The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Matthew 20

The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” v31

The blind men are clearly bold...ignoring the calls for others to be quiet and shouting "all the louder" for Jesus to heal them.  The question for me of course is how bold am I with Jesus...do I go big and do I ignore perhaps my own timidity and do I ignore my own fears of what others may say or think.  Do I have faith of a reckless abandon? 

First I must have faith...then I must bold with my faith - ignoring earthly views of my faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus what an amazing God You are...You are certainly the great healer, but You are compassionate for all of those who are afflicted as we all are sinners.  That You would die for me is amazing...thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of Your love...I often spurn You.  I beg You Jesus to forgive me...and to help me turn from such dangerous sin.  I not only don't want to spurn You, I want to run to Your arms daily...I want to be at Your feet and to spend time with You and Your word.  Help me Jesus.

" Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20

^" Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” v26-28

Once again, Jesus implores me to be humble and to serve...regardless of my position at work or in the home.  Serve Jesus and serve others.

The question I must ask is how can I serve today?  What opportunities for service has Jesus put in my path today?

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is amazing that You - Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Creator of the Heaven and the Earth, came to earth to serve and You paid the ultimate price that we may live, not only for eternity with You in heaven but also free from sin here on earth.  You love me and that is without doubt.  But I am not deserving of what You have and continue to do for me...I am selfish, prideful, critical of others, etc....thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from this sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me live and serve You and others humbly.

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Matthew 20

 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” v16

The above words appear almost verbatim both here and in the last chapter in verse 30.  As I continue to seek out jobs, I continue to think about my desires, my pride, my status, my will.  I compare myself to others....and on and on.  I strongly believe that Jesus wants me to focus more on His will and His desires for my life and if God brings me a new job it will be through His efforts not mine.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are indeed perfect - Your creation, plans, will...EVERYTHING.  And You are my God.  You love me...amazing!  You don't need me in Your kingdom but You sought me out, You died for me and You continue to be an active Holy Spirit in my life.  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I worry, I am selfish, and I focus too much on myself.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me and help me turn from this sin.  Help me focus on Your will and Your desires.

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

Matthew 19

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." v30

I am aware that my focus should be Jesus...yet often my focus is on earthly matters...people, things, etc.  I should have peace.  I should not worry and I should focus on as Paul says is renewing of the mind:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.    Romans 12:2

Renewal of the mind implies going to God daily and sometimes more than daily to seek God's will and wisdom.

My Prayer: Lord, You are truth, and Your plans and will are both perfect and pure.  I have seen in my own life how a focus on You renews my mind and transforms both my heart and life - all for Your glory.  You are a great God with no equal.  I love You Jesus.  I am NOT worthy of all the blessing and love You have provided me.  I am selfish and I fail to fully forgive others as You command me to.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me fully forgive and not have a hardened heart towards anyone.  Help me forgive and love as You love me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Matthew 18

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” v35

Wow...piercing and challenging words from Jesus.  Of course we know that Jesus is FULL of mercy for us...we did not receive the punishment we deserve (wages of sin are death see Romans 6:23) but instead are forgiven.  This verse in Matthew 18:35 reinforces Matthew 6:14-15 where it says:

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

I am to forgive others just as Jesus forgave me.  This means letting go of all hardness in my heart.

My Prayer: Jesus, it is amazing that You have such mercy and compassion for Your children, even though Your children - myself of course included!  I am not worthy of such mercy and compassion.  I have hardness in my own heart.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me to not have a hardness of heart towards anyone for anything.  Help me love and forgive others just as You do.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” v19-20

I am well aware that God wishes for me to live my life in the company of other believers.  I must strive to find other believers with whom I can share more of my life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have placed many people in life - divine appointments - that have been critical to my relationship with You.  You have blessed me enormously in this way.  I am not deserving of such love Jesus.  I am weak with my faith and I fail to share the gospel - even with my mom!  How stingy I am!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me be more bold and generous with my faith and with sharing my faith.

"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire."

Matthew 18

 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell." v8-9

There are many influences in the world that cause believers to stumble..whether movies, TV, music, magazines, the Internet, people, etc.  Steps, for all practical purposes, need to be taken such that these influences are removed from your life.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and the creator of all good and perfect gifts...the heavens and the earth and everything in between from the beginning of time to the end of time in all the universe.  You don't need me at all yet You not only use me You redeem my sin for Your glory.  How amazing You are.  And You love me!  I am not worthy of such love Jesus because I neglect my relationship with You...I say I don't need You when I don't daily run to You.  Please forgive me for this sin and help me turn from this sin and help me grow in my faith, love, trust, and obedience of You.