Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 28 today we see a “Great earthquake”, a “Lightning Angel”, the “Empty tomb of Jesus”, and the “Risen Christ Himself” comforting and exhorting the joy-filled and worshipful Marys…

“Do not be afraid (ladies) but go and tell my brothers that I have risen indeed!” (vs 10).

Q. How often do we look to the world for approval, satisfaction, identity, freedom, life purpose, and lasting meaningful relationships, when all of that and so much more is found fully and completely in Jesus Christ?

🙏 Heavenly Father I confess to you my foolish and misguided affections for the fleeting and uncertain treasures of this world, that so often lead to disappointment and emptiness.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today as our all-satisfying risen and victorious Lord & King! Please help us model the Marys, and proactively respond with enthusiasm at your Great Commission command to go tell others about you in bold and confident worship, for the good of your people and the glory of God…

✝️ “Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 27 today we see Jesus, the man of sorrows fully acquainted with grief, physically mocked, spit on, beaten, whipped, and crucified (vs 30-31), and even worse abandoned by His Father to suffer unthinkable emotional pain and death (vs 46).

Q. What would cause the perfectly loving and just God of the universe to reject His own equally perfect and righteous Son?

Q. Who’s sin was it that put Jesus on the cross?

🙏 Heavenly Father your amazing love for us is far too massive to comprehend, and your merciful plan to redeem lost sinners at the expense of your own Son is beyond all understanding.

🙏 Lord Jesus we are forgiven because you were forsaken, we are accepted because you were condemned…Amazing love how can it be, that you my King would die for me – Humbly on my knees giving you eternal praise…

✝️ “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split, and the tombs also were opened. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:51-54‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 26 today we see Jesus facing the beginning of the most agonizing and painful time of His life on earth, as He prays to His Father at the garden of Gethsemane…

“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will but your will be done” (vs 38-39).

Q. How would you feel about someone who was so concerned with your safety and welfare that they were willing to drink deadly poison in order to protect you from harm?

Q. How did Jesus not only do that for us, but exponentially more?

🙏 Heavenly Father we pray in awe and humble adoration for your steadfast love, endless mercy, and costliness of your redemptive plan of salvation for sinners like us.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today with great gratitude that you have not only absorbed God‘s judgment and consumed the cup of wrath that we deserve, but have also given us the communion cup of joy to drink both here on earth, and in heaven with you when we see you face to face – You are truly our closest friend, and most gracious and generous King of kings…

✝️ “And Jesus took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to His disciples saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew‬ ‭26:27-29‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 25 today we see humble and compassionate born-again Christ followers caring for and serving others, coupled with the magnificent inheritance of God‘s Kingdom given by the Good Shepherd to His sheep – not because they earned it with their good works, but because of their saved-by-grace relationship with God the Father and God the Son…

“Jesus replied, ‘I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was sick and you visited me…Truly I say to you, ‘As you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me” (vs 35,40).

Q. Is anyone else convicted by conscience of how little time we actually spend serving the “least of these”?

Q. How does it change your perspective knowing that when you minister to the lost and needy, you are truly serving Christ himself?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much that you transform & soften hardened & selfish hearts, and bestow monumental favor and blessing to all who would humble themselves and follow you.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for being our Good Shepherd and laying your life down for your sheep – Please strengthen us by the power of your Spirit that we may endure to the end, and grace us to hear the words that we long for most…

✝️ “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord…Then Christ the King will say to His own, ‘You who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!”

Matthew 25:21,34

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 23 and 24 today we see Jesus addressing both the hard-hearted Pharisees, and the born again believers with strong warnings of the judgment to come…

“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces, and you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who you have discipled to go in!” (Matt 23:13),

“Because tribulation will increase, the love of many will grow cold – but those who believe and endure to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:12-13).

Q. Have you ever contemplated the “End of all things”, and what would happen if your last day on earth was today?

Q. Do you believe (like the Pharisees did), that you are worthy enough to enter the Kingdom of Heaven based upon your own merits and good deeds?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for giving us clarity, and sending strong and serious warnings to be vigilant and repent because of the imminent judgment to come.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that even though we are not worthy – YOU ARE!!! And though we stand guilty before you, it is YOU WHO STANDS IN OUR DEFENSE!!! Because of YOUR perfect and righteous work on our behalf, there is no eternal shame, no condemnation, and no wrath or judgment for anyone who puts their trust in YOU…

✝️ “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that no one expects…And you will see Him coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other!”

Matthew 24:30,31,44

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 21 and 22 today we see the supreme value of grace-filled, prayerful faith (Matt 21:22), and genuine consistent repentance (Matt 22:9) as multitudes of lost sinners are mercifully welcomed into the family of God.

Q. Is there a specific sin or stronghold that you are struggling with in this season of your life?

Q. Why is God‘s kindness and Jesus’ love not enough for you to let it go?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for your enduring patience and great kindness that is meant to lead us to repentance – Please soften our hearts, pour out your grace, and grant us the gift of growing gratitude and praise to bring you much glory.

🙏 Lord Jesus let your generosity and atoning sacrifice at the cross continue to fuel our faith and repentance, and help us respond to your call with a zealous and prioritized love that never fails…

✝️ “And Jesus said to them, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37-40‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 20 today we see that…

“The greater among you serve” (vs 26), not to earn prestige or God’s eternal favor, but because those who genuinely strive to serve have experienced God‘s goodness and forgiveness through their union with Jesus Christ.

Q. Why is a cheerful giver well pleasing in the sight of God?

Q. Why does the world’s most preeminent Servant and Cheerful Giver (Jesus) deserve more glory than all others?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for rescuing us by sending your gift of Christ, the Servant King!

🙏 Holy Spirit please humble our hearts and minds and transform us to become servant leaders, not for the approval of man, or to lord over others to gain control, but to lay down our lives for your glory and to love others as Jesus has loved us…

✝️ “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 19 today we see the rich young ruler making the ultimate costly mistake, as he values possessions and position over following Jesus and receiving a far greater reward…

“Jesus replied, ‘If you want to be perfect and complete, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will obtain treasure in heaven, come and follow me’…When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (vs 21-22‬).

Q. What does this wise saying mean…

If we aim at heaven we will get earth thrown in, but if we aim at earth we will get neither?

Q. Are you aiming at heaven, or earth today?

🙏 Heavenly Father I confess and repent for the many times I have betrayed you, and given you far less priority, position, devotion, and loyalty than you rightly deserve.

🙏 Lord Jesus please help us all to make you our one thing above all else, and set our hearts and minds on holding the temporary things of this world loosely, but holding tightly to the cross and giving up all that you ask for the glory of God and eternal communion with you…

✝️ “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible…Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:26,29

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 18 today we see the abundant patience, compassion, and affections of God toward believers who have wandered and strayed from His side…

“If a man has 100 sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountain and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it even more than over the 99 that never went astray” (vs 12-13).

Q. Have you ever thought that your grievous or habitual sin has caused such a rift between you and God that it could never be repaired – or that God could never forgive you because your thoughts, actions, or words were just too offensive to Him and hurtful to others?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much that you are mighty to save, and that your steadfast love and mercy endure forever – Let us run to you as the prodigal, and set us free with the truth that… “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who put their hope and trust in Christ Jesus”.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that your cleansing and precious blood is more powerful than any sin that has ever been or could ever be committed – Please help us all, no matter what the circumstance, turn to you in repentance and faith, and receive your amazing grace and forgiveness….

✝️ “And Jesus said, ‘See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven…It is not the will of my Father that even one of these little ones should perish.”

Matthew 18:10,14

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Matthew chapter 17 today we see the Mount of Transfiguration, where all the Law (Moses, vs 3), all the Prophets (Elijah, vs 5), and all of redemptive history in the Old and New Testament Scriptures connect with, and point to, Christ the Messiah, Immanuel (God with us).

Q. What happens to our joy and gratitude for God‘s forgiveness, His mercy, His accessibility, His friendship, His Fatherly love, His empowering Spirit, and His very great and precious promises, when we minimize or remove Jesus as the central theme or main focal point of the Bible?

🙏 Heavenly Father please open our eyes and help our hearts burn within us to always read your Word with a Christ-centrality mindset.

🙏 Lord Jesus there is none like you! Awaken us to your true identity as sovereign King of kings, Lord of lords, and centerpoint of the Scriptures – May we lift up our eyes and worship you, the one who has loved us and freed us from our sins by His blood, consistently giving you the glory and supremacy that you alone deserve…

✝️ “Behold a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him’. When the disciples heard this they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them saying, ‘Rise, and have no fear’. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:5-8‬ ‭