits of the Spirit?  Yet we pretend we don't or we pretend have it covered.  Nonsense...speaking at least for myself.

I am in desperate need of both forgiveness and all that Jesus represents - the Holy Spirit, etc.  I NEED God in my life.  I also NEED to see this NEED in others and speak to people so I can relate to people according to their need...in other words serve them.  Jesus of course does this and urges us to serve others.  According to Matthew 22:39:

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my great shepherd.  You see that I need to be led and cared for and provide this and so much more for me.  I am not deserving of the great love blessing You provide.   I am full of anger, impatience, harshness, etc.  I know You love me anyway so thank You but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me be the man You intend for me. Help me love You and others with all of my heart, soul, and mind.

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

Matthew 9

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region

I am not certain why Jesus asked the two blind men to keep their healing concealed but after poking around a bit with commentaries and thinking about it, my sense is that Jesus just wants us to have our motives be pure when talking about the power of Christ.   We as humans often talk about things to bring glory to ourselves and of course the objective is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.  This reminds me of my post from a few days ago about humility....serve others and serve Jesus so that others see NOT us but Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, ONLY You are great.  As I read about a few days ago, Your creation is so great that it can be attributed to no one else but You.  You are the greatest of all time and always will be - Name above all Names, Lord of Lords.  And You lower yourself to serve all, including me, even to death.  I am not worthy of all the grace, love, kindness, patience, sacrifice, etc. that You provide and bless me with.  I am full of anger, worry, anger, impatience, harsh words, lust, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.

Matthew 9

But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.  News of this spread through all that region. v24-26

When I consider the question whether I mock faith as people in this story did, I consider more broadly the question whether I am as respectful towards faith as I should be...and then I feel convicted for "blowing off" my relationship with Jesus" in that I don't study the bible every day or do devotions with Zach every night as I should or pray with Lisa as I should...all things I KNOW I should be doing but I come up with excuse after excuse as to why I don't need to do it or I can't do it and it doesn't matter...both positions that are sinful!  I am to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, and mind:

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

My Prayer: Lord, only You are great!  You are Lord of Lords, King of Kings and Name above all Names.  You are worthy of worship because of who You are and specifically for who You are to me!  You blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am thankful that You love me despite my anger, impatience, and my worry...but please forgive me for these sins.  Help me be that man You intend for me.

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Matthew 9

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” v17

Clearly here Jesus is referring to a new life in Him and how it is important to view the law and the various Jewish rituals in the context of this new life in Christ.  Using the analogy of the new win in the new wineskins, our focus should be on growth in Christ and we should not restrain our growth in Christ by simply acting out old ways of doing things just because that is the law.  Our heart condition comes first.  If practicing spiritual disciplines such as fasting facilitates growth in heart condition...even better.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE new life...and You are everlasting life...full of abundance.  How great You are!  I am not worthy of such love and blessing, again my sin lately has been my worry.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me also submit ALL of my life to You.  Give me peace.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.