south ridge blog

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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. 

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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. 

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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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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.

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Matthew 10:38-39 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Matthew 10 concludes with Jesus sharing a theme that was  common throughout His ministry: those who follow Me will need to give up everything they think is important and instead commit to what matters most. Throughout His ministry, some heard this teaching and walked away. They wanted to continue to live and enjoy the things they thought were important. But others were all in, accepting Jesus’ invitation to begin to see God, others, the world, and even themselves in a completely different light. Oddly, their lives didn’t become any easier to live – it was complete opposite! But by committing to following Christ, they came to experience love, joy, peace, and contentment in profound ways. 

Today, Jesus’ invitation continues to be offered to all. We each must choose whether we are truly willing to give up everything we think is important and begin to see God, others, the world, and even ourselves in a different light.

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 10:32-42 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Is there anything you are unwilling to give up (or struggle to give up) in order to be more deeply rooted in Christ? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Take the opportunity to write down how you have spent your time each day over the previous week. Is there anything listed you’re holding onto which God may be inviting you to let go of? 

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, today I recognize that my unwillingness to let go of certain things ultimately does violence to my heart and soul. But following you brings healing, joy, and contentment to my heart and soul. May this truth stick with me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Matthew 10:19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.

The one command Jesus communicated more than any other was, “Don’t be afraid.” When Jesus sent out His disciples He didn’t sugarcoat what they would experience. But He also assured them that there was no reason to be afraid. 

In our own lives, we are often afraid of what might happen. Each and every day we have thoughts of, “What if…” enter into our minds. What if my spouse or child are in a terrible car accident? What if I lose my job? What if my sales report is low again this quarter? What if my landlord requires us to move out because we’re short on rent…again. What if…? 

This worst-case scenario way of thinking creates tension and anxiety and isn’t good for our souls. Jesus sent out His disciples saying, “These things will happen…but don’t worry about how to respond or what to say.” The principle is clear: we can experience peace and contentment no matter the circumstances we’re facing.

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 10:10-31 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Do you have any ongoing “what if…” thoughts that are preventing you from experiencing lasting peace and contentment in your life? How may Jesus be inviting you to hand those thoughts over to Him so you can “be not afraid”? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Write down a list of 5-10 things that help you experience peace and contentment in life. Then make a plan to make these things part of your regular routing in the weeks to come.

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 recognize there are times when I get caught in a mental battle and can only think of the worst-case scenario. Today, may I rest in you, knowing that no matter the circumstances, I need not be afraid. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Matthew 10:16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”

When Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, He didn’t give any illusions to what they would be up against. This certainly wasn’t going to be a cakewalk. They would experience: 

• Evil spirits, every disease and illness (10:1)
• The “lost sheep” of Israel (10:6)
• The sick, dying, dead, leprous, and demon possessed (10:8)
• A lifestyle with no food, money, or possessions (10:9-10)
• People who would welcome them, and people who would not (10:11-14)
• The physical pain and humiliation of being flogged and whipped (10:17)

The text doesn’t provide any indication that Jesus’ disciples hesitated, but you can imagine them standing in a circle and subtly looking around at the others while thinking, Are we seriously going to do this? But Jesus provided one additional piece of wisdom for what they were about to experience. 

“Be as shrewd as snakes and as harmless as doves.” 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 10:5-25 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: How would being “as shrewd as snakes and as harmless as doves” be good advice for Jesus’ disciples? In what ways may it be good wisdom for the things you experience as a follower of Jesus? Be specific. 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Practice breath prayers throughout the day. Breathe in with the first part of the prayer, then exhale with the second. Some examples include: “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.” “Speak Lord, I am listening.” “You are the potter, I am the clay.” “Peace. Be still.”

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 am sometimes too shrewd without being as gentle as a dove, or I am too gentle and gracious and gloss over important truths. Continue to help me maintain a healthy balance of both grace and truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Matthew 10:5-7 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Jesus’ twelve closest friends didn’t begin adulthood with the understanding that they would be invited to deliver a message that would literally transform the world. They had been passed over by the most educated scholars of their day. They would’ve been told things like, “Sorry, but you just don’t have what it takes to continue your education. Your test scores just aren’t quite good enough.” So they took on a career as fisherman, tax collectors, accountants, or some other role.

Then this Rabbi (teacher) named Jesus shows up and invites them to follow Him. After beginning a career in something else, this teacher says, “I see something remarkable in you. I will show you that are more than good enough, you were made for this.”

They were entering into unknown territory. But with a Rabbi believing the best of them, they accepted His invitation.

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 10:1-8 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: What are some ways in which you have been passed over or told you’re not quite good enough for something? How does it make you feel that the God of the universe invites you to follow Him? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: Spend a few moments in prayer asking God to reveal to you something He may be inviting you to do today (or this week). Write down what it is, and begin to live it out. 

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, today I am grateful for the reminder that Jesus was most impressed with unimpressive people. Continue to reveal to me the joy and wonder you have instilled deep within me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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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? 

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1 Samuel 30:24 (CJB) “…the share of someone who stays with the equipment will be the same as the share of someone who goes out and fights—they will share equally.”

Shortly before becoming king of Judah, David was faced with a challenge. Some of his soldiers had battled the enemy and taken plunder as a result of their victory. But a handful of the soldiers didn’t want to share the wealth with other soldiers who weren’t part of the battle. David intervened and said that every soldier would receive an equal share, no matter what role they filled. To us, this may seem unfair. Shouldn’t those who did the dirty work get more? But the principle being taught here is vitally important in the Christian faith. 

As an example, every follower of Jesus has spiritual gifts. Some may look at the gifts and talents of others and envy them, believing the lie that their life would be better if they had somebody else’s gifts. But in the new family of Jesus, every member of the family has something worthy to contribute. Those who serve by cleaning the bathrooms aren’t worse off from those teaching or leading from the stage. Don’t live by wishing you had somebody else’s gifts. Embrace your role.  

READING & PRAYERS:

     ACTS 6:1-7 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)

QUESTION: Acts 6:1-7 focuses on the importance of roles and gifting. What are some specific ways in which the Word of God was better taught and practiced in this story? 

REAL LIFE PRACTICE: If you don’t know your spiritual gifts, ask a few people close to you what gifts they see within you. Begin praying about how God may work through you in these giftings for the benefit of His church.

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 know deep down that You have a specific purpose and plan for my life, but I sometimes struggle with knowing exactly what that purpose is. Continue to reveal within me the calling You have for my life and reveal to me the gifts of grace You have instilled within me to fulfill this purpose. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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