Today’s reading had soooo much in it. I didn’t blog all of the things God was saying because I didn’t want to write a novel, so I gave some big idea stuff, enjoy!
Scripture
Matthew 15:15-39; Ch.
Observation/Application
Matt. 15-20
Peter is asking for Jesus to explain a parable he shared; Jesus goes on to explain that it isn’t the things that go into our mouths that defile us as people but what comes out of our mouths. To defile something is to corrupt, ruin, damage reputation or good name. When I read this passage it speaks volumes to our testimony, we are to live as a living sacrifice, what people see in us might be the only Jesus they get to see and I would hope that with my mouth I don’t defile myself or damage my Christ like reputation, thus closing the door on my witness with my peers.
Verse 18 “But the words you speak come from the heart-that’s what defiles you.” Jesus is saying what is in our hearts comes out of our mouth… when I ponder this idea, I think of how I accepted Jesus into my heart. SO He is what should be coming out of my mouth! When we allow other things to take hold of our heart we begin to see Jesus getting edged out of our speech, time, and life. When this happens it’s time to fix the order of our lives (reprioritizing and putting God first).
Matt. 21-28
We find a woman pleading for the healing of her daughter; she being a Canaanite not an Israelite (God’s chosen) wasn’t going to get the healing, but Jesus sees an extraordinary faith in this woman who believed that only a fallen table scrap of God’s power was enough to heal her daughter. Jesus did indeed heal her daughter and it serves as a lesson to us, if we have faith in just how BIG our God is then we too can share in the miraculous.
Matt. 16:1-12
The Pharisees and Sadducees (religious leaders of that time period. P.S. they didn’t like Jesus) came to Jesus and said show us some signs and miracles. Jesus pretty much calls them names and walks away. He says it is an evil and adulterous generation that seeks signs, and then he adds “but no sign will be given to it” just to let them know where they stand. Here’s the deal, we all want signs and miracles right? Well in Mark 16:17 Jesus says these signs will follow those who believe in Him. So the Pharisees and Sadducees (religious leaders who were really smart dummies) were missing the key ingredient…Jesus! If we set our eyes on God and live a life according to that then signs and miracles will follow. Basically when you follow Him they follow you J.
Prayer
Always journal a prayer at the end. We are to pray God’s will and when we pray the word, it is God’s will.
Remember, write your questions, comment your thoughts from your journal, and I blog every Tuesday and Thursday (even on thanksgiving)
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