Monthly Archives: January 2015

2015 Day 21 – Matthew 11

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

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In today’s reading, Jesus takes time to praise John the Baptist and to explain how his example as one of the least of us has eternal impact on the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 11:11 says, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” While John made himself low among the people of that time, he also showed how greatness comes from that position of lowliness. Our reward here on earth can never compare to the reward we will see in heaven. As we serve, let us serve with eternity in mind.

2015 Day 20 – Luke 7

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

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When we realize how much God has forgiven us of our sin, it is easy to have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all He has done. Conversely, when we rely on our own strength for obedience and righteousness we fail to fully see God’s presence in our lives. In today’s reading we clearly see the contrast of the two as a sinful woman overwhelmingly shows Christ her gratitude while the Pharisees feel entitled to being in Christ’s presence. In response to this Jesus says in Luke 7:47, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little love little.” It’s not that the Pharisees were less sinful in God’s eyes, it is that the Pharisees were less sinful in their own eyes. For this reason they failed to fully see God’s necessity in their lives. Let us always remember how much we need God, and therefore, pursue Him even more each day.

2015 Day 19 – Matthew 8

19 Monday Jan 2015

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One of the most beautiful interaction Jesus had with the sick, in my opinion, was the one at the beginning of Matthew 8. The man with leprosy asks Jesus to heal him if He is willing and Jesus answers with a simple reply in verse 3, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Jesus was so loving and willing to help anyone who had faith to believe in Him. The same applies to us today. When we believe in Jesus, anything is possible. We are not guaranteed anything will happen, but all things are possible.

2015 Day 18 – Gratitude

18 Sunday Jan 2015

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Let us all try to have a little more gratitude today. Because of all Christ has done for us, we should have more to be grateful for than we could ever describe.

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2015 Day 17 – Matthew 6

17 Saturday Jan 2015

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It is so easy to compare ourselves to others in the game of “Who’s Sin Is Worse”. However, Jesus never asked us to be the judge over anyone’s sin (including our own). Matthew 6:1-2 quotes Jesus saying, 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” God is the only one qualified to look at a person’s life and judge their actions. In the same way, God is the only one qualified to forgive sin through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. When we waste our time looking at others through our own eyes and not through the eyes of Jesus, we fail to see the perfection brought to them and us through Jesus.

2015 Day 16 – Matthew 16

16 Friday Jan 2015

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Our reward for obedience and our relationship with God does not come in this lifetime. Our reward comes in heaven. In Matthew 6:19-20 Jesus said, 19 Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. When we worry about the things of this life we hold ourselves back from looking forward to our true reward in heaven and we limit our effectiveness for the glory of God.

2015 Day 15 – Matthew 5

15 Thursday Jan 2015

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The last verse in today’s reading can be very intimidating; Matthew 5:48, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus does not expect us to attain perfection, but He does expect us to strive for perfection. He also does not expect us to strive for perfection on our own, but through submission to God’s will and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us spend our efforts looking to God for the power and strength to be more like Christ each day.

2015 Day 14 – Luke 6

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

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We all sin because of our imperfect and flawed nature. And sometimes it is easier to justify our imperfection by playing the comparison game with other people. Jesus clearly stated that we have no business judging or comparing ourselves to others. Luke 6:42, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Distracting ourselves and others away from our sin by pointing out another person’s imperfections accomplishes nothing. We are to spend our time working on our relationship with God and encouraging one another to that end. Judgement is reserved for the only one qualified to do so; God.

2015 Day 13 – Mark 3

13 Tuesday Jan 2015

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When we are obedient to God, nothing else matters. This may seem harsh, but we must have the mindset that bringing glory to God is more important than anything else in our lives. Jesus modeled this in Mark 3:33 when His mother and brothers came to see Him, “Who are my mother and my brother’s?” he asked. When it came to serving God the Father, everything else came second. This is a hard notion to comprehend, much less put into practice, but it is the expectation from God’s perspective.

2015 Day 12 – John 5

12 Monday Jan 2015

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We worry too much about praise from other men and women instead of doing the things that bring honor and glory to God. Jesus points out the same thing out about the Pharisees in John 5:44, “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?” God is the only measurement that really matters. If we waste our time looking for praise from anyone other than God, we are accomplishing nothing.