south ridge blog

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Matthew 3:17 (NLT) “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

The baptism of Jesus is remarkable for many reasons. But when we read that a voice from heaven called out, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy,” it would greatly benefit us to pause and deeply reflect on what God is saying.

Why? Well, God is speaking favorably of His Son, Jesus. Very favorably. But elsewhere in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes that we are all adopted sons and daughters of God. 

So imagine for a moment that what God spoke about Jesus, He is also speaking about you. “This is my dearly loved daughter, who brings me great joy.” “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.”

If you’re thinking this is stretching the Scriptures too far, allow me to disagree. All who have professed faith and trust in Jesus are now dearly loved sons and daughters of God. Your very existence brings delight and joy and laughter and wonder to your Creator. Rest in this truth today. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 3:13-16, ROMANS 8:15

QUESTION: What emotions do you feel when you pause to reflect on the truth that you are a dearly loved son or daughter of God, and that you bring Him great joy? Be specific, and write down as many as you can. 

QUESTION: Think back to yesterday’s reading – do you find yourself easily able to see the face of God in others? To recognize that they are a son or daughter of God, someone who brings Him great joy?  

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, thank You, thank You, thank You, for inviting me to be part of the new family of Jesus. Words cannot express my gratitude. May I rejoice in the presence of my God throughout this day! Amen.

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Matthew 3:8 (NLT) Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

In his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, Ron Sider notes that “…church members divorce their spouses as often as their secular neighbors, beat their wives as often as their neighbors, and white evangelicals are the most likely people to object to neighbors of another race.” Statistics like these are difficult to read, but they cannot be denied. 

Unfortunately, too many Christians read these kinds of statistics and preach moralism as a way to counteract it. There’s this thought of, “If we just live moral lives, we can change these stats.” 

But the reality is that we live in a broken and fragile world. We cannot, in our own power, just go out and live better, stronger, moral lives. Similarly, identifying the ways in which others are living immoral lives won’t help them to live morally.

The solution isn’t simple, but maintaining a daily focus on the work God is doing within you is the best place to start. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 3:7-12, GALATIANS 5:19-23

QUESTION: Do you find yourself spending more time focusing on how others are living their lives, or on how well you’re living yours? 

QUESTION: What is one godly principle you struggle to live out well? What steps can you take to grow in this area? 

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 it’s often easy for me to recognize behaviors and attitudes within others that bother me, but I struggle to take steps to improve my own ungodly behaviors and attitudes. Today, help me to not look down on others, nor look negatively upon myself. Instead, help me to better know You and live in Your presence. Lead me to live a life of real transformation. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 3:4-6 (NLT) John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

When reading the Gospels, it’s easy to look down on the Pharisees. But as we’re reading it’s important to remember that the Pharisees, in general, were not looked down upon by many in their culture. They were well educated and had memorized the first five books of the Old Testament word for word. They knew the Old Testament Jewish laws really, really well. They most likely dressed well, and performed marriage and funeral ceremonies often. 

John the Baptist, however, was very different. He didn’t have fine clothing or quality foods. Nor was he as well educated as the Pharisees. He was an unlikely messenger, yet was somebody people traveled for miles and miles on foot to see and hear the message he proclaimed. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 3:1-6 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice)

QUESTION: Is there an unlikely messenger in your life? Somebody who God may be working and speaking through yet you hesitate to listen?

QUESTION: Have you considered the possibility that God may be inviting you to be an unlikely messenger in the life of somebody else?  

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, the life of John the Baptist is very interesting. He was not at all concerned with power or authority, but was instead concerned with understanding and teaching Your word. He did not study the Old Testament law to teach it, but to live it out. Today, may I live as he did – living out Your principles in Your power. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 3:2-3 (NLT) In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

The topic of repentance is one that is said out loud in Christian churches often. Not only was it a topic John the Baptist wanted to be sure to communicate, but it was also the very first line of the very first sermon Jesus taught (see Matthew 4:17). But, what does the word repent really mean? 

The Greek word translated as repent is metanoia. It most specifically refers to the changing of one’s mind. James Bryan Smith notes in his book The Good and Beautiful God, “Jesus understood that transformation begins in the mind.” Another understanding of what it means to repent is to do an about face, having a complete change of thought and attitude.

As you read today, consider this: What is one belief you currently have in which you may need to repent, having a complete change of thought and attitude? (Some possibilities include, finances, race, nationality, loving others, etc.)

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 3:1-6

QUESTION: What is one belief (or mindset) you currently have in which you may need to repent, having a complete change of thought and attitude? (Some possibilities include, finances, race, nationality, loving others, etc.)

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, as I begin a new week I humbly pray that I would recognize Your presence within me and throughout my surroundings this week. May I take nothing for granted and give You the glory, honor, and praise You are due. 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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John 10:27 (NLT) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The theme of Jesus being described as a shepherd didn’t only occur in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus Himself recognized that those who follow Him (His sheep) listen to his voice…and follow Him. 

We must recognize that all in all, sheep are not very bright. They need a shepherd to follow, a shepherd to trust. The sheep who do not follow the shepherd often do so to their own peril. 

Generally speaking, most people who have professed faith in Christ would say, “Yes, I trust Jesus in everything.” But the reality is that we all face moments when following Jesus seems to be the more difficult path, and we would much rather take an easier road. Moments when we believe our way would be better. 

Today, take some time to reflect on this question: In what circumstances do you find it difficult to trust the Great Shepherd?

READING & PRAYERS:

     JOHN 10:6-15

QUESTION: In what circumstances do you find it difficult to completely and totally trust the Great Shepherd? Confess that to Him, and then trust that He will lead you exactly where you need to be. 

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, there are times when I find it very easy to follow and trust You, but there are also times when I would rather forge my own way. Thank You for holding onto me and carrying me to where I need to be even in those times when I try to escape Your presence. In grateful for Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 2:6b …a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.

A. W. Tozer once wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Take some time to dwell on that statement. What comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you. When you peel back all the layers of what you believe and why, it all boils down to what comes to your mind when you think about God. 

So, what exactly comes to your mind when you think about God? About Jesus?

In the days of Jesus’ birth, what came into people’s minds was that God was going to send them a Warrior-Savior-King who would free His people from their evil oppressors – the Romans. But their beliefs were incomplete. Did God send a Warrior-Savior-King? Absolutely. But His role wasn’t to overthrow the Roman Empire. Instead, in the Gospel of Matthew, the first description of the kind of Savior Jesus would be was…a shepherd for the people of God. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 2:1-12   

QUESTION: What exactly comes to your mind when you think about God? About Jesus?

QUESTION: What do you think is the significance of Jesus being described as a shepherd for the people 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 recognize the likelihood that not all of my thoughts about You and Jesus may be 100% accurate. Refine me by revealing anything false or inaccurate I may believe about You and continue to reveal to me Your true nature and character so that I may better offer a true reflection of who You are to the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

The Life Application Study Bible commentary note on this verse reads, “To seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to use his character as your life’s pattern, and to keep on implementing his Kingdom values on earth. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly become most important to you if you don’t actively choose to give God first place in every area of your life. In Jesus’ Kingdom, worrying about daily needs leaves us empty. But maintaining a good relationship with him and loving others give us all these benefits as by-products.”

You may find yourself anxious or concerned about why so-and-so hasn’t responded to your text, how many followers you have on social media, or any other number of things. Today, remember that these things aren’t at all important. Above all else, seek the kingdom of God in your thoughts and actions.

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 6:25-34, MATTHEW 1:18-24

QUESTION: In your own words, how would you describe to somebody else what it means to seek the Kingdom of God above all else? 

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, in the same way that a car runs on gasoline, I know that You have created and designed me to run on You and Your power. Too often I try to accomplish things in my own strength. Today, may I rest in your strength and remember that success is becoming the person You have made me to be, and doing the things You have called me to do, in Your way and in Your timetable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

We all have basic needs. Food. Water. Clothing. After that, there are things that may not be needs, but they are helpful for quality of life. A car to drive to work as opposed to walking. A washing machine and a dishwasher as opposed to washing everything by hand. 

Then there are the things that don’t actually improve our quality of life, but we enjoy them anyway. Television, movies, social media, and other such conveniences can be entertaining, but they won’t bring lasting joy to our lives. 

While the people in Jesus’ day may not have had the same conveniences we have today, they too had basic needs and other tools to improve their quality of life. 

But Jesus told them to forget about even their most basic needs. He said to pursue the Kingdom of God ABOVE ALL ELSE. To not be concerned for water or food or clothing or shelter or a waking stick. Instead, seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and God will give you everything you need. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 6:25-34

QUESTION: What do you find yourself seeking above all else? In other words, what is it you really want? 

QUESTION: What would need to happen for you to seek the Kingdom of God above all else? 

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, when I think about how I spend my time, energy, and money, it’s evident that I don’t always seek the Kingdom of God above all else. This week, help me put new skills and rhythms into practice so I may seek You and Your will first in everything. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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