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 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”
Our society often loves what is new and what looks good. We landscape our houses to be sure the outside looks pleasing to those passing by. We wash and wax our cars. Maybe it’s just to keep them clean, but maybe it’s to ensure we present ourselves to others as well as possible. We may even dress with a desire to impress others, not simply to stay warm.
But when we live our lives with the motive of impressing others and getting others to like us, we’re much more likely to experience pain, hurt, and frustration. Somebody else will always have a nicer house with better landscaping. Somebody else will always have a nicer, cleaner looking car. Somebody else will always have nicer clothing. If we live in this way, we ultimately begin to feel like we’re always falling short.
To live in the new family of Jesus is to to focus on what’s inside of our heart and soul first. In time, what’s on the inside will be visible to everybody on the outside as well.
READING & PRAYERS:
JAMES 2:1-13(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What verses in James 2:1-13 speak most to you today? How may God be inviting you to live out these verses today?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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, forgive me for the times when I have lost sight of what’s most important. The times when I’ve lost sight of who I am. The times when I have lost sight of who You are. The times when I have lost sight of where you are in my life right now. And even the times when I lose sight of where You may be leading me and try to forge my own path. Today, may I reset my sights and follow Your lead for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 23:25-26 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”
Our culture often emphasizes lawbreaking based on the severity of the offense. As such, somebody who steals a small sum of money will be punished less severely than somebody who murders. For a group of people trying to build a society with one another, this makes complete sense.
But one of the unfortunate consequences of this same mindset is that followers of Jesus can be tempted to put sins in a level of different tiers. There are the “small” sins that aren’t such a big deal, and then there are the “big” sins which are much more severe.
This is where the Gospel differs from our society. In the new family of Jesus, everybody is on the same playing field. Everybody has sinned and will sin again. So instead of pointing fingers at others, we recognize our own fallenness first.
QUESTION: Be honest: How regularly do you find yourself ranking “little” sins vs. “big” ones? In what ways may this lead you to seeing yourself as better than others?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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 served as a reminder that there are times I could have been in the same position as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. There are times when I see myself as better or morally superior to others because I think I would never do what that person did. Continue to help me be more like the tax collector in Luke 18, who easily acknowledged, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees…YOU have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.”
In Matthew 23:13-39, Jesus continues to confront the religious leaders of His day by sharing a number of “woes” against them. In all, He shares seven woes of judgment.
Some scholars see these seven woes in a chiastic structure. This means that woe 1 and 7 are paired together, as well as 2 and 6, and 3 and 5. Woe number 4, then, would be the central theme of what Jesus wanted to communicate to them.
So Matthew 23:23-24 is the heart of the matter. The religious leaders have neglected the most important aspects of the Old Testament law — justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Was Jesus teaching that they should just forget about other aspects of the Old Testament law? Certainly not. Instead, He was clearly communicating that the Old Testament law prioritized justice, mercy, and faithfulness. And these attributes were missing from the lives of the Pharisees themselves.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 23:13-39(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Practically speaking, what does it look like to live from a heart of justice, mercy, and faithfulness? Write down at least 3-5 examples as to how you can live this out today.
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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, when I think of what it looks like to live from a heart of justice, mercy, and faithfulness, I cannot help but to realize there are moments when I do not see another person. I may turn my head from the person begging on the street. I may walk away from the single mom with a screaming child at the grocery store. I may get frustrated with another driver who may be going slower than I want to go. Continue to help me grow into somebody who really sees people as image bearers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 23:2-3 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”
The Gospel of Matthew has been building to a dramatic climax, and the value of the Kingdom of God continues to be on full display. Prior to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus takes aim at the religious leaders of His day.
It’s important to remember, however, that the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were doing what they were trained and educated to do. They were well-educated and had tremendous knowledge of the Old Testament.
Unfortunately, they didn’t live out what they were preaching. They could teach people what the Word of God said, but their hearts were missing the heart of God’s message. Jesus had welcomed the broken, downtrodden, sinful people to be with Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. But those who refused to acknowledge their own brokenness and elevated themselves above others – Jesus was now calling them to account.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 23:1-12(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: On a scale of 1-10, how well do you recognize your own brokenness? Similarly, on a scale of 1-10, how well are you able to rest in God’s grace and experience freedom from that brokenness?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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 continue to recognize that the balance between seeing my own brokenness and resting in Your grace despite that brokenness is a difficult balance to manage. Some days I wallow in self-pity, and other times I am able to rest well in Your infinite grace. Continue to help me see that I though I am broken and flawed, I am also Your child – one whom is dearly loved by You. 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 21:8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the first time we see Jesus enter the city of Jerusalem is during His Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21. But as we saw in yesterday’s reading, this was not His first visit to Jerusalem.
Previously, Jesus had been in the city and had identified Himself as the source of “living water” for God’s people. As you can imagine, this created quite a stir! Some believed Jesus to be the promised prophet or Messiah for God’s people, while others were angry or confused.
In either case, approximately six months pass between Jesus making this grand statement and His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Some saw Jesus as royalty. Some saw Jesus as the coming Messiah. Some were angry and continued to question why Jesus would allow such a procession to take place. Others were confused or curious, silently wondering who Jesus could be. The real question is: Who do you believe Jesus to be?
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 21:1-11(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Many people have questions about Jesus, but only one person knows exactly what you believe and why — you. Who do you believe Jesus to be?
QUESTION: What questions do you have about Jesus? What steps will you take to discover the answers to those questions?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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 lazy and I depend on others to tell me what I believe. Today’s reading has been a great reminder that the only person who knows exactly what I believe — is me. Be with me as I wrestle with my own unhealthy beliefs, and provide me with the confidence to share my healthy beliefs with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
John 7:37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!
Throughout the week we’ve been looking at a number of events which ultimately connect to Jesus’ triumphal entry in Matthew 21. So far we’ve seen God as the source of “living water” for His people as well as a major celebration for God providing a harvest for His people.
This Festival of Booths may have had up to a million or more people crowed into the streets. This has led some scholars to ponder, When, exactly, did Jesus shout to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!”
While we don’t know for certain, there is only one time during this event in which the crowd was silent. A priest would have filled up an empty pitcher with water while the people shouted prayers and praises to God. Right before pouring out the pitcher, the crowd would be completely silent. Jesus likely broke that silence in a very powerful way. He acknowledged Himself as the source of “living water.”
QUESTION: Take a moment to review the above passages from the Old Testament on “living water.” If you were in the crowds in John 7, how would you have responded to somebody shouting out, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me?”
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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, it’s difficult to consider how I may have responded if I was in the crowd when Jesus made this bold declaration. But my hope is that I would have seen Him for who He really is – Your Son, who provided the pathway for me to live in union with You. May I live today in such a way that others will continue to see Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and other qualities within me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Leviticus 23:40 …gather branches from magnificent trees—palm fronds…and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before the LORD your God for seven days.
Yesterday provided a brief overview of some Old Testament passages regarding God as “living water” for His people. Today, we’re reviewing another event which will ultimately connect to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God provided His people a number of festivals in which various sacrifices and/or celebrations were to occur. One of these was the Festival of Booths (other translations may read the Festival of Tabernacles, or the Festival of Shelters.)
In Jesus’ day, the Festival of Booths was a major celebration. People from all over Israel would pilgrimage into Jerusalem for this event. On the final day of the festival, a priest would ‘pour’ an empty pitcher. He would then fill the pitcher in a spring and the people would all shout things like, “God save us! God bless us! God give us rain for another good harvest!” The crowd would then be completely silent, but as the priest poured out the water, the people would erupt in celebration.
QUESTION: The Festival of Booths was a major celebration for which occurred after the completion of the year’s harvest. In all, God commanded His people to have at least 5 major celebrations each year. When is the last time you scheduled a day or event to really celebrate what God has done for you and within you?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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 worship you, but I find myself really celebrating a sports event, movie, or other activity in my life more than I celebrate You. Nevertheless, I really do desire to live a life that celebrates You often. May I begin to be more intentional in this regard, so that others can see the glory of You within me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have done two evil things:They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisternsthat can hold no water at all!”
To more fully understand and appreciate Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem in Matthew 21, it’s necessary to connect some passages from the Old Testament and the Gospels to see an interesting progression take place. Today’s focus will be on some Old Testament passages identifying God as the source of “Living Water” for His people.
Anybody who has ever traveled to Israel will tell you that much of the landscape is barren. This dry and deserted land serves as an illustration for those seasons in our lives which seem dry, dull, and lifeless. In these seasons, God wills us to look to Him as the one and only source for life. He and He alone can be the “living water” that will bring life to our weary souls.
As you read through the passages today, consider the seasons in your life in which you have felt weary and lifeless. In what ways has God breathed life into you in these seasons?
QUESTION: Consider the seasons in your life in which you have felt weary and lifeless. In what ways has God been “living water”, bringing life into you in these seasons?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Are you doing too much?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 know that we live in a broken and fragile world, and I can easily acknowledge that it’s for this reason I experience weariness and lifelessness. At the same time, I recognize that you have breathed life into me, are now breathing life into me, and will continue to breathe life into me. May I continue to create a healthy rhythm in my life so I regularly feel and experience the life you are pouring into me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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