Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
Matthew 1:23b, 28:20b “Look! The virgin will conceive a child She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’
”“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
It’s noteworthy that the Gospel of Matthew begins and ends with this theme of God with us. Jesus came from heaven to Earth – God with us. Jesus leaves Earth to return to His heavenly Father, yet He still promised, “I am with you always.”
What a promise! God has been with us, is currently with us, and will always continue to be with us.
To be a follower of Jesus is to recognize that God is with us – always. Some may be able to think back on their past and point to specific moments in which they could see God working in their life. But how would you respond if somebody asked you, What is at least one way God working in your life right now? If you can answer this question without hesitation – great! But if you feel alone, afraid, confused, and cannot see how God is working in your life, be sure to let Him know. He just may reveal His presence in a powerful way.
READING & PRAYERS:
PSALM 139(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is one way God is present and working in your life right now? Be specific.
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are days when I am confused and hurting and am questioning, Where is God in the midst of all this? And I know I am not alone, David and others often prayed similar prayers throughout the Psalms, yet continued to worship and praise You through it all. They knew You were with them even when their lives were turned upside down. Today, may I rest in this truth – You are with me, always. May this truth permeate deep into my soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 28:20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
Take a moment to think back on your childhood. How did your family of origin respond to difficult emotions such as fear, grief, sadness, anger, and others?
Many answer this question with responses such as: “I was always taught, ‘Don’t let other people see you hurting. Stuff those emotions and put on a good face.’” Or, “My family didn’t do grief, sadness, or anger. We just had to figure things out on our own.” Or, “Passive aggressive was the mantra of my family. It was always clear when somebody was feeling grief, sadness, or anger, but it was only expressed through passive aggressive behavior.”
What does this have to do with the Scripture verse quoted above? The answer is…everything. You see, Jesus taught a lot of things to His disciples. But they also caught a lot from Him. He modeled a life rooted not only in moral behavior, but in accepting and processing difficult emotions well. To be a disciple maker requires followers of Jesus to teach and model Jesus’ teachings and what He modeled through His actions.
QUESTION: How well do you pay attention to how Jesus responds to difficult emotions such as fear, grief, sadness, anger, and/or others? What would it look like for you to respond to difficult emotions as He did?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are many times when I respond to difficult emotions in an unhealthy way; times when I have wrongfully believed that passive-aggressive behavior was some form of being a peacemaker. How foolish I have been! Thank You for sending Jesus to not only teach, but to model what it looks like to live in the tension of difficult emotions. Continue to help me grow and respond to these emotions in a godly way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
How was Jesus able to give His disciples the instruction to go and make disciples? Simple. He had all authority in heaven and on earth.
Interestingly, this is not the first time the Gospel of Matthew mentions Jesus’ authority.
Matthew 7:29 – Jesus taught with real authority.
Matthew 9:6-8 – Jesus had the authority to forgive sins.
Matthew 21:18-27 – Jesus’ authority regarding the topics of prayer and cursing was challenged and he stood his ground.
Matthew 26:64 – Jesus has the authority to sit at God’s right hand.
Finally, John 3:35 notes that everything has been put into the hands of God’s Son.
As you read today, consider this: To be a follower of Jesus is to submit to His authority in every area of your life. Not in fear or trepidation, but as a response to His loving desire to shape you into the person He has made you to be.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 28:16-20(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Is there anything in your life you’re holding onto, unwilling to surrender to His authority? What steps can you take to surrender this area of your life over to Him so that He may further shape you into the person He made you to be?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are areas of my life in which I have attempted to keep hidden from You. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, I’ve given into shame and have tried to hide my unhealthy decisions from You. Today, I’m grateful for the reminder that I do need to hide from You in shame, but am free to come to You so You may continue to mold and shape me into the person You’ve made me to be. Thank You for your loving grace! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The NLT Life Application Study Bible points out, “When somebody is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with these last words of instruction: They were under his authority; they were to make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey his words; and he would be with them always.”
It’s hard to imagine what may have been going through the minds of His disciples when Jesus offered these last words. They had given up their lives to follow Jesus for three years. They witnessed Him teach, heal, pray, and perform miracles countless times. They saw Him die on the cross. Peter denied ever knowing Jesus. And then they saw Him resurrected from the dead. After all of that, they were ready to hear Jesus’ last words, and they were ready to fulfill His desires.
As you read today, consider this: To be a follower of Jesus is to be ready to be a disciple so you can go out an make disciples.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 28:16-20(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is your current understanding of what it means for you to be a disciple of Jesus?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I’m simply grateful for the reminder that I need to be a disciple in order to make disciples. Continue to reveal ways I can grow in being an apprentice of Jesus, learning directly from Him so I may grow more in Christlikeness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with?
In what ways have you resisted God’s work within you this week?
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
We live in a society that thrives on evidence. We want to see the fingerprints, analyze the DNA, and have photographic evidence in order to make a sound decision about what happened. We tell ourselves that without evidence, we can only guess.
This may lead some to dismiss Jesus’ death and resurrection. “People don’t just rise from their tombs”, some may argue. “I’ve never seen it happen, so it just isn’t possible.”
While we cannot fully examine all of the evidence of Jesus’ death and resurrection here, history confirms that something of extraordinary importance occurred on this day. It wasn’t just Jesus, but many others came back to life (Matthew 27:52).
As word continued to spread, even the religious leaders struggled with how to respond. Finally, one said, “If this message is from God, we cannot stop it.” He was correct. The message continues to spread throughout the world today.
QUESTION: What are at least three ways you have personally experienced the work of God in your life?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I’m more interested in the story of a movie or television show than I am interested in thinking about my own life story and the ways You have worked in and through my life. Today, I humbly request that You will continue to bring to mind the countless ways You have worked in and through my life. May these memories increase my hope, passion, and overall love for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
During Jesus’ trial, He refused to offer any kind of defense for His actions. He knew He was innocent from breaking any Roman or Jewish laws, but also knew that blood needed to be shed for the forgiveness of sins.
When looking through the entirety of Jesus’ life and ministry, we must remember that He was both fully human and fully God. In His humanity, Jesus experienced the pain and sorrow of living in a broken world. He wept over the death of His friend Lazarus, as He knew that death was not part of the original created order. He wept over the city of Jerusalem, desiring the people of God to be back into right relationship with Him.
And at the end of His life, He wept again. Not just for the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain He was experiencing – which would have been excruciating. He also wept for those who were crucifying Him. Father! They don’t know. They just don’t know what they’re doing. Forgive them.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 27:1-66 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Think about the last time you sinned against God and/or somebody else. How do you understand Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing?”
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting?Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I realize the truth of John 3:16 – that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. But even though I believe the truth of this passage, I struggle to believe that You so loved me You gave Your one and only Son. May this truth of Your resounding love permeate deep into my heart and soul today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 26:42 “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
Think back on the prayers you’ve prayed over the previous 3-6 months. What have you prayed for?
If we’re honest, many of us would acknowledge that we pray for things we want. God, please heal my friend or relative so-and-so who is currently ill. Amen. Or, God, please give me some kind of sign so I know what to do in this difficult situation I’m in. Amen.
These kinds of prayers aren’t necessarily wrong, but they don’t always follow the examples from the Scriptures. Jesus prayed that He wouldn’t have to experience death on a cross, but also acknowledged His willingness to do it saying, “…may Your will be done.”
As pastor and author Timothy Keller has written, “It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for change in their circumstances…[what] he most frequently prayed for his friends, was for them to know God better.”
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 26:36-46(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Do you find yourself more regularly praying for God to accomplish your will, or for you to have the understanding and discernment to live out His will for your life? If the former, what steps can you take to pray more intentionally for God’s will to be done?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that far too often I pray for my will to be accomplished. Today, I humbly pray for Your will to be done, whatever it may be. Continue to reveal Your will and purpose for my life, and provide me the wisdom and discernment to live it out well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 26:26-28 “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.”
Jesus’ final meal with His disciples was the Jewish celebration of the Passover meal. Historically, there were six different food items and four cups of wine included in the Passover.
Bitter herbs were consumed to represent the bitterness of slavery the Israelites experienced in Egypt. A mixture of nuts, apples and spices to represent the mud the Israelites used for buildings in Egypt. Another vegetable, this one dipped in salt water to represent the tears the Israelites experienced in slavery. Lamb, a symbol of the blood the Israelites spread around their doorframes for protection on the night of Passover. A roasted egg, eaten to symbolize mourning. The bread, used to symbolize God’s provision for His people.
As for the various cups of wine, the third cup symbolizes God redeeming His people. The act of redemption was to reclaim His people as His own. It was likely this third cup of wine and the bread, which Jesus references in the Last Supper.
QUESTION: The Passover meal was heavy on symbolism about the Israelites freedom from slavery and God’s provision in their lives. In what ways can you worship God today for His deliverance from sin and death and His provisions in your life?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you overcommitting? Practice slowing down and living life at the pace of your soul by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today’s reading has helped me realize that the Passover Meal was so much more than bread and wine. There is rich symbolism regarding God bringing His people out of slavery, forced to meet the needs and desires of others. This week, help me to live in the complete and total freedom You have provided Your people. Not the freedom to do what I want, but the experience of freedom from the consequences of sin and death. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
south ridge blog 