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 word 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 12:50 “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”
In our current culture, it’s common for two people or businesses to make an agreement and to seal the agreement by signing a contract. In the Scriptures, the word covenant is used far more frequently. A contract generally signifies a legal agreement, while a covenant signifies a spiritual agreement.
Interestingly, the relationship between God and His people often utilizes language that parallels a marriage covenant. This type of language continues today as the Church is sometimes referred to as “the bride of Christ” (e.g., Matthew 9:15, Revelation 21:2.)
As such, it should come as no surprise that Jesus regularly communicates that He sees His followers as family. The beauty of this type of language is that it indicates we are united with Christ. The Life Application Study Notes that in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus wasn’t teaching that one’s family is of no importance. Instead, He was teaching that one’s spiritual family is just as important as their biological family.
QUESTION: In what ways are you currently growing in in your understanding and discernment to live out God’s will (Matthew 12:50, Matthew 6:10)?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Continue to live your life at the pace of your soul. Slow down in order to catch up to the pace in which God created you to live.
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.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that I’m still growing to understand what it fully means to live a life in complete and total union with You. Continue to help me see myself, others, and the world around me through Your eyes. Similarly, help me to move and live at a pace that is healthy for me, my family, and others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”
Have you ever made an assumption or allegation toward somebody else, only to discover later that you were wrong? Maybe you didn’t speak your assumption or allegation out loud, but deep in your mind you leveled accusations against them without taking the time to verify your thoughts. Some possible examples may include:
Scott is late for the meeting. He obviously doesn’t care about us or the importance of our discussion today.
My neighbors mow their lawn twice a week. They must really want others admire them and their attention to detail.
Last week my boss told me he’d like to meet with me about an exciting new role in the company. But when I called to schedule, his assistant said he didn’t have any openings. He probably wasn’t interested in me for the position anyway.
As followers of Jesus, we need to evaluate our thoughts and consider what we may not know with 100% certainty prior to casting judgment and/or blame toward others.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 12:22-37 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How regularly do you make allegations against others, even if only in your mind, without taking time to verify your assumptions? What kind of damage may this be doing to you? To your relationship with them?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: As you continue to slow down to be with Jesus a few times daily, pay attention to how this practice decreases your judgmental thoughts towards others.
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.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, while I don’t like to think that I make false assumptions or allegations toward others, there’s a strong possibility that I do this far more regularly than I’m aware. Bring to the surface any negative, judgmental, harmful thoughts I may have toward others. Refine me so that I better reflect Your love and grace upon the world. Amen.
Matthew 12:12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”
There aren’t an overwhelming number of authors who specifically research and write about Discipleship or Spiritual Formation. But here are what a few say about Sabbath rest:
Peter Scazzero:“Sabbath protects us from doing violence to ourselves.”
Ronald Rolheiser: “There is a kind of hurry that is a form of violence exercised upon time that is detrimental to our health, to our families, to to our communities, and to our relationship with God.”
Dan Allender: “Sabbath stands against all forms of greed, power, control and ultimately, violence against others and against ourselves.”
Violence. That’s an incredibly strong word to consider when you simply think of not resting and experiencing the Sabbath. But Matthew 12:9-14 reveals that Sabbath rest not only bring physical healing, but also heals a weary soul.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 12:9-14 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Consider how well you have practiced Sabbath rest over the previous 8-12 weeks. In what ways may your lack of Sabbath rest be a form of violence against your physical health, your family, your community, and your relationship with God? Take your time and write out as many as you can.
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Sabbath isn’t about “adding one more thing” to your busy schedule. It’s about removing some things that don’t build you up. Consider what you may be able to remove from your schedule so you can experience real rest.
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.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that today’s reading is challenging because I don’t like to think that I have been violent toward myself, others, or my relationship with You. But a I’m beginning to see that lack of Sabbath does lead to destruction. Help me to build up, not tear down. Amen.
Mark 2:27 “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”
Many people are able to recite at least 6-8 of the 10 Commandments. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not worship any other gods. And so on. But do you know which of the 10 Commandments God provided the most explanation?
Interestingly, in Exodus 20 it’s the one commandment in which many people today pay the least attention to. We may do our best to not steal, or murder, or worship other gods. But when it comes to setting aside an entire day every week for Sabbath rest, this is something many struggle to live out consistently.
We must remember that while obeying the Sabbath is a commandment, it wasn’t given as a threat – “Obey the Sabbath, or else!” No. No. No. Instead, an entire day of Sabbath rest is a gift from God. He desires that we rest in Him. In fact, if you read the Creation account you’ll see that each day begins with evening. God created us to begin each day by experiencing rest, and He longs for us to continually experience a deep sense of rest in Him.
QUESTION: The religious leaders in Jesus’ day were more concerned with the commandment of Sabbath than they were the gift of Sabbath. Today, many struggle to see it as a commandment or a gift. How about you? Do you see Sabbath as a gift from God to be received?
Ask yourself: Is there really anything more important on your schedule than taking a full day each week to rest in God?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Begin to plan now for a full day of Sabbath rest sometime within the next week.
Take a Step: This week, continue to utilize the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, too often I believe the lie that I’m too busy to rest in You. This week, continue to help me recognize that nothing is more important than experiencing Your rest. 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 word 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 11:29 (ESV) “…learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Dane Ortlund’s book Gentle and Lowly takes a detailed look at this passage, unraveling the mysteries of Jesus as gentle and lowly of heart.
Ortlund writes, “The point in saying that Jesus is lowly is that he is accessible. For all his resplendent glory and dazzling holiness, his supreme uniqueness and otherness, no one in human history has ever been more approachable than Jesus Christ.” Ortlund continues, “The posture most natural to him isn’t a pointed finger but open arms.”
Read that last sentence again, slowly. “The posture most natural to him isn’t a pointed finger but open arms.”
If this statement is true (and it is), then it means that you don’t have anything to fear when it comes to approaching Jesus. He welcomes you. You are safe in His presence. You belong. You are loved. The more you experience the intensity of His love and grace, the more others will see something extraordinary different about you.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 11:28-30 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: In what ways would those you interact with on a regular basis recognize you as a follower of Jesus?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Continue to live your life at the pace of your soul. Slow down in order to catch up to the pace in which God created you to live.
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.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m very grateful for the reminder that no one in human history has ever been more approachable than Jesus. Too often I fear approaching Jesus, believing the lie that He won’t accept me. Today, may I rid myself of this lie and approach Jesus with confidence, knowing I am accepted and loved. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 11:29 “Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
This popular Scripture passage is known by millions of Christians around the world. Different English translations have some minor differences as to how to translate this passage from Greek to English. The NLT reads, “I am humble and gentle at heart,” while the ESV reads, “I am gentle and lowly at heart.” It’s easy to read this verse as part of Matthew 11 and then just keep on reading. But there’s something about this verse which ought to lead us to pause.
First, the heart, according to the Scriptures, is not just a part of who we are but is at the very center of who we are. So when Jesus says, “This is my heart…” we would do well to pay close attention.
And second, this is the only time Jesus describes what His heart is like. He surely expresses His heart through His actions, but this is the only moment when He clearly articulates what His heart is like. Again, we would do well to dwell on this. The very center of who and what Christ is, is gentle and lowly.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 11:28-30 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: If the heart of Jesus truly is gentle and lowly, in what ways does this impact your desire to sit and silence and be with Him?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Continue to embrace silence and listen for the whisper and heartbeat of God.
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.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that I’m often looking for quick and simple answers that will help me experience peace and contentment. But the life of Christ reveals that peace and contentment are not something that comes quickly, but by regularly experiencing the heart of Christ. Continue to increase my longing and desire to be with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Think about this: each and every time you are bothered by something, it’s likely an indication that you had an expectation that went unmet. You experience frustration when somebody cuts you off on the highway – you had an expectation that others would drive more safely. You are bothered when a colleague is late for a meeting – you had an expectation that the meeting would begin on time. Sometimes our expectations are very realistic, meaning they are not at all unreasonable. But sometimes our expectations are unrealistic, meaning they are unreasonable.
John the Baptist almost certainly had an expectation that Jesus would set him free from his prison cell. He may have been thinking things like, I’ve lived in the dessert. I’ve lived on locusts and honey. I’ve taught thousands of people of the coming Messiah. I BAPTIZED JESUS!
On the surface, John’s expectation may appear realistic. But Jesus had a very different understanding of what it meant to “set the captives free.” He did not fulfill John’s expectation. Yet Jesus still thought very highly of John and went on to preach that nobody was greater than John (Matthew 11:11).
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 11:2-19(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Do you live your life with the belief that your circumstances are a measure of God’s love for you? (e.g., If your life is going well, God must be pleased with you. But if your life is going poorly, God must be displeased with you.) What steps do you need to take to rid your mind of this lie?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Today, take 2-3 times to remind yourself of Romans 8:38-39. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Nothing.
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.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that there are times when I wrongly believe that if my life circumstances are poor, it means You are displeased with me. Today, I am grateful for the reminder that nothing can separate me from Your love. May I take opportunities to fully experience Your love today. Amen.
Matthew 11:2-3 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
John had taught about the coming Messiah and the signs, wonders, and miracles He would accomplish. As he was sitting in a cool, damp, prison, John was hoping to discover that Jesus, indeed, was that Messiah.
But Jesus responded to this question in a different way than John had hoped. Jesus sent the messengers to tell John that the blind see (Isaiah 29:18, 35:5), the lame walk (Isaiah 35:6, 61:1), the lepers are healed (Isaiah 61:1), the deaf hear (Isaiah 29:18, 35:5), the dead are raised (implied in Isaiah 11:1-2), and the Good News is preached to the poor (Isaiah 61:1-2). Knowing the Old Testament very well, John would’ve understood that these six signs of the Messiah’s coming were being fulfilled. But John was expecting a seventh sign – the captives would be set free (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus left this one out. It was a not-so-subtle way of telling John that Jesus was not going to meet John’s expectation of being set free from prison.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 11:2-19(also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Have you ever found yourself thinking that God serves as your personal assistant and you expected Him to do something specific for you? What are some of the dangers of living in this way?
REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Slow down to be with Jesus a few times daily. Spend time in prayer and quiet yourself so that you listen intently for His whisper and direction.
Take a Step: This week, continue to utilize the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that there are many times when I’m more prayerful that You will accomplish my will instead of me praying that Your will be done. Continue to transform my thoughts so that I seek out Your will above all else. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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