Category - Devotionals

12/14               Matthew 8:21 

Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. ”  23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.  24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.  27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” 

SON

He is the Son.  The Son of God.  Listen to Him.  Obey Him.  Jesus is Lord. 

12/13               Matthew 8:18-20

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 

HOME

Jesus knew where His home was and He knew he was just passing through.  We need to be careful about what we put our heart and soul into because we too are just passing through.  This world is not our home.  The Father has a place prepared for us and it is our eternal home. 

12/12               Matthew 8:16-17 

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick.  17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” 

SICK

We live in a sinful, sick work.  Jesus heals the sick, removes our diseases and makes us whole.  He is at work in the world today seeking and saving the lost.  When we have spiritual sickness and physical sickness we go to Jesus.  He is Lord.

12/11               Matthew 8:14-15 

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever.  15 But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him. 

JESUS

Jesus came to Earth to save us from our sin.  He paid the price for our sin and provided a way for us to regain family membership in the Family of God.  Jesus is Lord.  He provided for Peter’s mother-in-law and He will provide for you. 

12/10               Matthew 8:5-13 

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6“Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour. 

BELIEVE

Believe in the Lord.  Believe that He will do what He says.  Rejoice, Jesus loves you. 

12/09               Matthew 8:1-4 

Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

YES

Yes, Lord, I want to be healed.  Do you?  Ask Him to heal you, plead your case and He will do the right thing.  We seldom know what the right thing is but the Lord always knows the right thing to do and He will do it.  Commit yourself to live with the Lord’s decision and continue with your life.  All good things come from Him.  Trust in Him.  He is a rewarder of those who believe in Him and obey Him. 

12/08               Matthew 7:24-29 

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”  28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

WORD

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus is Lord.  His Words lead us giving us the wisdom we need for living.  Listen to Him.  Obey Him.  Live.

12/07               Matthew 7:21-23

 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ 

KNOW

Know the Lord.  Make sure that you know Him.  It is personal-you must ask and surrender and there will be acceptance.  The testimony of your spirit is that you are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Know the Lord.

12/06               Matthew 7:15-20 

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 

SEE

Often we see but we don’t pay attention.  Be careful when dealing with people.  Evil people never show themselves as evil until they have accomplished their mission but you and I can identify evil people by their deeds.  Watch carefully and spend time with Jesus and you will not be overrun.

12/05               Matthew 7:12-14 

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. 

PEOPLE

The People of God are called to care for others.  Not just those who like or are like us but everyone especially those who can do nothing for us.  Listen to this Word-it applies to me and to you.  Trust Jesus.  Do what He says.