The Daily Dose

His enemies are His footstool

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?  Matthew 22:44

I’m struggling with this one, in fact I have been struggling for days.  It’s the reason why I haven’t written a message of encouragement this week.  So I am going to discuss this portion of Matthew 22 with you and please comment if you can provide insight to the questions and context.

In the last section of Matthew 22, Jesus poses a question to the Pharisees that were gathered together at that time.  He asked them what their thoughts were about the Messiah and whose Son is He?  I think the right answer is He is the Son of God.  However, the Pharisees answer Him from the scriptural and genealogy perspective.  They say He is the Son of David.  So then Jesus quotes a portion of scripture that is originally from Psalms 110, but also shows up many times in the New Testament after Jesus ascended into heaven.  He quotes that David wrote about the Christ that the LORD said to David’s Lord (the Messiah) Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.  Then He asked the Pharisees if David calls the Messiah Lord, how can He (the Messiah) be David’s Son?

If Jesus was trying to silence the Pharisees, He accomplished what He set out to do.  He also insulted them because He basically said that if you are My enemy, you will be made My footstool.  Then He gave them the picture that HE would sit at His Father’s right hand.  Another reason why they hated Him.

Mostly, I believe He wanted to let them know that the Messiah/Christ was indeed the Son of God and not just a man born from the line of David.  He was declaring His Lordship to them and letting them know that if they take the side with His enemies, they would be put under His feet.

This is contrasted with who we are today as Christians, Believers and Children of God.  Ephesians 2:6 says we sit together with Him in heavenly places.  We are not under His feet, but we are, as His body, under His head.  He is the head of the church the body of the anointed Christ and as the head, He directs and moves the body to complete the mission we have been placed here to walk out.  We don’t always get it perfect, but the message of the gospel has successfully survived for 2000 years as His Spirit has given utterance to spread the good news.

So I guess my encouragement today is if you are a part of His body, the body of believers in the world today, then get in line with His plans for the role you play in the days we are living.  Step away from the distractions of this world and begin to make His Word, His heart and worship your priority.  Join together with the rest of the body to lead the lost ones to the knowledge of salvation in Christ Jesus and use your gifts and talents to invest in your eternal future by serving others in love.  If you do not know Him personally, then start that conversation today.  Invite Jesus into your life and world by praying this short prayer right now:

_{^{God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen}}

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 22:41-46

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 

42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 

46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Love God, Love your neighbor

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22:37-39

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, His response was “love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and mind”.  But He didn’t stop there, He connected it to loving your neighbor as yourself.  Nobody asked Him what the second commandment was just for the first commandment.  Jesus connected these two because the second part demonstrates the first part.  In other words, by loving your neighbor as yourself, you are showing outwardly your love for the LORD your God and showing others God’s heart of compassion for them.

This brings me to the question how do I “love my neighbor as myself”?  It has always been something hard for me to grasp.  Almost like a vapor, very cloudy, because I think I didn’t feel it was attainable or I just didn’t consider the possibilities.  Then God showed me a practical way to view my neighbor so I would know how to love them with the God kind of love.  When I see my neighbor, I see myself.  If I see my neighbor struggling with something, what would I do if it were myself or what would I want someone to do for me if I was the one struggling with the same thing?  If I see my neighbor rejoicing about something, how would I want others to rejoice with me if I were celebrating something?

Now that I looked at it from this angle, it seemed very simple to understand, but not so simple to follow through. The first thing to identify is, who is my neighbor?  Is it those who live next door to me or in my neighborhood?  What if I live in the country and don’t have anyone living close to me?  Secondly, how do I know what to do to “love” them? In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate loving your neighbor as yourself.  In this parable, there were strangers who passed by a man that had fallen among thieves, and yet He calls the man who “showed mercy,” the Samaritan, his neighbor.  The Samaritan didn’t even know the injured guy and he certainly didn’t live next door to him. The Samaritan man was considered neighborly because he had compassion on the hurting person and then did something about it. The point is that anyone you can help or do something good for is your neighbor.

The last thing I want to consider is why does God want me to love my neighbor as myself?  Is it only to make rules for me to keep me in line?  Is it to make me look like a good person?  No, the reason is to show others the very heart of God!  The only way others can know God is if they see His heart in the action of His people.  The other part of that is, we can see God’s heart in action when we are showing mercy, compassion and love to others.  If you want to see a great act of God, then watch it play out in your love for your “neighbor”.

Today and every day I encourage you to look for people that God will send across your path to “love” as you love yourself. Care for them as you would for yourself.  Let your actions toward others reflect the heart of God’s love for all people and you will be making a difference in the world you live.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 22:23-40

23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 

24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 

25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 

26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 

27 Last of all the woman died also. 

28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 

31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 

32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 

33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

The Image Inside of You

“Show Me the tax money.” They brought Him a denarius. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”     Matthew 22:19-21

Have you ever thought about the image that is inside of you?  We look in the mirror to see our outside appearance, but what is mirroring our inside.  Surprisingly, the answer is simple.  It is what we are taking in through our surroundings each day.  What are we looking at and listening to?  These are the things our inside (image) person/spirit is conforming to.

In today’s scripture, Jesus is answering a question the Pharisees asked to try, once again, to trap Him.  His answer is profound and goes so much deeper than they expected.  He says: “Your money has Caesar’s image on it, so it already belongs to him.  There is no dispute about giving it back to him if he requires it because it’s already his.” Then Jesus goes on with the thought and says, “but, there is something more important you should consider.  What is really important is what God has put His image on, that belong to God.  You should be more concerned with giving back to God what belongs to Him.”  I, like the Pharisees, have always been focused on the tax issue when reading this passage, but I realized that Jesus’ focus was different.   What is really important is what are we doing with the life God has given us?”  Most importantly, that would be ourselves and the image of God inside growing inside our heart.

The image of God inside is the place to focus our growing efforts.  So how do we do that?  Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world (influenced to be like), but be transformed (changed from the world’s image to God’s image) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (accomplish God’s plan for you in this world).” Renewing your mind to be transformed to God’s image? How do we do that?  That’s where we come back around to what is influencing us.  What are we looking at and listening to?  It is not possible to be in the world and not hear and see what is going on around you.  It is possible to purposefully step away from the world’s mess to pour the things of God inside to wash out and override the thoughts, ideas and attitudes of the world.  You make the decision  –   Does your life reflect God or the world? 

Today I want to encourage you to start fresh by growing the image of God on the inside of you.  Purpose to put the ways of God into your heart everyday by spending time reading and meditating His Word.  Talk to Him about the plans and thoughts He has for you.  Make the decision to step up your walk with God and take a step away from the world’s way of thinking.  Make God’s image on the inside of you the #1 priority in your life and give yourself perfect vision for your future!

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 22:15-22

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.

16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?

19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.

20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” and He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

Many are called

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14

Twenty years ago God put writing in my heart.  I tried it some at that time, but it was the opposite of good.  Now, I write a daily blog of encouragement.  I enjoy it very much, but I have no training or no childhood dreams of writing.  I have no aspiration to be on a best sellers’ list and I don’t expect to become a well-known author.  I do, however, have dreams of helping and encouraging others.  My heart is to see people avoid the traps that I once fell into.  My mission is to lead as many people that I can influence to discover their life of significance and purpose.  I’m starting late in life and I pray some will be stirred up to answer their call much earlier through my example of what not to do in life.

Here’s the point:  God calls me to write at this point in my life, so I do.  There are many who are more qualified and some more available.  Some use their gift of writing to become well known and famous, never considering using their God given ability for the Kingdom of God.  Others consider it, but put it off until a later time because of much more pressing issues in their day to day living.  There are only a few who will take the time to answer the invitation God is calling them to right now.  Here’s the thing:  God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He does always qualify the called!  It is more about being willing to answer that call.

Today’s reading is a parable that represents the invitation God puts out to all people.  In the parable, the initial invitation is rejected by the people that are called, the upper class and those of status.  Then the king puts out the invitation to the highways and byways, the outsiders. The kingdom then becomes filled with the lower class because they are willing to answer the call and accept the invitation.

So here’s the question for you:  what is in your heart to do?  What have you been putting off?  What ideas do you dismiss because they are too daunting to pursue?  Each one of us have something, something we can do right now that will lead to the next open door.  It doesn’t matter if you are educated in that area or not, God will get you there.  The solution is to submit that idea and desire to the LORD and let Him lead you through the process.

Today I want to encourage you to set time aside to do the things that God has put in your heart that He is prompting you toward.  Maybe it is writing, maybe it’s speaking and teaching.  It could be some form of art or coaching.  Or maybe it is reaching out to the next generation.  Whatever it is, surrender it to God today.  He will guide and equip you to complete the things He has put in your heart and He will take you through the doors required to be effective at your calling.  “Remember that very few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers to be foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 22:1-14

1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 

2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 

3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 

4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 

5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 

6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 

7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 

8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 

9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 

10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 

12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 

13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

What will you do with Jesus?

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?  Matthew 21:42

In today’s reading, Jesus is telling the people a story/parable about a vineyard.  It is symbolic of God sending the prophets to the people and how they were rejected down through the generations.  Then when God sent His Son into the world to save the people, He (the Son) is rejected above all others and killed.  He sums it all up by saying that the One who has been rejected is now the chief cornerstone/building block upon which the age of grace is being built.  He concludes with a statement that the cornerstone cannot be destroy.  The priests and Pharisees knew what Jesus’ implication was and they were indignant.  They wanted to kill Him right then and there.  It was a “cross road” so to speak for them.  They had a choice in that moment to receive Jesus as their Messiah or do to Him as the vinedressers did in the parable Jesus told.

As we now know, they rejected Him and by the end of that week, crucified Him.  They didn’t take the opportunity they were given to receive and walk in their chosen heritage.  Today, we have been given the same opportunity to receive the gift of God’s Son.  However, now it is a greater gift because Jesus’ work here in the world has been completed.  We no longer have the ability to take hold of Him and kill Him.  We do have the power, though, to accept Him and all that He died to get back for us.

We have the power to become the sons of God. (see John 1:12)  We have the opportunity to accept the right relationship with God in heaven through salvation in Jesus and we have the authority to invite the LORD of all into our heart and life to rescue us from an eternity separated from the Father who loves and created us.

So, the question today is:  What will you do with Jesus?  Will you receive His love and the sacrifice He made to save us from this lost and dying world or will you reject the message of the good news and refuse to believe that it is true.  Maybe you think you can put it off until a better day, but I assure you, there is no better day than today to change your life forever.

Today I want to encourage you to receive God’s gift of salvation and accept Jesus into your heart and life.  He will change your life, He will change your circumstances and He will change your world.  It is the greatest decision you will ever make.  Pray this simple prayer today, Jesus will come in and turn the things your enemy meant for evil into good.

God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:33-46

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 

34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 

35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 

36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 

37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 

38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 

39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 

44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 

46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

The Best Laid Plans

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Matthew 21:31

Have you ever heard the saying “The best laid plans are paved with good intentions”?  It’s something people say when you intend to do something, but then it never happens.  Sadly, it is a common theme in the world today.  A lot of people set out in life intending to do many great things, but then get distracted or just caught up in everyday living and never get around to the good things they had once hoped to do.

Today’s passage is a question that Jesus asked those who were with Him one day.  He told a story about two sons that their “father” asked them to do something.  One son said “no”, but after reconsideration went ahead and did it.  The second son said “yes, I will go”, but then never gets around to it.  Jesus asked the crowd “Who did the will of the father?”  The answer was the first one who said no, but then did the work in the end.

This gives a who new perspective to the idea that delayed obedience is disobedience.  Even though the first son did not want to obey at first, he was considered to have done the will of his father when he went later on.  He obeyed after regretting his first answer.

This is encouraging to us today.  Even if there are things in life that we have put off or delayed doing for whatever reason, it is not to late to do the will of God.  If you still have breath in your longs, you can reassess the things He has asked and head in that direction today.  As you surrender your life to God and begin asking Him to remind you of things He has asked of you that are unfinished, He will begin to direct and open doors for you to enter.  You can complete down to the last detail, all the things He created you to accomplish.

Today I want to encourage you to lay your life down before your Father in heaven.  Surrender your plans and pick up His.  Begin doing those good works that He planned for you to do before your days are through in this world.  Don’t let your path lead to a road of good intentions never executed.  Let God’s best laid plan for your life be pave with your resounding “yes!” and not with things left unfinished.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:28-32

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 

29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 

30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 

32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

Who’s authority

Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”  Matthew 21:23

Authority is a big part of our society.  We have organizations such as government and public servants that have authority to enforce laws and regulations.  Although these authorities are far from perfect, it is still a good thing that we have them in place.  Without authority, there would be chaos and confusion continually.  Crime would be rampant, and structure would be non-existent. 

God is the ultimate authority, and He is the true source of power in this world and this universe.  In today’s reading, Jesus was questioned about where He received the authority to do good works and miracles.  At first, it may look like Jesus is rebelling against authority, but it just isn’t the case.  Jesus submitted Himself to authority, just not the so called “religious” leaders of His day.  He was submitted to God first of all and God’s law to the point that He fulfilled it perfectly.  He submitted to government as indicated when He paid taxes.  He was submitted to His parents.  In fact, He didn’t even start doing miracles publicly until His mother asked Him to.  He submitted to John the Baptist who was the forerunner to His ministry, and He served His followers and many broken and hurting people.  He was the greatest leader, but He wasn’t leading to gain followers, He was leading to be the example of God’s love for all people and to train up more to love others like Him.

We are also to submit to authority today.  Of course, our first allegiance is to God, but He has given us many scriptures in the New Testament that teach us to submit to the governing authorities and to pray for our governing leaders. (see Romans 13 & 1 Timothy 2) Ephesians 5:21 tells us to submit to one another in love and serve one another.  We do this to honor God and to display our submission to the authority of His Word.  Hopefully, we are submitted to a ministry (Church) where we can serve and work together in the body of Christ and come together regularly to worship God and serve one another.  The reality is, we were created to take care of each other and when we fulfill this purpose, that is where true joy and fulfillment happen.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart.  Ask yourself these questions: Are you submitted to authority as God has set it up?  First of all, God and His Word?  Do you accept the Word of God as the ultimate authority on every subject and are you fully surrendered to the plan and purpose He has called you to in this world?  Have you found your place within the body of believers where you can come together and serve others week?  Lastly, consider the time you spend praying for those in authority over you.  Whether the government, your pastor and even your spouse. Are you praying God’s grace and protection on them daily?  Do you take time to lift them up to receive the wisdom of God each day?  I guarantee you it will make a difference.  Start today to submit to the authorities that God has placed you under and watch how the world begins to change around you as you faithfully pray for them each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:23-26

23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 

25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 

26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 

27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Ask and receive

“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

Do you talk to God each day?  Do you ask for things like having a good day, divine protection and peace of mind?  What about praying for others?  Do you ask your heavenly Father to watch over those you love and to bless the ones you care for?

Today’s scripture is about asking and receiving.  Jesus said that if we believe when we ask Him for something, we will receive it.  So, what are we supposed to believe?  Are we to believe that He hears us? Are we to believe that He will answer our request or are we to believe that He wants to answer us?  The answer to these questions is “Yes!” There are many scriptures in God’s Word that support this idea of asking and receiving. This is not an isolated instance here in Matthew 21. Psalm 91 says when we call on Him, He will answer us. Matthew 7:7 says: Ask and it will be given to you. Mark 11:24 says whatever you ask when you pray, you will have.  In John 16:24, Jesus said “Ask and you will receive so you will be full of Joy.”  James 1:8 lets us know that if we ask and don’t receive, it is because we are double minded (wishy/washy) and unstable in our ways.  It means we are not sure about what we are asking and therefore have no faith to receive.

So why don’t we see and hear of more people praying and asking God for help in this world?  If you take a look around, it is clearer than ever that we need His help.  So why aren’t more people talking to God instead of complaining about or in fear of the latest world crisis?  I would say it is because people as a whole do not believe that God will answer or that He has any interest in what is happening on earth.  This is where we as Christians/believers come in.  Now is the time for us to step away from the world’s way of fear talking and complaining and start building faith in those around us by telling of God’s goodness and His desire to come into our personal lives to guide and protect from the evils of the world.  It doesn’t mean the evil will go away all together, but He will keep it from getting on you and those who call on Him. 

Today I want to encourage you to take the first step in receiving and that is asking but ask with purpose and believe that God wants to answer and take care of you and those you love.  Turn your focus away from the problems of the world and instead think about the solutions in Him.  In Him is peace, in Him is comfort and in Him is grace to get you through whatever you are facing.  Start including God in your life’s circumstances today by asking Him in to your struggles and watch how He turns everything around for good instead of evil.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:12-22

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 

13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 

15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 

16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 

19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 

22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

The God of miracles

_{So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  Matthew 20:32}

The God of miracles!  That’s who we love and serve!  He is our Father and provider, our protector and our friend.  Right now, you may be in a time that you need a miracle.  You want to see your life to return to peacefulness.  You want to see healing in your situation and in your world.  You want to see the enemy destroyed and deliverance for those you love!

Today’s scripture reading is about two blind men that sat on the side of the road begging each day just to have enough to make it to the next day.  Their outlook was bleak to say the least.  They had no hope for a change in their future and all they could look forward to was the same thing tomorrow.  One day they heard a crowd coming and when they asked what was going on, they were told that Jesus was passing by.  The men began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  When Jesus heard the men, He stopped and called them to Him to talk with them.  Here’s the amazing thing.  Jesus doesn’t look at the men and see that they are blind and begging and say, here you go, have some provision and healing.  Jesus asks them, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The men ask Jesus for their sight.  They don’t even consider that this is an impossible request.  They boldly asks to be able to see. So, Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes and immediately they were made well.  The blind men are healed, follow Jesus, and glorify God.  All the people there also gave praise to God.

This situation is similar to problems we have today in several ways:

1.            When we have a problem – finances, family, crisis.

2.            We call out to Jesus.

3.            Jesus takes time to listen to us when we call on Him and answers our requests.

4.            Jesus does a miracle.

5.            We praise and thank Him for all the things He accomplishes right in the middle of our predicament and for bringing us out of this time stronger than when we went in.

We may not know how it is going to end, but we do know that we have called out to Jesus and He is asking us what we want Him to do and He is doing it!

Today I want to encourage you if you haven’t already called out to Jesus in your time of distress, do it now.  His response is the same to us, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Let your request and prayers be made known to Him.  Trust that He is the God who does wonders and declare His strength among all people and nations.  Press into God in your time of trial and believe that He is doing a miracle today in your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 20:29-34

29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 

30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 

34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Riding on a Donkey

“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”  Matthew 21:5

It is fitting that we are starting this passage at the same time we are approaching Passover and Resurrection Day.  The next few chapters will be all about the final days for Jesus before His sacrifice on the cross.

Today’s reading is about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before Passover.   Everyone was gathered there because of the celebration and observance of the event. Jesus rode into the city on a donkey’s colt and the significance was clear to anyone who knew the scriptures.  The prophecy was that the Messiah would come into the city riding on a colt, which was a sign of royalty, the Messiah.  This is why they cried out “Hosanna” which means Lord, save us! What the people didn’t realize was that He was actually the spotless Passover Lamb coming to be offered up by the high priest for the sin of the world.  To the people there that day He was coming to deliver them up from the oppression of the Romans.  However, the true reason He came was because He was God’s spotless Payment, not for His sin, but for theirs and ours today. He came to deliver us from the oppression of sin.

He was royalty yes, because He is the King of kings and He was there to save the people, but not how they thought He would.  He was brought into the city to be presented to the priests for inspection like all the other lambs that were being brought that week.  The difference was that He would be the last and final sacrifice that would ever need to be made for sin.  Finally, Someone had come to cleanse the people from the sin they had allowed in way back in the garden of Eden.

Today I want to encourage you to consider the spotless Lamb of God.  He came to be the sacrifice for all sin and His sacrifice still cleanses us today.  Jesus’ supernatural work on the cross covers all people for all eternity.  Take some time today to thank Him for the provision He made at Calvary and worship Him because He is worthy of our adoration.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:1-11

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 

2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 

3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 

7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 

8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 

9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”