Category: Matthew

It Was Just a Touch

Matthew 9-10

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

Yet another day filled with nonstop demands.  Coming off of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was besieged by disciple gathering, teaching, preaching, casting out demons, raising the dead, calming the sea and continually surrounded by crowds with physical and spiritual needs.    As people were clamoring for his attention, he was able to pivot toward the need, to be present in the moment and respond to the need whether it was physical, emotional or spiritual..  He was taking a quick break to eat when Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue came to Jesus with a big request.  His daughter had just died and he was asking Jesus to come to his house to raise her back to life.  Understanding the urgency, Jesus got up from his meal and started walking toward Jairus’ home. 

The crowds were pressing in on him, jostling as he tried to move forward.  But he suddenly stopped and said, “Who just touched me”?  The version of this story in Luke indicates that his disciples thought this was a ridiculous question as many in the crowd had been touching him.  Yet, this touch was different because Jesus immediately felt power surge from him.  He turned and identified the one who touched him as a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years and was hanging on by a thread.  She had searched for help, but because she was bleeding was considered unclean with no one allowed to touch or help her.  She had heard about Jesus and knew that he was her only chance.  Being desperate and determined, she fought her way through the crowd with the belief that if she could only touch the hem of his robe, she would be healed.  In Jewish culture, the hem or fringe of a garment, known as the “tzitzit,” held religious significance as a reminder of the commandments of God. The act of the woman reaching out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment can be seen as an expression of her faith in His divine authority and power to heal. Her belief that merely touching His garment would result in healing underscores the depth of her faith and the recognition of Jesus’ messianic identity.  She was very deliberate in her action, one that was fueled by her faith. He looked at her with compassion. He saw so much more than she saw, so much more than others saw. He saw a woman who had enough faith to reach out despite her unclean condition. He saw great faith from one who was marginalized, a woman who was bleeding. 

In that moment, she was not only healed of her physical problem, but she was also healed spiritually and emotionally as Jesus addressed her as daughter.  No longer was she unclean or an outcast, she was included in his family and found a place where she could now belong.  Jesus saw in her a great faith and knew that she had come to him out of desperation, with determination and with her intentional act of faith, received her healing. It was a small, seemingly insignificant act, that resulted in her transformation, both physically and spiritually.  This woman, who acted with the courage, deliberate action and with the intention to connect with the Son of God was transformed from an outcast to a daughter and one who has traveled through history to reveal to us an example of great faith. 

Questions for reflection

Imagine yourself in the crowd that day.  People were pushing and jostling Jesus, perhaps wanting to see what he was going to do with the daughter of Jairus.  How do you think the crowd reacted when he stopped to look at this woman who was unclean?

What characteristic of this woman in the story do you find most intriguing?

Why do you think she was focused on touching his garment rather than addressing him directly?

Have you ever had a time where you felt on the “outside” or marginalized like this woman? How do you think she reacted when he called her “daughter”? 

What insights about faith demonstrated by this woman can we gain about our own faith?

How determined and intentional are you about your own faith?

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Calming the Sea

Matthew 8:14-34
Mark 4-5

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

It had been a flurry of activity and much of it miraculous.  Following the Sermon on the Mount we see the healing of the Centurion’s servant, healing Peter’s mother-in-law, and then crowds overwhelming him for healing of the sick and casting out spirits.  He was exhausted and knew he needed rest, so moved onto gathering his disciples in a boat and set out on the Sea of Galilee with his disciples to escape the pressure of the crowds. He quickly fell asleep, oblivious to a building storm.  The boat was buffeted about in the wind and waves; the storm so strong that it was described as cataclysmic or a mega storm.  The disciples, several of whom were fishermen and used to life on the sea, became frightened, fearing they were going to die.  In their fear, they woke Jesus, crying that they were about to perish.  His first response was to respond, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” He then gave the command for the wind to abate and the waves to calm, a remarkable illustration of power over the elements.  Jesus often used that phrase “little faith” to challenge his followers.  He is saying just look at me and see what I can do. . . that is what a mature faith looks like.  A big faith, one that is developed, is one where eyes and heart are fixed on the master of the wind even in the midst of the storm.

Fear is something that we are well acquainted with.  Our brains are wired to look for threats to help ensure our survival.  If we are walking through the woods and a bear jumps out, it triggers a fight or flight response to help us react in a way to help us survive—either fight the bear or hope we can run faster than our companions.  The disciples, in the midst of this storm, feared for their life—they were in a fight or flight response.  Jesus, however, took this opportunity to teach a lesson about faith.  These disciples had just been witnesses to incredible miracles; yet in their immature faith, were afraid for themselves.  We’ve all been there, finding ourselves in the midst of life’s storms and being battered by circumstances beyond our control or even by our brain’s proclivity at conjuring up imagined threats to our wellbeing.  Consequently, it is easy to get caught up in a cycle of fear and anxiety about our lives.  A loved one becomes ill, someone loses a job, financial problems hang over our heads, and in addition, we are caught up in a myriad of “what ifs”.  What if I fail? What if my relationship falls apart?  What if I disappoint others? And the list goes on and on in our weary brains.  Jesus speaks to us as he did to his disciples. . . what about faith?  Where does your faith impact your fears in your life?  How would it feel to have some freedom from the fears that seem to plague us?  Faith does not pretend that a storm does not exist. It does not exempt us from efforts to take care of ourselves and others. Faith ensures that we are not overcome with anxiety, stress and worry.  Faith allows us to focus on Jesus who provides the calm in the midst of our storms.

Questions for reflection

What are some of the storms you are experiencing right now? 

Imagine yourself in the boat with the disciples.  How overwhelming does that fear feel?   How would you respond to Jesus commanding the storm to abate?

Jesus uses the phrase, “little faith”.  Where are you in your faith journey?  Do you feel like your faith is growing and developing into a more mature faith?

How is your faith impacting some of the fears you are experiencing in your life?  How do you think you can find the peace within the midst of your storms?

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Storytime in the Gospels

Matthew 13 & Luke 8

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

Storytime when putting the grandchildren to bed is the best.  One of my favorite books is called “Tale of Two Beasts”.  In the story, a little girl is walking through the forest and finds a small beast hanging upside down from a branch.  She decides to take this little one home and turn him into a pet.  The book first tells the story from the perspective of the little girl.  The second part of the book tells the story from the perspective of the little beast.  Gradually, the two tales come together in a happy ending as they learn to appreciate one another despite their differing perspectives.   I love the book because it teaches something I think is important and that is to step back and consider the perspectives of others throughout life.  Many, if not most, children’s books attempt to teach a lesson through storytelling.  In Matthew 13, we see that Jesus knew the power of stories in teaching abstract principles through parables.   He knew that using parables was an effective way to communicate profound truths about faith and life.  He merely looked around him and identified familiar elements and characters like farmers, fishermen, bread making, and harvesting crops that could be used to help his listeners understand deeper spiritual truth.  Using learning principles that we’ve identified today, he uses metaphors and similes to draw comparisons of the everyday to deeper spiritual truths. These stories stay with us and help us to understand and remember what Jesus wanted us to know. The stories told over 2000 years ago still have relevance to us today.

The beautiful thing about parables is it teaches a truth that at first glance seems simple yet allowing for increasing layers of understanding.  Like the layers of an onion, a parable provides layers of depth and nuance that with reflection and application can reveal increasing insights while challenging individuals to grapple with the truths and grow from them.  Jesus is using these stories to turn the listener into a participant rather than just the audience—the best way to learn. Parables Jesus shared are sprinkled throughout the gospels;  Matthew 13 contains several significant ones teaching about faith and the Kingdom of God.

Parable of the Sower: A sower scatters seeds on different types of soil; the path, rocky ground, thorn and good soil with each type of soil representing different responses to the message of the Kingdom of Heaven.  It asks, “How do you receive the message of the kingdom?”

Tares and the Wheat: The combination of tares and wheat together teach lessons about the coexistence of good and evil in the world, emphasizing the importance of discernment and patient waiting. It asks, “How do you understand and identify between good and evil?”

The Mustard Seed: Just as a tiny mustard seed can grow into a large plant, even the smallest amount of faith can be transformative.  It asks, “How does your faith, even if it is found in small belief and actions, lead to significant outcomes?”

The Leaven: A woman mixes leaven into the dough causing it to rise and transform into a delicious loaf of bread just as the message of the Kingdom of Heaven can gradually and irreversibly alter the world.  It asks, “How can you be influential by sharing the message of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Hidden Treasures: A man discovers a treasure and recognizes its value, selling everything to buy the field where the treasure is hidden. The discovery of the message of the Kingdom of Heaven is a remarkable treasure that is worth sacrificing everything to obtain it.  It asks, “What are you willing to sacrifice to pursue the incomparable value of the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Costly Pearl: A merchant is actively searching for fine pearls and when he finds one of great value, sells everything he has to purchase it just as a person searches for truth and spiritual connection.  It asks, “How are you diligent in your search for truth and are you willing to give up everything to make it yours?”

The Dragnet: The fisherman casts out a net that gathers in all kinds of fish, just as the message of the kingdom will gather in all types who will eventually be subjected to God’s judgment.  It asks, “How do you respond to the “all types” gathered together by the gospel message”?

As you engage in these stories, immerse yourself in the “world” that Jesus is creating for us.  If it is the Parable of the Sower, imagine yourself walking through the field and seeing where the seeds you scatter are landing.  If it is “The Leaven”, imagine that you are the one making the bread and leaven to make it rise.  Becoming a part of the story will allow you to deeply engage with the lesson Jesus is teaching.  Approach them with an open heart and mind, asking, “What can I learn and take away from this story”.  Reflect on the story and connect the teachings with your own life asking, “How is what I am learning impacting my faith, my relationships and my behavior”?  The ultimate test is to begin to apply what you have learned and allow those insights to change how you live. 

Questions for reflection

Which of these parables resonate most closely with you?  

Focus on one parable.  Imagine yourself in the context of the story and immerse yourself for a moment in the action.   How does that impact your understanding of the parable?

If Jesus was walking through your world today, what might he choose to build a parable around?

How do you think a parable might increase your faith?

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An Invitation to be Yoked

Matthew 11

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

Take a look around you.  You might see people who are exhausted and depleted by life and all the challenges it brings.  You may hear phrases like “I never have enough time”, “There is always too much to do”, “I’m always stressed about money”, “I am feeling so isolated and lonely”, “My anxiety is paralyzing me”.  Those common phrases bear witness to people who are struggling to manage life burdens and feeling continually overwhelmed with no relief in sight. All of us feel the weight of life at times whether it be physical exhaustion, emotional depletion, or spiritual unrest.   Jesus had been teaching his disciples and followers that the law only brought burdens, but a relationship with him provides the freedom and lightness that comes with shared burdens.  The passage we will explore out of Matthew 11 offers hope in the midst of life challenges.  

It begins with an invitation from Jesus to “come”.  It’s a simple imperative statement. It’s not a question or a plea—it is a gentle command to connect with him and to create a relationship with him.  It is an invitation to bring whatever is weighing you down and share the burden with him without shame, guilt or fear.  He is inviting us into a safe space where he will share the burden and offer some respite to you from bearing it all yourself. 

With this invitation comes the metaphor of putting on a yoke with him, which at first glance, may feel like even more of a burden and more constrictive.  He uses a yoke as a metaphor to help us picture the beauty of that “shackling”.  A yoke joins two animals, such as oxen, together so that the animals can share the workload and become more productive. The farmer may choose to shackle an older ox with a younger one or an unruly one with one that is steadier in order to help them both in the work.  The biblical scholar William Barclay describes the creation of a yoke by a carpenter who measures the ox and followed by several fittings, creates a customized yoke that gives the ox comfort while he works.  He also says that there is a legend about Jesus which may or may not be true, that as a carpenter, Jesus had a reputation of making some of the best yokes in the region and had a sign about his door that said, “My yokel fits well”!  Fact or fiction, this is the type of yoke that he is inviting us to take on with him—one that is comfortable, that allows him to lead and gives us relief from bearing burdens by ourselves.   

In the book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning addressed a specific audience, and as it happens, the same audience Jesus’s invitation is for. He said that the “ragamuffin gospel” is for:

The bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out. It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other. It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it altogether. It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker. It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents. It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay. It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God. It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags.

What would it look like if we actually did this?  We wake up in the morning knowing that we can’t bear the burden of the day and just simply asked him to share the burden?  How would your life be different?

This is an invitation to join with Jesus who describes himself as gentle and humble in heart so that we might find rest for our souls.  In this, he will equip us, teach us, support us, relieve us and guide us as we live our lives. It is a clear path. . . Come to him, Take his yoke, learn from him, and find rest for your weary soul. 

Questions for reflection

What is your initial response to the command to “come”?  What then is your initial response to be “yoked”?

Why do you think we tend to handle our burdens by ourselves?  Why might we hesitate to share the burdens with Jesus?

When you think about being “yoked” together with Jesus, does that feel constrictive or freeing? How do you think you could more intentionally share your burdens as a result of this invitation?

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Marvelous Faith

Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 7

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

It might take a lot to surprise Jesus, but surprised and amazed he was.   We could initially assume that this reaction was directed toward his disciples. Perhaps it was from a crowd’s reaction to one of his teachings.  Maybe, just maybe, it was due to an interaction with a rabbi in a synagogue.  Instead, we are told that he “marveled” at the response of a Roman soldier, an unlikely scenario.  People in the area were abuzz with the news of the teachings and miracles of Jesus.  This talk had reached the ears of a Centurion, a Roman soldier that oversaw 100 soldiers occupying the region.  This centurion, likely well versed in the pantheon of Roman gods, heard news of the one claiming to be the son of the living God. This powerful man, when his servant became ill, decided to seek out this Jesus by asking a group of Jewish elders to intercede on his behalf.  They were willing to do so as this Centurion had helped them build a synagogue.  This intercessory group met Jesus as he entered the town and presented the request, at which time Jesus set off to the Centurion’s house.   He had just been teaching the concept of “loving your enemies” and here he was heading to the home of a Roman.  As they drew close, they were met with another group of emissaries with the message that the Centurion did not feel worthy to have Jesus in his home, but believed that he could just say the word and the servant would be healed.  Jesus was astonished.  Here was a Roman, a man of authority, a pagan, and an enemy of the Jewish people who had enough faith to believe that Jesus could heal with a word.  The Greek word “thaumazo” used to describe the reaction of Jesus to this man’s faith is translated as “amazed” or “marveled”. The only other time that this word is used in the New Testament is when Jesus “marveled” at the lack of faith of those in Nazareth.  This centurion was an unlikely person to “amaze” Jesus, yet Jesus described him as having “great” faith.  In other places, Jesus describes “little” faith in describing his disciple’s response to him.  Little faith from the disciples; great faith from the Centurion.  He demonstrated great faith by believing without seeing, stepping out of his culture and authority to humble himself, and trusting what he had heard about Jesus.  As a man of authority, he understood the power of the authority that Jesus had and had confidence to make the request of him.  Such confidence is the essence of faith. It is that confidence that prompted Jesus to respond with “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith”. 

Questions for Reflection

In what ways were the actions of the Centurion a surprise in this story?  How did he act differently than what we might expect of a man in his culture and situation?

What prompted the Centurion to make this request?  Why do you think he was reluctant to approach Jesus directly?  What did this tell Jesus about this man?

Why do you think Jesus marveled at this request?  Why did he identify this man as one with great faith?

When looking at your own faith, where would you place it on a scale of “little faith” to “great faith”?

How do you think you could grow your faith into one that was considered “great”?

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A Transformed Life

Matthew 5-7

Devotion by Shelly Millard (Nebraska)

It was a warm day by the Sea of Galilee as Jesus and his disciples rested, ate and talked.  They had been on a rigorous schedule following the launch of Jesus’s ministry.  Word about the healings and teachings had spread and people were intrigued by this new itinerant preacher who was sharing a new message about the Kingdom of God.  Folks from all around the region began to seek him out and as Jesus noticed the gathering of the crowds, he moved up the hill to a place where the crowds could see and hear him.  He began to speak, resulting in what we know as the Sermon on the Mount.  He spoke about the Kingdom of God in a way they had never heard before, turning everything they knew about religion, the law and the kingdom upside down. Donald Kraybill in his book, The Upside Down Kingdom, describes how Jesus presented an introduction to the Kingdom of God that was totally opposite of what the world’s definition might be.  In these teachings, Jesus provided a vision of what a life lived with the Kingdom of God in their minds and in their hearts might look like.  Instead of a focus on following the law, he called for the transformation of their hearts and lives.

The upside down kingdom, as described by Jesus, included flipping their perspectives in several ways:

  1.  In a world where power, money, status, aggression, revenge and self-centeredness were valued, he provided a new perspective in the Beatitudes where those who were poor, sad, without status, gentle, forgiving, merciful and looking for peace would be the very ones who were blessed, happy and would receive the ultimate rewards.
  2. The keys to the kingdom were found in sharing your light with the world.  That light was not just keeping the law but letting others see the change in your heart and life.
  3. Keeping the law was not just about following the rules but about creating relationships which reflected the love of Jesus and one another.  You choose not to covet  for example, not because it is a rule, but because it destroys relationships.  Loving God is fleshed out in loving your neighbor by respecting them, sacrificing for them and even loving those you consider your enemies. 
  4. He encouraged them to pray with a focus on building a more personal and intimate relationship with God by providing a template with The Lord’s Prayer.
  5. Instead of focusing on the temporary and insubstantial values of the world, our attention should be on those values of the Kingdom of God which are lasting and substantive.
  6. In a world that is filled with anxiety about the future, Jesus reminds them that this worry is just a waste of time and energy.  Instead, if you focus on seeking the Kingdom, these other things will fall into place. 

We are called to an upside down kingdom where transformed lives allow people to begin to experience the Kingdom of God.  Jesus provided a vision of what a transformed life looks like so that followers can begin the journey toward that destination.  Those steps in that journey come with every intentional decision and choice we, as followers, take.   If I want to reflect God’s kingdom, then I choose to spend time in prayer, focus my time and energy on kingdom values, treat the poor and marginalized with kindness and on and on.  Every choice moves us in the direction of more fully reflecting the Kingdom of God in our lives.  Every thought, belief and action is an opportunity to more fully reflect that transformed life.

Questions for reflection:

How does the term “upside down kingdom” impact how you read the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount?

Which of the teachings contained in this sermon resonate with you?

How do you respond to the idea that each day we are faced with opportunities to intentionally transform into the vision that Jesus has created?

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the need for transformation and just shut down.  How does it make you feel if you approach it as one decision or choice at a time?

What is one area of your life where you would like to work on transformation? 

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Five Women

Matthew 1 and Luke 2:1-38

Devotion by Telva Elwell (SC)

Matthew begins the New Testament with the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Messiah to confirm that he was the prophesied direct heir to King David’s throne. Because we so often sleepwalk through this genealogy, we almost miss five names. Five names that belong to women— Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.  It was not customary to include women in genealogies, so we are left to wonder why Matthew included them.

TAMAR

 Hers was a sad, terrible story of grief and sin.  Genesis 38 recounts her story.  She first married Judah’s oldest son, who was so wicked the Lord took his life. At that time, if a woman’s husband died, her deceased husband’s brother would marry her to provide for her and keep her in the family. So, Judah arranged for Tamar to marry his second son, who, unfortunately, followed in his brother’s footsteps and was put to death by the Lord.  Judah promised Tamar that she could marry his third son when he grew up, but Judah had lied.  Tamar was in great need, so she developed a plan and deceived Judah by disguising herself as a prostitute.  Her plan worked, and Tamar became pregnant with twins. When Judah was told that his daughter-in-law was pregnant through prostitution, he ordered her to be burned. But, as the story unfolded, Judah realized that Tamar was the prostitute he had bought. Not a pretty story, but Judah confessed and took responsibility for his sins, and said, “she is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” (Gen 38:26)  

 The story of Tamar and Judah demonstrates that God can use the most scandalous circumstances for His purposes. Tamar became the first women mentioned in the genealogy of the Messiah, where Tamar and Judah’s son, Perez, became the father of Hezron. (Matt 1:3) The lineage of Jesus continued, despite a bump in the road.

RAHAB The HARLOT.

 Everyone knew her profession. She was that Canaanite prostitute living in Jericho. Throughout the Bible she was known as Rahab the harlot.  Even in the faith chapter she is called Rahab the prostitute. (Heb 11:31)

But Rahab was also known for something else, something much more important.  She was the one who kept the Israelite spies safe in her home in Jericho when they were sent by Joshua to spy out the land. (Josh 2) She willingly lied to the King of Jericho about the whereabouts of the spies, jeopardizing her own safety, because “the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Josh 2: 11) How often do we judge people by things that don’t matter—their appearance, their house, their wealth, or their “job”, when what we need to focus on is their faith, and that God can redeem anyone.  Even a prostitute. That is what the coming of the Messiah was all about—redemption.

 “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.” (Matt1:5)

RUTH

There are so many words that you could use to describe Ruth.  Faithful, selfless, caring, giving, devoted, loving, reliable, unwavering, a Moabite.

Ruth’s husband had died, and there were no more sons of Naomi for her to marry.  Even Naomi’s husband had died.  There was no way for Naomi to provide for Ruth.  So, Naomi gave Ruth permission to return to her native home where her family could provide for her.  She refused.  Why? Because Ruth loved Naomi with a steadfast love. “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live.  Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die.” (Ruth 1:16,17). She promised to love and care for Naomi until the end. She did not have to do that.  She was free to return home. She chose to stay.

 In God’s perfect timing and plan, Ruth, the Moabite, was blessed with a husband by the name of Boaz.  They had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David. (Matt 1:5)

BATHSHEBA

If you take a quick glance through the genealogy, you will not notice the name of Bathsheba. That is because Bathsheba is referred to as Uriah’s wife. “David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” (Matt 1:6) Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah. You probably remember that story.  As the story goes, Bathsheba was the faithful wife of Uriah.  King David spotted her one day out on a roof top and desired her.   Since David was the King, what the king said or wanted must be obeyed.  She obeyed him, and in the end, King David arranged for Uriah’s murder to cover his sin.  Eventually David married Bathsheba, but it is heartbreaking that King David’s life is marred by adultery and murder. Yet it demonstrated how desperately Israel and David needed the promised Messiah, and how desperately we need him too, “because he will save his people from their sins.” (v21)

“David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” (Matt 1:6)

MARY

She was willing. She was humble. She believed in God.  She submitted to God’s will and plan.  She was young, and she was a virgin. Miraculously, she was a mother—the mother of Jesus who was called the Messiah.

Mary’s story of the virgin birth of Jesus was improbable if it weren’t for the working of the Holy Spirit. But it is true.  Soon the whole world would know.

 In the quiet of the night shepherds were in the fields taking care of their sheep, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them awakening them out of their drowsiness.  They were terrified.  But the angel said, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11) Then “suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rest.” (Luke 2: 13-14) The shepherds traveled to Bethlehem, and there they saw the baby Jesus, surrounded by Joseph and Mary, his mother.  After seeing Him, they testified to what they had seen, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. (Luke 2:16-18) Very soon the whole world would know.

“And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matt. 1:16)

It is true.

Reflection Questions

Question One:  Why do you think that Matthew included the names of these women in the genealogy of Jesus, when it was not customary to do so? Which story was your favorite? Why?

Question Two:  How do you think Matthew intended these stories of these five women to impact your understanding of the coming Messiah?  Which of the five stories had the most impact on you? Why?

Question Three: Do you think that the instances of adultery, prostitution, and murder were just happenstances or planned? Did those sins ruin the story line of the Messiah or make it more meaningful? How does that impact what you believe about the fulfillment of the purposes of God?

Question Four: What about your life?  Do you have skeletons tucked away in your closet that keep you from working out the plans and purposes of God in your life?  Can you now break free from that after hearing the stories of Tamar and Judah, Rahab the Harlot, or Bathsheba and David? 

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What Have You Done with It?

Old Testament: Exodus 25 & 26

Poetry: Psalm 30

New Testament: Matthew 25:14-30

Have you ever been given a huge gift of money, equal to say, 20, 40 or even 100 years of wages? I am going to guess your answer, like mine is “No!” So instead I will ask, what would you do if you were given a huge gift of money like that? Houses, cars, boats, RV’s, college, investments, and even some donations. I can dream up a few things and I am sure you can, too. 

But what would you do if you were entrusted with a huge amount of money worth 20, 40 or 100 years of wages? It’s a totally different question. The money isn’t yours. But you are responsible for it. The owner has put it in your care (whether you wanted it or not). And he is going to be returning (sometime) to see what you have done with it. 

You have some options. You could totally screw up and spend it all as yours and have nothing for the master when he returns. But that would be totally unwise because of what the master would do when he returns. You could hide it under your mattress and just keep it safe so you can return it when the master comes. This option is ruled by fear: fear of losing, fear of the master, fear of things not turning out right, fear of trying. Only trouble is, the master has a few different words for the fearful afraid servant who hid his alloted resources: wicked, lazy and worthless. Well, that’s not really the only trouble because the LARGER trouble is what becomes of that fearful, afraid, wicked, worthless and lazy servant: the master orders him to be  thrown, “into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30). His eternal destination is decided because he was too afraid to try to use what the master entrusted to him. 

In order to please the master, everyone needs a ministry in which they are putting to work what God has entrusted to him or her. Your ministry doesn’t have to look like your neighbors or pastors or parents. God has given each one of us different resources, bags of gold and talents and spiritual gifts and skill sets. But he didn’t give them to us for us to foolishly squander on ourselves or fearfully hide away. In fact, he didn’t give them to us for us to keep. But he entrusted them to us for us to put them to work for him. He expects us to grow them. And when we do, he welcomes us to come share in his happiness and even gives us more. 

Which words will you hear from the master? It depends on what you have done with what he has entrusted to you. 

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What resources, talents, gifts, skills and passions has God entrusted to you? How are you putting them to work for him? 
  2. Are there times when you have allowed fear to keep you from investing God’s talents He’s given you?
  3. Which words will you hear from the master? 
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Ready for the Day. And Ready for the Night.

Old Testament: Exodus 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 29

New Testament: Matthew 25:1-13

Are you ready for the day? Do you have clean clothes to wear, you have your keys, phone and wallet, your homework is done, you have prepared for the meeting or test, and you remembered to brush your teeth before leaving the house. It’s a good feeling to be ready. 

When was the last time you were caught unprepared? You scrambled to put together a clean (maybe matching) outfit because the dirty hamper was overflowing, the teacher gave a pop quiz, visitors found a messy house, you didn’t have the project complete when the boss wanted it, the bill wasn’t paid by the due date, and in the rush to get out the door you forgot to brush your teeth. It’s no fun not being ready. 

In Matthew 25 today we read of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, or Bridesmaids, depending on which version you read. They are all anxiously waiting for the bridegroom’s arrival and they all have a lamp/torch/light with them as it is day now but they don’t know when he might come, so they (seem) prepared to wait even if it grows dark. And it does. 

Jesus tells us five of the virgins (typically referring to purity) were wise and five (still, pure virgins) were foolish. And since they all had their lamps with them and were anxiously awaiting the bridegroom’s (Jesus’) arrival I feel it is safe to say that all ten would call themselves “Christians” or Jesus followers. The five foolish aren’t chasing after the world and doing immoral, evil things. They have their lights and are waiting, right along with the five wise.  I think they are even sitting in the church pew and doing all the right things right along with the wise, all day long.

And then it grows dark. BOTH the wise and foolish get drowsy and even begin to sleep. BOTH are wakened with the great news, “The Bridegroom is coming!” But now we run into trouble. Well – half of them/us do. 

Five of them didn’t bring oil to keep their lamps burning, their lights are going out, and they haven’t seen the bridegroom yet. They desperately demand to get some oil from the five wise who brought oil with them, but the wise know they don’t have enough oil for both their light and another light. In the final moments the foolish run off scrambling to go buy more oil. And it is in those final moments that the long anticipated arrival of the bridegroom takes place. He finds the five wise waiting with their lights burning bright and he ushers them into the wedding feast. The door is shut and the party begins. 

In the previous chapter Jesus had just warned of the darkness that would proceed his second coming: increased wickedness, love of most growing cold, many deceived by false prophets and false christs, war, famine, earthquakes, and persecution. He warned that during that time of darkness many Jesus followers will fall away. They are the 5 foolish. They are the ones who won’t have enough fuel to keep their light burning through the darkness. They are the ones who will miss the party and be left out in the dark and will hear the Savior say, “I don’t know you.” 

Each person needs to be prepared – and stay prepared – even in the final dark days/moments/hours. Just having a light in the daytime is not enough. Just walking with the wise, right crowd is not enough. It won’t work to get into the Kingdom with a spouse, parent, grandparent, pastor, or friend who is prepared. You need your own light – AND the oil to keep it burning bright all night long if needed. 

Which half will you be a part of? Are you prepared? Are you ready? Do you have your light with you? That’s a good first step! But are you also prepared for the coming darkness that will indeed come before the Savior arrives? Do you have enough fuel to keep your light burning bright until you are ushered into the great wedding feast? Are your ready for the day? Are you ready for the night?

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. First off, are you a Jesus follower, waiting for his return, prepared with a light?
  2. Are you prepared to keep your light burning in the darkness?
  3. What part of the darkness scares you most (wickedness, deception, natural disasters, famine, persecution)? How can you work on strengthening your stand now and preparing for the darkness so you won’t fall away in the darkness? 
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The Beginning of Birth Pains

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Old Testament: Exodus 21 & 22

Poetry: Psalm 28

New Testament: Matthew 24

            I have never had a baby.  Shocker, I know!  As a male member of the human race the act of childbirth has and will forever elude my lived experience.  However, as a father of eleven Fletchers, I have spent many years of my adult life in the company of pregnant women, or more precisely, a pregnant woman.  I was there for all eleven births and I caught most of them (the last one came so quickly that I caught him solo).  All this is to offer to you my credentials that, although never directly experiencing labor, I have been present for enough births to recognize the various stages that women go through in childbirth.  Fun fact, for women who have more than one baby the Braxton Hicks contractions (otherwise known as false labor) can come several weeks or even months before the baby is actually born.  Braxton Hicks contractions are one way that the body prepares itself for labor.  It’s like an athlete doing warm up exercises before the actual event.   Muscles tighten and relax as they practice for the real thing when it comes. 

                Today’s devotion isn’t really about childbirth, it’s about being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ, the end of this present age and the preparation for the age to come, the Kingdom of God.  Matthew 24 is known as the “little apocalypse”.  Apocalypse is another term for Revelation.  In the Bible the book of Revelation is 22 chapters long and goes into a lot of detail about the end of this age and the coming of Jesus.  Matthew 24 is a condensed version, kind of a mini-sermon Jesus preached to his followers shortly before he went to the cross.  (You will run across parallel or “synoptic” passages when we get to Mark 13 and Luke 21).

                Jesus’ purpose here is to prepare his followers to be ready for times of great tribulation or distress that would come immediately prior to his return.  If you’ve ever read or heard a sermon about the apocalypse or the end of the world or Armageddon you probably are aware that Jesus warned that before things get amazingly better- ie. The New Heavens and the New Earth, Christ returning to rule over all the world bringing a final end to all sin and death and setting free the whole earth from the “curse” of death… before things get amazingly better, there will be a time when they become incredibly hard.

                A brief study of the history of the Church for the last 2000 years will show that Christians have gone through hard times a lot.  In the first 2 centuries the problem was the Roman Empire.  Followers of Jesus were often told that they had to renounce their loyalty to Jesus and declare their loyalty to Caesar alone.  When they refused, some of them were thrown to the lions or burned at the stake.

                Since Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire it has faced challenges in many parts of the world at different times.  In the 17th century Christian missionaries in Japan were killed for their faith.  In the 1930’s Christians in Germany who failed to support Hitler faced severe persecution and some, most notably Dietrich Bonhoeffer, were executed for resisting Nazism.  Christians in Communist China and the Soviet Union experienced incredible persecution during most of the 20th century.  There are places in the Islamic world today where Christians who attempt to proselytize Muslims face the threat of execution.

                Every generation of Christians since the first century could look at what was happening in the world and see the potential for the end of the world.  Jesus’ own disciples asked him right after his resurrection, before he ascended to God, “Is it NOW, Lord?” (Acts 1:6).

                2020 was a really challenging year with Covid, racial division, murder hornets, wildfires and hurricanes.  I had a lot of people asking me if I thought the end of the world was coming.  Perhaps you’ve wondered that yourselves.

                Matthew 24 is a great place to go when you start wondering if this is the end.  Like a woman who is going to have a baby, she may have “birth pangs” for a long time before the baby is actually ready to be born.  The same is true with the coming Kingdom of God.  I think every generation of Christians experience some amount of persecution or “natural” disasters or other tragedies that leave them wondering if the end could be near.  Just as Braxton Hicks contractions are God’s way of preparing a woman to give birth by having her muscles practice for the big event, God permits every generation to experience a certain amount of trials and tribulations to help prepare God’s people for the final “great push” that will occur right before Jesus returns.

                Jesus himself said that no one knows exactly when he will return.  He said that even he doesn’t know.  That is something that only God knows.  What Jesus does say to his disciples then and to us today is that we need to stay ready, we shouldn’t fall asleep in our faith.  He warns that as troubles and persecution increase and as the world becomes a less loving and more violent place that many of his followers would fall away:

                “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:10-12).

                Jesus might come very soon. I can’t predict when.  All I can do is make sure that I’m ready whenever he does come.  I must make sure that I stay faithful and don’t turn away even if the persecution gets really bad.  I think Christians living in the United States are getting ready to face some real persecution in the near future.  In fact, I think we already are.  There is a lot of pressure to conform to the changing norms of society.  Cancel culture will not have any respect for Christianity.  Some of the things that the Bible teaches about how we are supposed to live, particularly in areas of morality, sexuality and gender norms are considered anathema by the current progressive climate.  As people place more value on becoming “woke” more followers of Jesus, young and old will be persecuted if they fail to change their values.  Remember, Caesar doesn’t like to be rejected as God, neither does the devil, and neither do the progressive elites.  In the wake of the coming persecution Jesus our Lord tells us to “stand firm.”

-Pastor Jeff Fletcher

(originally posted January 24, 2021 for SeekGrowLove)

Reflection Questions

  1. Make a list of what Jesus warns us of in Matthew 24. How does it help to know what to expect?
  2. How can you guard against the deception of false christs and false prophets?
  3. Have you already seen a bit of the increase of wickedness and the love of most growing cold? Has it affected you personally? What temperature is your love? 
  4. What can you do today to help prepare yourself to stand firm to the end? What can you do today to help prepare others to stand firm to the end? 
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