Category Archives: Matthew

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11

Dear God, so I woke up this morning and found an email from a friend in our group at church. He told me that he had gone down to the chapel at our church and prayed for my wife and me as we go through something painful. It had to be in the top 5 of humbling, kind, loving things I can think of that anyone has ever done for me. I was overwhelmed by it.

I believe in spiritual warfare, but I don’t live enough like I do. When I look at challenging situations or temptations I often forget to pray about the spiritual realm. But even this story about direct interactions between Jesus and Satan is a reminder that in any crisis I’m facing, even if Satan did cause the crisis itself, he’s certainly trying to influence my response to it.

Father, even now, help me to not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see your reality, and wisdom/discernment to know how you need me to respond. Help me to not test you. Help me to not doubt your goodness. Help me to keep my faith in you. Thank you for the confirmations you’ve sent me in the past through all sorts of trials. Whether it’s through my work, my marriage, relationships with my children or family of origin, or with others in the community, help me to walk the road you need me to walk so that your will might be done and your kingdom will come to earth.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Matthew 9:35-38

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning I was struck by the last few words: “…ask him to send more workers into his fields.” I’m surprised he didn’t tell them that they needed to get to work. Sure, maybe that was implied because he knew it would take more than them to get the job done. And presumably people would have to be taught, either by Jesus or someone who knew Jesus, how to be a harvester. It still strikes me that each of us has a role to play in your kingdom and the intimation for me here is that not everyone Jesus was addressing was intended to be a harvester.

I think there are probably two things all of us need to pay attention to as we work out our faith and our place in your kingdom. First, we need to seek your direction and follow when we feel led. Second, we need to make sure that we stay with your guidance on the journey and don’t say things that will accidentally lead people away from you.

Father, help me to get past some of the things I allow to distract me from you and the work you’ve given to me. Help me to not only work hard, but to work within the construct of seeking your presence and wisdom. Speak to me through Scripture. Speak to me through others. Give me a discerning heart that will separate the wheat from the chaff so that I might be both a servant in your kingdom and avoid being someone who accidentally or intentionally leads others away from you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5

Dear God, my wife were talking yesterday and one of our topics was wondering how we had changed and developed as people and your children over the last 25 years. What have you taught us and how have we grown?

First, we pretty much figured out that we couldn’t answer it effectively for each other. I could ask her pointed questions and she could ask me questions, but it was up to us to ultimately come up with our own answers for ourselves.

Second, for me, I think the last 25 years have brought a lot of humility and less judging. Between my experiences in parenting and the work I’ve done in the nonprofit sector, I’ve learned the limitations of my own abilities and the abilities of others; I’ve learned life, in all its phases, is harder than it looks; and I’ve learned people bring their own experience, scars, and even trauma into situations and make their decisions accordingly. They might do the wrong thing. They might make me very angry, but that doesn’t mean the are being malicious. Almost always, they are making the best decision they know how to make in the moment.

Father, thank you for what you’ve taught me so far. I’m not saying I don’t atoll judge people. You know I do. But there is at least room now for me to hear the Holy Spirit’s conviction as I try to parse through situations. Guide me through this day as I interact with others.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4

Dear God, this is a hard one for me. Well, yes and no. I’ve certainly gotten better about it. but there’s this piece of me that enjoys both doing kind deeds for people when no one is looking and then there is the part of me that enjoys an accolade now and then.

Why is it important that we give of ourselves anonymously? Well, I think those are the times when we are reflecting your image the most. After all, how many times are you doing things for me and I don’t realize it’s you? I try to recognize you in the moment and in the good things, but I know I only see a small fraction of what you’re actually doing. And when I give, pray, serve, fast, etc. privately then we are doing it as just something intimate between you and me. It’s me recognizing your goodness and then sharing a piece of my life—killing a piece of my selfishness—because there is no material gain for me. Yes, killing off a piece of my selfishness. That’s probably the best way to put it.

Father, help me to joyously kill yet another piece of my selfishness today. Love through me. Encourage through me. Bring your kingdom and Will into the world through me. I’m sorry for my vain need for notoriety.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

Dear God, I know that ultimately only you know how the afterlife works. These two verses leave me wondering why it would be so hard to spend eternity with you, but something tells me I’m not going to figure it out in this moment, or really at anytime this side of death, so I’m not going to dwell on it. What I do want to appreciate this morning is the value in choosing the narrow road.

I’ve sinned enough in my life to appreciate how wide the narrow road is and what it’s like to live on it. One thing I always find on that road is guilt and shame. It’s a cloud that follows me when I’m on that road. Of course, when I feel shame then I want to hide my sin and even hide from you. I don’t want to pray. I don’t want to pursue you. I get past the initial euphoria of being on such a wide road with so many self-indulgent options and find myself feeling isolated and alone.

Father, the narrow road is hard, but it’s where I find peace. Thank you for making the narrow road attainable, both at the beginning of my Christian walk and when I stray to the other road while on my journey. Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. I’m prone to wander, Lord. I feel it. I’m prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart. Take and seal it. Seal it for your courts above.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.

Matthew 22:34

Dear God, there was something about this particular verse this morning that made me think of our modern politics. These men were so concerned about being right and Jesus being wrong that they didn’t care about truth–seeing it or discovering it. The same is true of our country’s politics today. Those official politicians in power will meet together to conspire against the other side or to support their side, regardless of whether or not their side is right or wrong. And both sides do it. For example, President Clinton’s extramarital sexual escapades were condemned by the right and defended by the left. Twenty years later, the right defended President Trump and the left attacked him for the same reason. Of course, now with social media, that behavior has trickled throughout society.

But I’m above that, right? That couldn’t be me. I don’t judge someone to the point where it keeps me from loving them as myself. Right? Of course, I’m being sarcastic. I’m no Disney Princess. I’m the villain as much as anyone. I have someone I know right now who is hurting because his wife in (I presume) her early 50s died from COVID yesterday. When I went to his social media feed to learn more about her death I instantly judged him for the kinds of posts he had put up while she was apparently dying. Ever since, I have not loved him as myself, but maybe this is the kind of thing, tragic as it is, you can redeem and try to reach and soften his heart.

Father, I need your help to co finished to love you with all of my heart and to love my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for giving into judgment and group think. I simply want to be yours.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

“You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Matthew 5:27,31-34,38-39,43-44

Dear God, I wonder how many “You have heard…, but I say…” statements Jesus would have for us today. I won’t try to come up with my own list because I’m too tainted by errant teaching, but I’m sure influence throughout politics would be in there somewhere.

I was talking with someone yesterday, and I asked him if there was anything he had been learning spiritually. I thought maybe he’d say something along the lines of your perspective on this, that, or the other part of life, but he said he was learning to be present in the moment with you because the present moment is where you are. Yes, that is a pretty evolved stage of spiritual development and it makes sense that that is where he is. He’s been walking with you for over 40 years, and his discipleship seems to have reached a level where he is beyond the normal dos and don’ts teachings of Christianity. He is just trying to dig deeper and deeper into communion with you.

Father, I aspire to get to that level, but it’s a process and a journey. If I live as long as he has, maybe I’ll get there, but if I don’t, at least I’ll know that I’m closer to you and knowing what you say more than I was yesterday, and I’ll have the hope of being even closer to you tomorrow. Please help me on this journey.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen