December 21st - Matthew 9:1-13 Spend some time meditating on these verses about sin and salvation. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 9:1-13 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done. The paralyzed man and the tax collector had much in common. Both were helpless to save themselves. Both were at the bottom of the social ladder. Both had a miraculous encounter with Jesus. But there are differences as well. For example, the paralyzed man was brought to Jesus by his friends, and the tax collector was personally sought by Jesus. (Praise God for His mercy, grace, and sovereignty!) Also, […] Read more »

December 20th - Matthew 8:23-34 Spend some time meditating on Jesus’ authority over all things. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 8:23-34 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done… Storms constantly pulse in our environment, but when we follow close to Jesus, they don't fill us with fear, even when we are being "swamped by the waves." Yet, the disciples did not believe they were safe in His presence, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing" (Matthew 8:25). Jesus' response to them is truthful and loving. "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Even though Jesus has […] Read more »

December 19th - Matthew 8:14-22 Spend some time meditating on being set free. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 8:14-22 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done. Jesus touched her hand. He didn't have to touch Peter's mother-in-law to heal her, but He did. Why? Because Jesus loves fully. Like many of us, he is not afraid of intimacy; intimacy begins with Jesus. On a side note, it's comical how quickly she rose and served the Lord after being healed. Maybe her name was Martha? Remarkably, that evening, Jesus freed many people from the chains of demon possession with […] Read more »

December 18th - Matthew 8:1-13 Spend some time meditating on the miracles in these verses. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 8:1-13 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Amazing! Now read the commentary when you're ready. "Lord, if You are willing, make me clean." Because leprosy is often used as a symbol of sin, we can see ourselves in this man who was previously so helpless. Only a miracle would cleanse him from leprosy, and only a miracle cleanses us from sin. However, Jesus not only healed him, but He also touched him. That is remarkable! The words of our LORD, "I am willing; be cleansed," are […] Read more »

December 17th - Matthew 7:24-29 Spend some time meditating on these verses. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 7:24-29 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done… Metaphors are my favorite way of explaining hard things. Here, Jesus uses a well-known truth (building your house on sand is a bad idea) to emphasize the importance of building your faith upon The Rock. If you hear the words of Jesus and act upon them (believe Jesus), you are very wise indeed. When the storms come, and they will, you will not be shaken. But those who reject the words of Jesus […] Read more »

December 16th - Matthew 7:13-23 Spend some time meditating on how Jesus defines Himself. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 7:13-23 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done… Have you ever lost your way? Not knowing which way to go to get to your destination is frustrating at best and scary at worst. Thankfully, Jesus leaves us no doubt. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The contrast between verses 13 and 14 is clear. Wide is the way that leads to destruction, and narrow is the way that leads to life. I find this an immense […] Read more »

December 15th - Matthew 7:1-12 Spend some time meditating on grace. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 7:1-12 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. Come back and read the commentary when you're done. In chapter seven, Jesus shifts the focus from the internal to the external. How we treat other people is very important in the Kingdom of God. Don't condemn or sentence someone based on the Law because that kind of thinking dismisses the work of Jesus on the cross. It is by grace we have been saved! However, I would have judged Saul of Tarsus if I were alive when the first Church was conceived. […] Read more »

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December 14th - Matthew 6:25-34 Spend some time meditating on how to eliminate anxiety. Then, come back and read the commentary, my verse, and my response to God. Request God's help. Read Matthew 6:25-34 Record a verse that stands out to you. Respond to God. When finished, read the commentary if you have time. The opening statement, "For this reason," makes us look back to the previous verses where Jesus talked about idolatry. You cannot serve money (or anything else) and serve God. You must choose. Faith or fear. Peace or panic. Trust or terror. Whether or not you trust God, He will supply all your needs. The difference is within. Your heart and mind will be at peace if you trust God to provide. […] Read more »