Read the Bible in a Year (06OCT19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, October 6’s Bible reading is Matthew 11-12.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, October 7’s Bible reading is Matthew 13-14. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

 

MATTHEW MOMENT – (06OCT19) “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” (Matthew 11:2-3). John the Baptist finds himself sitting inside of a prison cell. During those days, there were no toilets, showers, bunk beds, or magazines to read. He was left to himself along with his thoughts and possibly other prisoners. He had come before Jesus to prepare the way for him as prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah seven centuries before Jesus came to the scene. Now, John’s work is done and possibly knowing that his time on earth is about up, he seems to be doing some reflecting and asking himself questions as to if Jesus was indeed the One sent by God for whose path he was to prepare. John sends his disciples to inquire of Jesus and ask Him that very question. Jesus, in response, tells the disciples to witness to John about Him healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and declaring the Good News. At this, you can possibly imagine how it brought comfort and joy to John’s heart that his work had not been in vain, and the One whose way that he was to prepare was indeed the Son of God.

Sometimes believers can go through so much that they can wonder if it were all for nothing. They may have done all they could to live for Christ, evangelize to others, show love to those in need, and carry others’ burdens only to have the enemy try to convince them think that they have not accomplished anything and that their work was unsuccessful. This is often taking place with pastors who are committing suicide more frequently than ever before because they are listening to the enemy play in their heads. The enemy who is the accuser of the brethren tries to get those who are working for God to feel defeated and ill-equipped to do His work. But when these types of thoughts come to mind, there is a way to send that devil back to the pit of darkness where he belongs. The Bible says: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). The only way to fight against the enemy is through the power of God. We wage war by allowing the Holy Spirit to help us in the battle of our minds. The devil is our accuser, but Jesus is our Savior. Because He got victory at the cross, there is nothing that He cannot help us to have victory over and overcome. The Bible says: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died…was raised to life…and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …For your sake we face death all day long…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:33-37). Something to ponder….

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (06OCT19) “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.  All the people were astonished…But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons” (Matthew 12:22-24). The religious leaders were envious of Jesus. The people were amazed at all the miracles that He was doing, and the Pharisees could not stand the fact that they were not getting the attention of the people as Jesus was. Jesus was giving the people hope whereas the religious leaders could only offer the people laws and hypocrisy. So, instead of celebrating this man’s deliverance, they could only spew out negativity and accuse Jesus of working for the prince of demons. Nevertheless, Jesus told them that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25). Jesus then posed to them the question, in accordance to their logic, by whom it was that they were casting out demons. You could possibly hear crickets when it came time for their response.

Sometimes, Christians can become jealous of another person’s calling if they are not careful. Although there are plenty of spiritual gifts to go around, there are those within the body of Christ whose goal is to tear down the gifting in others in order to lift themselves up. Nevertheless, one must ask themselves the question, “To whom are you serving?” Many churches get caught up in who’s going to be the elder, deacon, choir director, etc., and then the church becomes a political arena filled with hate, jealousy, and competition. Is this the way that Christ wants His body to operate? The Bible says: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11). We are to use our gifts in service to God and others. It is not for us to compete against one another, but to be humble servants so that as we serve each other, we are doing so whole-heartedly and sacrificially unto Christ. Something to ponder….