05/01               Psalm 1:1 

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 

WHO

The Psalmist is speaking about people.  People who follow the crowd.  People who go along to get along.  The Lord calls us to listen to Him and obey.  A Christ follower acts differently than the World.  Follow Jesus.  

4/30                 Matthew 14:34 

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret.  35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

HEALING

We need healing just like those in Jesus’ day.   He is the healer-He heals us from our sin and our sinfulness and He delivers us from the oppression we so often struggle with in the spiritual realm.  Yes, we are fighting the real battles of life in the spiritual realm.  Jesus heals us.  

4/29                 Matthew 14:30-33 

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”  32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.  33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. 

JESUS

The power of Jesus is effective in my daily life.  Not because of any good works I do but because of who Jesus is-He is God and my relationship with Him began when I accepted His offer of forgiveness of my sin and new life in the Spirit of God.  It is a gift and it is eternal.  It is not based on how good a Christian I can be but in How Great a God Jesus is-He is Lord of all.  

4/28                 Matthew 14:28-29 

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”  29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 

BELIEVE

If I believe in Jesus and function in confidence with that belief, then I am walking in the Spirit.  When doubt creeps in I waver in my belief and the result will be walking in the flesh and failure.  But the great thing about our relationship with the Lord is that He knows my weakness, my tendency to sin and my faith in Jesus and that faith is based on His love and forgiveness for me.  I fail but Jesus brings the victory.  

4/27                 Matthew 14:25 

About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.  26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! ” 

COURAGE

The Bible is the written word that God has spoken.  He is the truth and as we face chaos and trouble we are called to use God’s truth against the unseen powers and principalities of evil.  We cannot see it, we cannot understand it but we know that the only way we can have courage against the unseen assault of the evil emissaries is to stand on the Word of God.  He is truth, only truth and He knows what is going on in the spiritual realm and we don’t.  Trust the Lord and believe in Him. 

4/26                 Matthew 14:22-24 

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.  24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 

LIFE

Life has a way of getting away from us.  Too often we focus in the immediate chaos and forget that for us to succeed we need to focus on Jesus.  Jesus put them into the boat and would be with them all the way to where he sent them.  They were focused on the storm and not Jesus’ instructions.  Follow the Lord.  When it gets crazy following Jesus then stop and spend time with him and he will get you through the crisis every time.  Jesus loves you.  

4/25                 Matthew 14:14-21 

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”  16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.  “Bring them here,” he said.  19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.  20They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! 

PEOPLE

Jesus always put people first.  Ministry is what we do with people.  It is not a building, an activity or a program.  People count with God.  Christ died for each of us (and we are people) as if there were no other of us.  Jesus is Lord.  He is perfect in every way.  He loves people.

4/24                 Matthew 14:12 

Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.  13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 

TIME

Jesus prioritized his time with His Father.  Often times He went into the wilderness to pray and spend time with God.  He knows what is next in His ministry here on Earth and He immediately goes to be alone with His Father.  When life presses in on you, get alone with Jesus and let Him give you the Spiritual wisdom you will need to continue in your faith walk.  Jesus will not hide wisdom from us and if we will listen He will gladly give it to us.  

4/23                 Matthew 14:1-11

1 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”  3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).  4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.”  5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.  6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.  8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!”   9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.  10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

DISGUST

Don’t be surprised at the level of disgust you might have toward evil.  The king was pure evil.  His life was totally focused on himself.  Remember that the Lord calls us to love one another-to love others as our self.  It is important to also remember that sin is simply putting self first above God’s law and the needs of those around us.  

4/22                 Matthew 28:16

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

ALWAYS

Note this is an important message to us as believers but the basic thrust for us is that Jesus is always with us.  Good or bad Jesus is with us.  Win or lose Jesus is with us.  You will never be without the presence of Jesus as a believer.  Christ has come and He is with us.