Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:

Now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he (Jesus) was accused by the chief priests and elders he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But (Jesus) gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Matt 27:11-14

 

Observation:

The testimony of this section of Scripture (Matt 27:1-31) has a number of extraordinary statements and descriptions of people’s reaction, not the least of which is Pilate’s mindset. While Pilate was no saint as the local Roman ruler, his callousness did not blunt his reason or astonishment…

 

Application:

What practical application can I take away from this section of scripture?

 That is the usual objective for me. I want to get something that I can build upon, use, apply, etc. for the effort that I put into spending the time to read the Scriptures. After all, I need to get a value for doing this, right? Not always. In fact the “practical application” question may be down the line a bit. Sometimes I must read to fill my eyesight with the Awesomeness of God.

 Here, reviewing the Story leading to the Crucifixion, my first read is to familiarize myself with the story again. My second read is to slow down and read the detail. My third read slows it down even further attempting to imagine what the individual scenes must have been like. Three reads, each slower than the previous, to get to the enormity of what God has decided to testify about. For I should realize that I am reading God’s testimony leading up to the Cross.

In slowing down I see the instances where the Scripture testifies of prophecy fulfilled as with Judas. But looking harder at Pilate, the scripture says some significant things and insinuates others: In v14 Pilate was amazed at Jesus pointed lack of response; in v18 Pilate knew that the crowd was envious of Jesus and was the reason that He was delivered to Pilate for judgement; in v19 Pilate was petitioned by his wife to “have nothing to do with that Righteous Man” because of reaction to a dream she had; v24 the scripture states that “he was gaining nothing” possibly indicating that Pilate was really trying to release Jesus-ok, maybe not very hard-and getting nowhere. At the end, Pilate attempts to distance himself from the violence of the crowd and responsibility by “washing his hands of it.” (v24)

So I see that there was a certain amount of amazement and awe by Pilate-he was impressed somewhat with Jesus. There was trepidation by his wife as a result of a dream and identified Jesus, not by name, but by the description “that Righteous Man.”

Astounding! Here is what I cannot help but think of: If unrighteous Pilate and his wife are impressed by the Son as described in Scripture, am I at least as impressed? Do I act and think in awe of my Lord daily? What am I like?

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, how do I cultivate an attitude of daily amazement of your Presence? All through the day I can see Your Hand-if I look for it. Most times I get so self-involved that I neglect noticing. Pilate could have neglected and just processed You without a notice-but he didn’t. He was impressed, amazed, questioned the sanity and reason of the mob. Why is this important to notice? Because of this: I view the world through my eyes, my reason, and my convenience as a result of my self-absorption. Help me repent from this self-absorption and see my world through Your Eyes-to the end result of more fully walking worthy of the Gospel. AMEN.

 

Scripture:

Matthew 26:75 – And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Observation:

Jesus knows how we are going to act and offers us forgiveness when we sin. Jesus gave the disciples hope when he told them that after the resurrection he would go to Galilee. Peter and the rest of the disciples had been faithless and failed/left Jesus at his time of greatest need. Peter is sad and remorseful for his denial of Jesus.

Application:

Peter, who moments before told Jesus they may fall away because of you but I will never fall away, denies Jesus three times on the night of his arrest. Peter recognizes what he has done to his Lord and is very sad. When we do something that is wrong to God, we feel sad or guilty. I don’t want to think of the number of times that I have denied Jesus prior to becoming a believer. The Gospel is the story of hope and forgiveness of all sin including that of Peter, the disciples and mine. Jesus, didn’t say Peter you failed and I’m be done with you. We serve a God of restoration, who gives us second, third chances. Through the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit, God uses Peter to preach the first evangelistic message at Pentecost.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for your love and the hope, forgiveness of the Gospel. Through your Spirit help me to be strong in my faith and to rely on you, not my own understanding. When I fail, may I be repentant and get back up to continue serving you.

Scripture:

Matthew 25:27
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

Observation:

As Jesus gives some insight into the kingdom he tells an illustration of a master who entrusts three of his servants with his resources. After returning from a journey he goes to settle accounts with them. In verse 27, as the master confronts the servant who did not make a return on the investment, he makes one thing very clear, it is His money, not the servants.

Application:

This is the most important part of the story. It was the master’s money. The servants were just given the chance to manage it. When managing if, the options were to trade, invest, hide or spend. In the story, two traded and invested and made more. The third hid it for fear of losing it.

A few things…

-Everything I have has been entrusted to me by the owner. “My”stuff, influence, trust, leadership and relationship aren’t really mine. Everything I have been given authority over belongs to the master.

-My use of these resources are to be ultimately for the master’s gain, not mine. He will bless me if I am faithful, however, all blessings flow from and originate with Him.

-There will be a day when the master “returns home.” When he does, I will have to give an account. May I make decisions today knowing this is true.

Prayer:

May I be faithful with the stuff you have blessed me with. May I live today with the constant reminder that it ultimately isn’t mine.

Scripture:

Matthew 26: 14-16
14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Observation:

A disciple who had been with him for years had a moment of loving the world and what it offered rather than loving the God that had called him out.

Application:

I tell you this is huge for me this morning. What am i pursuing? What is my calling and what do I pursue to confirm that or reject that? It is so easy to get caught up in the world and what the world can offer us and turn away from our God because we have seen how shiny and attractive something looks. Judas betrayed his Lord and savior for thirty pieces of silver, that in his regret and shame he lost every bit of it as he lost his life.

A couple of things for me:

-Don’t forsake calling or passion for the things of the world.
-Don’t lose sight of who is in control of my life and whom I will give an account to one day.
-Nothing is more valuable than the presence of my savior, no money or anything.

Prayer:

Father forgive me for my sin of which you know what they are. Reveal the wickedness in my that I may repent and walk in holiness and love in your spirit.

Scripture:

Matthew 24:45-46 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

Observation:

God is our master and we are to do what He wants and has asked us to do. There is reward for doing what God wants us to do. There is punishment for not doing what God wants us to do. God does not tell us when or where the Master will show up. We are to be ready at all times and doing what He asks at all times.

Application:

God’s ways and His requests are constant and consistent. I am supposed to do what God wants me to do, all the time, every time. There isn’t a time when I am to change my ways or do something other than what our master has called me to do. It is not someone else’s job to do my job. It is up to me.

I should continually ask “What is the wise thing to do?” and “What is the faithful thing to do?” By asking these questions, it will remind me to keep my eyes on the prize. To keep me in line with what God wants for me in my life rather than doing what I want to do for myself. It will also help me to stay focused at all times so I can be assured of doing what God wants me to do at all times.

Prayer:

Remind me to be faithful at all times. Keep me focused on you and what you want me to do for your Kingdom. He keep me focused on your desires and not my desires.

Scripture:

Matthew 23

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Observation:

Jesus is giving a series of strong lesson to the people and their religious leaders about how to actually observe the word of God.
Jesus has a series of strong rebukes (“woes”) especially against the “scribes & Pharisees”.
They are neglecting to actually live out the way they teach.

Application:

Well here have yet another “pop culture” reference that finds its origin in God’s Word: “practice what you preach”!
Jesus wants the teachers to actually live the way they’re telling others to.
But it’s always so much easier just to “know something” than to actually “do” that something … especially God’s Word.
I️ can know all the names of the prophets and what their messages were, but do I️ actually take heart to their warnings and understand how those warnings apply to my life?
I️ can memorize all the books of the Bible and their key themes and cultural context and literary styles, etc. … but do I️ actually allow God’s communication with me to give me a new heart?
I️ can not be content with knowledge.
I️ have to allow it to change me.
How good would my marriage be if I️ simply knew my wife’s birthday and our anniversary and, perhaps, her family history, and what her likes and dislikes were … but I️ didn’t actually live as if I️ cared about any of those things?!
It’s incredible that we’ve allowed Christianity to become something known more for what it’s against.
Jesus said the “weightier matters” of the Law are “justice, mercy, and faithfulness”.
These are action oriented, “others focused” matters!
There is outward evidence when justice, mercy, and faithfulness are actually lived out.
But this outward focused action doesn’t happen without an inner change of heart.
These “weightier matters” are contrasted with what the “hypocrite” is full of: “greed and self indulgence”.
I️ must steadily allow God’s Word to show me where I️ am focused on my self.
And I must have to softened heart to seek justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Prayer:

Thank God for your Word again.
Open my eyes to see where I️ can be used for justice and mercy.
Give me the courage to live faithfully.
Thank you for forgiving me when I️ fail to do so.
In Jesus name
Amen

 

Scripture:

Matthew 22:9-10

⁹ Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ ¹⁰ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Observation:

After the first invited guests found themselves too preoccupied to attend, the Father sent an invitation to anyone and everyone, regardless of who they were or what they had done. His main reason was to ensure the party was full.

 Application:

 This parable helps us see the a few things…

-Some people, the religious leaders in the first century and cultural “Christians” today, become too preoccupied to be involved in Kingdom purposes.

-The Father wants the party full. That is His decision and His choice. The guests don’t and shouldn’t have an opinion on who is invited. They should just be excited they are invited.

-The servants obey the Master. They go to everyone and invite them. In this same way, we are to be obedient and invite whoever. We don’t have the freedom to narrow the guest list.

-My joy in life (enjoying the party) is directly connected to the constant reminder that I used to be out on the road. But I was invited in. I am in, not because of what I have done, but because the Father decided to expand the guest list! I can’t forget that.

 

Prayer: 

Father, I find myself getting off track when I start believing I did something to be at the party. I am here because of your graciousness and your decision to expand the guest list.  May I live like I believe that. May I remember that there are a whole lot of people who don’t know they are invited. May I spend my life inviting.

Scripture:

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said “Son: go and work in the vineyard today.” And (the son) answered “I will not,” but afterward he changed his mind and went. And the (father) went to the other son and said the same. And the (2nd son) answered “I go, sir” but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? (The Pharisees) said: “The first.”

 

“Truly I say to you the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him-but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And, even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” Matt 21:28-32

 

Observation:

Plainspoken; not obscure at all. When Jesus said “Let him who has ears to hear, let them hear” it wasn’t hard to hear. What was hard was changing my mind from what I wanted to the plain Word of the Lord.

 

Application:

Don’t you love parables? The have a way to worm around in my thinking. They can cause me to ponder. On the negative side they also have an ability to get me to respond “That’s too hard to understand-let me go to the next thing…” and off I go. It may be from the Scriptures to the ball game or a TV movie or anything that can distract me from thinking of eternal things.

 

Here are the Pharisees. Jesus is leading them by the hairs on their beard to: 1) illustrate the difference between actually obeying or putting on a show-first son said “no” but silently repented and obeyed anyway. The second son said “Sure thing Dad, anything for you. I love to be obedient…” but afterward didn’t do anything. Notice that Jesus in this case led the Pharisees to answering the only way the parable question could be answered. Open mouth, insert foot. Enjoy.

 

How do I respond? I really really like to think that I got the point of the parable without being the Pharisee. Truth is that I am too often just like a Pharisee: I look to wear my so-called righteousness on the outside and I neglect that Jesus wants my heart, not my actions. His stated purpose is changing my heart of stone to a heart of flesh. That is more than being kind, considerate, and not like other people. That is mind and thought transformation, repudiating and leaving sin, to be things that the world isn’t like humble and transparent; extending mercy even when receiving anything but; and many other things but doing them secretly and in quiet.

 

I know one reason I dislike my yearly performance reviews at work: it is that somewhere I know I want to toot Jesus’s horn, not mine.

 

Prayer:

Father, how do I cultivate humility? I don’t want to be as a Pharisee within this local church. I don’t want to parade my righteousness around and blow a trumpet before me, beside me, or in the direction of where I came. I am looking at the list on my desk about how to cultivate humility. I don’t look at it often enough. Please let me put some distinct and focused effort to bring humble and effective fruit in my life, my marriage, my role as an empty nest parent, at work, and in public. More so, let me/help me/cause me to be humble beginning in my prayers and my secret life before you. AMEN.

Scripture:

Matthew 20:16 – “So the last will be first and the first last.”

Observation:

Jesus finishes telling the parable of the laborers in the vineyard by illustrating that the kingdom of heaven does not operate on worldly values. Someone of minimal perceived value by government or culture can be of high standing to God. The logic of the gospel represents a one hundred eighty degree shift from societal norm. The laborers God chooses represent all types of people from different social standing with one commonality. They only way to be chosen is by the grace of God.

Application:

I must remember the truth that I am only saved by the grace of God. The gospel of Jesus represents the only hope in a fallen world. I should not judge someone as more valuable for their wealth, power or political standing but rather look at everyone through God’s economy. There is nothing I can do to earn salvation, nor is there anyone that is too far gone that I should think is excluded from the grace of God. As a believer, I should be joyful anytime a lost sheep is found.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for your love, grace and saving me without regard to my earthly standing. Help me look at everyone with value and know all are welcome in your kingdom. Let me be inviting to share your love and gospel with those who are lost.

Scripture:

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Observation:

Jesus encountered a man who was very religious. He by all accounts must have been very well thought of and really had his “ducks in a row” when it came to spiritual life. He was a rule follower and a commandment keeper but as Jesus began to question him it was revealed that the man’s heart was not in it. Ultimately his heart and mind were set on his own riches and righteousness.

Application:

In my life it doesn’t matter how “put together” I am. Rule following and commandment keeping can be kept without having a heart devoted to God. God looks at the heart, I don’t want to be a religious rule follower but miss the Savior with my heart. Today, I long to have a heart after God and feet that follow.

Prayer:

Jesus let my heart be one that seeks after You today. Thank you that where I may fail you make the way possible by already meeting my greatest need!

Scripture:

Matthew 18:7-9
7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Observation:

Jesus rebukes the world and those within the world that tempt mankind to sin. However He then transitions to give direction to his followers in regards to their own personal responsibility in winning the battle over temptation. He uses violent language when challenging his followers to overcome temptation. His words make it clear that it is better to experience short term pain, discomfort, and suffering in avoiding sin than it is to indulge in sin and experience eternal suffering.

Application:

Temptation is real. It is all around us. Everyone is tempted by different things and at different times. However we can’t excuse ourselves for sinning because how hard temptation is. Jesus rebukes the world and those that lead us into temptation, however, He still wants us to take responsibility for our own actions. He also wants us to take out our “violence” against our own sin, not the sin of others.

If we are gonna get angry about sin, we must start with our own sin.

What causes me to sin? What are the weakest areas of my life? Where am I most vulnerable? It is there that I must take aggressive action against my tendencies to sin.

A few things…

⁃ I need to cut out stuff from my life that leads me to sin.
⁃ I need to take personal responsibility and not waste time blaming other people or situations for my actions.
⁃ If I am angry about sin, it better be my own first.

Prayer:

Father thank you for this powerful scripture that reveals your heart for purity and righteousness. Thank you for forgiving me. Give me the strength to be proactive and even “violent” about my own sin.

Scripture:

Matt 16

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test (Jesus) they asked him to show them a sign from heaven …

4 (Jesus answered them), “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

Observation:

The religious leaders were feeling threatened by who Jesus was showing Himself to be.
But they demanded more. They wanted yet more supernatural “proof” of who Jesus was.
Jesus gave a strong opinion of this demand, “evil and adulterous”.
Jesus told them one more “sign” would be “given”. He would be gone three days and then come back, the “sign of Jonah”.

Application:

So, the religious leaders were making “demands” of Jesus.
If I am making demands, then what does that, in fact, actually show?
If I am making demands, then it shows that I have a sense of “lack”.
If I am making demands of Jesus, there is something much deeper going on.
I am sensing a “lack” in who He is or who I am in Him.
And this is of utmost importance, because if I have a sense of “lack” in who Jesus is … then I will seek elsewhere to have my “demands” fulfilled.
But if I am continuously “demanding a sign”, what is it that I truly lack? …. Faith! Faith that Jesus is who He says He is! And that I am who Jesus says I am!
If I can rest contentedly in this foundation, demands for signs evaporate.
It’s an interesting adjective Jesus uses to describe those who demand a sign: “adulterous”!
What’s another word for “adulterous”? … Unfaithful!
If I was continuously “demanding a sign” from my wife to prove herself or her love to me, something unhealthy is happening in our relationship.
If I asked her everyday, “Prove your love to me!” … “Prove your love to me” … “Prove your love to me!” ….
I would be showing my own insecurities and immaturity, not her’s!
My “demands” on someone else, including my wife, are a reflection of me and my weaknesses, not who she is!
I must have faith in our covenant relationship.
So, then … Can I trust the Covenant relationship Jesus says He has entered with me? … I must!
Jesus says the only “sign” I need is His death and resurrection … It is enough!
Paul later said, “Jews demand a sign, Greeks demand wisdom, but I preach Christ crucified! … It is enough! Amen!

Prayer:

Thank you again, father, for your word.
It is enough. You are enough.
Help me demand nothing more than You.
You are alive and I am alive in You
In Jesus name, Amen!

 

Scripture:

“For Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias (his brother Philip’s wife), because John had been saying to him “It is not lawful for you to have her, (Herod).” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people because they held (John) to be a prophet. But, when Herod’s birthday came the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod-so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother she said “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry but because of his oath and his guests he commanded it to be given.” Matt 14:3-9

 

Observation:

Herod got caught between a rock and a hard place of his own making. There is a lesson here besides reviewing history about John and Jesus: How compromised do we make ourselves in the same way Herod did? How recognizable is the narrow path when I want to go my own way? When do I get caught up with the flow of life and neglect remembering the Way of the Cross?

 

Application:

To be clear, it would be difficult to assign to Herod any positive aspects as it would pertain to following the Law or of Godliness before the Ancient of Days. But I think I can broadly recognize Herod’s response as possibly my own:

 

* Hide my sin. Bind it, hide it, and don’t talk about it.

* Ignore the Voice telling me of my sinful ways.

* Fear of man; fear of the crowd; fear of another’s opinion of me.

* Liking to hide in my favorite pastime; get my mind off my troubles.

* Blanketing or covering my sin with more sin.

* Committing to foolish promises.

 

Probably more here, this is just from the top of the analysis of the passage. The point I take away here isn’t that Herod is terrible in all of his ways but that I am similar to Herod if not just like him. Herod was ate up with supplying and protecting his own desires. Am I really any different?

 

The Gospel is more than just the message for the “unsaved”-it is relevant to every aspect of our lives. I must review and preach the Gospel daily to myself because I forget-I forget about its power, I forget about the implications, I forget to whom I owe my life, my breath, my every being. I forget that only through Christ I can escape the Wrath that I richly deserve. I forget that my sin has been overcome and that sin no longer has dominion over me. I also forget that sin is crouching at my door, like a devouring lion, and that the daily pull is to glide into sin’s orbit.

 

So what are my steps to counter this? Perhaps the first and foremost step is to understand as full as I can that my sin is without a doubt an affront to God. When I sin, I sin against God. My sin is not against another primarily, it is against the Most High. Acknowledge, confess, and repent. Confess to another-perhaps your spouse, perhaps a significant godly person in the local Church. Confess and ask for forgiveness to anybody that was in the orbit of our sin-wife, children, coworkers, boss, etc.

 

This is never easy; grates at the ego level. But…the Way of the Cross isn’t easy. Consider Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord God: Walking worthy of the Gospel is what I long for. It is also my daily struggle. Why? Because the old man in me recoils in obeying You. I am so very thankful that I cannot overcome sin by mere discipline as if gritting my teeth is all that is necessary to obey You. I am comforted by You the Holy Spirit who powers me up to do Your Will. Your Sovereignty to untie the chains of sin and the responsibility You give/place on me to press in-how can I ever understand this? It is a mystery. Thank you for saving me. AMEN.

Scripture:

Matthew 13:44 – “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.  Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Observation:

The kingdom of heaven is valuable and to be protected.  You have to seek to find the kingdom of heaven.  When you find the kingdom of heaven there is great joy and you realize that it is worthy of everything you have.

Application:

I have to seek Jesus and know that the kingdom may not be as recognizable to some as others initially.   When I see Jesus as the Son of God and what he has done to redeem me, this has to be the most valuable thing ever.  Upon receiving Jesus as Lord and savior, there is unmet joy that can’t be matched by earthly desires that leave the heart empty.  The value of the kingdom of heaven is so much greater than anything else I must be mindful to put my relationship with the Father first and devote my life to the glory of God.    

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your love and grace in sending Jesus to redeem me so I can have a relationship with you.  Help your spirit fill me with joy to live a life devoted to you.  Let me share that joy with others who are yet to know you.

Scripture:

Matthew 12: 7-9
7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Observation:

The Pharisees keep placing Jesus under their expectations. They view him and expect him to act in a way that they have said to please them not please God.

Application:

What the Pharisees didn’t know is the thing they were asking was before them. See Jesus was extending mercy to them as the sacrifice for them. Jesus’ words here convey the heart of God clearer than ever….though he placed a law in order for the forgiveness of sin in that time m, he knew that the sins of the world once and for all would be forgiven by The Christ, and he wanted people to know that the mercy of God truly changes hearts. Gods desire is not and was not the continued smoke of the sacrifice, rather the continued repentance of the sinner because of the mercy and grace of God. It’s God’s kindness that leads me to repentance. It’s when I know that God doesn’t cast me to utter darkness if I approach him because of his mercy and kindness. He doesn’t condemn the guiltless.
So my question to myself is do I seek mercy or do I seek ways to make it up to God when I sin? Do I repent and live in response to God forgiving me or do I keep sacrificing to make God happy?

Prayer:

Father my sins are obvious and my sins are laid bare before you. I desire my heart to change and desire not to sin. Help me desire to not try and do more good than bad, yet receive your mercy and live in response to that. My I extend what I receive.