Matthew 8:28-34

There r areas of my life n which I have always been “afraid” of what The Lord may ask of me.I have been “held back”n areas of my life from knowing Jesus n all areas of my life by “being afraid” of what it might “mean” if I were to truly turn over some areas of my life to Him.Even though I KNOW what the Bible says about what The Lord’s plans 4 me nJeremiah29:11(For I know the plans I have 4 u,declares The Lord,plans 2 prosper u & not 2 harm u,plans 2 give u hope & a future),there r still areas n my life that I am hanging on 2...areas that I am “not willing to give up/afraid of losing something”.Because of this I am missing the greatest BLESSING of all->having the presence of Jesus n ALL areas of my life!I am also missing what His Great Love has for me n areas of my life that I am “hanging on 2”.N Matthew8:28-34 an entire town becomes afraid of what they may “lose” if Jesus sticks around,so they ask Him 2 leave.N essence the same thing I am doing n some areas of my life!These townspeople had heard the demons n 2 men identify Jesus as the Son of God(Matt8:29),& known/seen the AUTHORITY&POWER of Jesus when the demons obeyed Jesus & leaped n2 herd of pigs.These people saw & heard WHO Jesus is! They witnessed the FREEDOM&HEALING that Jesus gave these 2 men;the healing that occurred bcuz of this FREEDOM.But the townspeople were blinded 2 what/WHO was n their PRESENCE,bcuz of what they feared they may lose.These people were raising pigs-not usually something being done by Jews at this time,bcuz pigs were still considered unclean.They were doing something that was keeping them from following The Lord n all areas of their lives.Jesus comes to their town,& performs a miracle n their midst that not only radically blesses 2 men,but also “heals” their community of uncleanliness!You see,God’s plans for my good r not only 4 how His Love desires 2 bless me,but ALSO how He so desires 2 heal me/cleans me from sin!The townspeople decided that the “healing” Jesus is capable of was not what they wanted!They were 2 afraid of what they may lose(the pigs/sin)n the process of healing!They were amazed by what they saw Jesus DO 4 the 2 men! BUT,they were “uncomfortable” w the HEALING from sin!I.e.,what they may need 2 “give up”n order 2 b healed.God never asks us 2 give up something that is 4 our BEST!His heart breaks 4 us when we hang on to the very things that keep us from THE BEST that HE has waiting 4 us.The very things that also keep us from HIS PRESENCE n out lives...things that squelch/choke the Holy Spirit n our lives.Dear Lord Jesus,4 give me 4 hanging on to so many things/areas of my life that r keeping me from having YOUR Love&Grace expressed into all areas of my life,by YOUR Presence n all areas of my life.Help me 2 change this,& 2 welcome YOUR Presence into ALL areas of my life.HEAL me,& FREE me from all things that r keeping me from knowing YOU throughout my entire life.

Matthew 8:18-22

N Matthew8:18-22,Jesus addresses 2 different people,with 2 different “ideas” about following Christ!The 1st is a scribe who wants 2 follow Jesus because of what he believes it will “mean” for him!This scribe believed that Jesus had come 2 set up His Kingdom,& he wanted 2 b a “part of” that...he wanted to “ride the wave” of Jesus’ rise to power;he wanted his ideas of the “benefits/blessings” of being a follower of Jesus!Jesus’ response is letting the scribe know that his “ideas”of what following Jesus would mean FOR him were far from the Truth!In fact,Jesus let him know that following Him would mean letting go of his “life plans” 4 worldly success & social graces;that his “thinking” was wrong - that following Jesus would not necessarily b worldly “beneficial” for him-but truly following Jesus would mean so much more!This probably turned the scribe’s life paradigm upside down!The 2nd person was actually 1 of his followers who was struggling w “religious traditions”!Jesus was not telling him/her 2 disrespect their father!Jesus was addressing this persons struggle w what “traditions” led him/her 2 do,& what truly following Jesus would mean!There were religious traditions this person was struggling with-beliefs about how a person lived if they were 2 b accepted by “church standards”.This person had become faithful 2 “church standards”,& drifted from being faithful 2 God & His Word.Traditions had displaced the relationship God desired 2 have.Jesus is telling this disciple that truly following Him would mean addressing preconceived notions about being “religious”,& seeking a personal relationship w Jesus!In essence Jesus says,”Follow me”,& do not let preconceived religious notions mislead you.Both of these people were being “held back” from what Jesus desires for each to have-from the genuinely abundant life that The Lord desires for us.Both r being “held back” by wrong paradigms of what will bring them the most joy&fulfillment n life!Joy&Fulfillment that has the abundance of being everlasting/eternal!Jesus is calling these 2 people(& me)to much more than what they(or I) “want”!Jesus talks about this n John10:7-10,”Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers,but the sheep did not hear them.I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly!””.Jesus tells us that we do have an enemy that comes to us,to steal from us by using wrong ideas about life and wrong ideas about what following Christ actually means for us!Jesus encourages us 2 come to Him & turn loose of our worldly & religious notions that r not only incorrect,but seeking to “steal life” from us.Jesus is calling the 2 n Matthew8:18-22(&me)to a more abundant life than what any of their worldly aspirations could ever bring.And calling them(&me)away from the piety of religious traditions so they(&I) can know the freedom&the blessings of knowing His Grace&Mercies personally!Dear Lord! I know that my life is contaminated every day w wrong ideas about life,& about You!I pray that I may b drawn 2 Your Word & Your Spirit n ways which not only correct my wrong ideas about life &You...may I also appreciate the LIFE MORE ABUNDANT that You desire for me!

Matthew 8

There r two times n the New Testament that record Jesus being “amazed/astonished” or “marveling” at something.One is when Jesus marvels at people’s unbelief(Mark6:4-6),& the other when Jesus was astonished at the Centurion’s faith n Matthew8:10.That recorded n Mark saddens Jesus because of people’s lack of faith,their unbelief.The Centurion’s faith(what he believed) amazes Jesus-The Centurion was so humbled by what he BELIEVED about Jesus, that his life reflected what he BELIEVED about Jesus.This amazed/astonished Jesus!When anything ASTONISHES The One that is The Power of Creation,The God of All...we MUST take note,& dig n so we can understand & learn as much as we can about what ASTOUNDS The One Who is the AUTHOR & CREATOR of Everything..of ALL LIFE!What is it about this Centurion that astonishes Jesus!?What is mere man/woman “capable of” that could possibly astonish The One that Created every Universe,All Space,All Time,All Life!?It was the Centurion’s “great faith”!It was not necessarily the Centurion’s faith that his friend would b healed.It was the Centurion’s faith n WHO&WHAT JESUS IS!The Centurion’s life was impacted 2 his core by his belief n WHO&WHAT Jesus IS!So much so that the Centurion’s heart had been impacted by this BELIEF!The Centurion was a high ranking Roman Officer.It was not likely that a Roman Centurion would have a HEART for a slave/servant.BUT,he did!He had a different HEART than most other Centurions.Greater than this,the Centurion had believed what he heard about Jesus,so much so that his life&heart had been changed.Luke says that the Centurion considered himself unworthy 4 Jesus 2 come 2 him!A Roman Officer of the time would consider any Jew a “little less than human”.Yet,this Centurion thought himself UNWORTHY of the presence of Jesus,a well known Jew!So-we know the Centurion’s heart has been changed by what he BELIEVED about Jesus!Even greater,the Centurion knew what authority looked like,because he himself had great authority,& he knew the POWER of authority.When he makes his statement about his own authority,he also confesses his FAITH that Jesus is THE AUTHORITY above all other authority(s)-that Jesus is THE SOVEREIGN(supreme ruler;possessing supreme or ultimate power)!THIS BELIEF &FATIH is “what” made the Centurion different from all others that Jesus came in contact with...Jesus was ASTONISHED by this man’s FAITH!His life reflecting what he BELIEVED about JESUS!This is AUTHENTIC FAITH! Having our lives&hearts so changed by what we believe about Jesus! If our lives r not so changed,then what we believe about Jesus is maybe “not so big”...definitely not as BIG as what the Centurion BELIEVED!Dear Jesus,what I believe is definitely not as big as what this Centurion believed!Forgive me... Through Your Word & with the help of Your Spirit,please bring me to the same “level” of belief as this Centurion,& may my life&heart be changed by this belief...may my faith become “astonishing”!

Matthew 7

When I was n college I attended a small Bible Study on Tuesday nights.The teacher often said,”whenever u read a “therefore”,ask “what’s the “therefore” there for?”N Matthew7:24 there is a “therefore” that is 1 of the most important “therefore’s” n the Bible,because it follows what Jesus says about those that truly know Him & those that do not(Matt7:15-23).Jesus is warning us about false teachers,& our living religiously&piously.The people of the day were seeking out teachers&preachers that sounded good,& challenged them personally 2 “be better human beings”by getting involved w their “programs for improvement”.Many of these claimed 2 “know the truth&the way”.They were inspiring,& motivating.But they were not inspiring&motivating their followers 2 personally “dig in to know God’s Word”...to personally know God’s Heart.They taught their interpretations of God’s Word,but not the Person of Christ revealed through God’s Word-God’s personal expression of His Love revealed through The Holy Scriptures.They did not inspire their followers 2 personally know;value;& follow the precepts&principles revealed through God’s Word n a way that would lead their followers 2 have hearts/minds/lives that would b more&more like the heart/mind/life of Christ.Today we have the same dangers,and more.N addition 2 an overwhelming number of “Teachers&Preachers”,we have an overload of books/videos/audios/blogs/programs,etc.Most teach good morals;& good life lessons/habits/disciplines about being “religious”.Jesus tells us 2 b careful about all of these n Matt7:21-23 when he says,”Not everyone who says 2 me,’Lord,Lord’,will enter the kingdom of Heaven,but only he who does the will of my Father who is n Heaven.Many will say 2 me on that day,’Lord,Lord,did we not prophesy n your name,& n your name drive out demons & perform many miracles?’Then I will tell them plainly,’I never knew you.Away from me,u evildoers!’”Whatever we may DO,however good/“religious” it may be,is essentially “no good” unless we KNOW Jesus & HE KNOWS us!Jesus calls us 2 a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP w Him!This is “all that matters!”Without a personal relationship w Jesus,nothing we DO “matters”...Jesus doesn’t leave us “high&dry” at the end of vs23 though!Now comes the “Therefore”!Jesus is telling us that He wants us 2 NOT b fooled by false teachers/preachers...books/blogs/videos/programs,etc.He says,”Therefore” 2 all of these(Matt7:24-27)-“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine & puts them n2 practice is a wise man who built his house on the rock....”Jesus pleas w us 2 seek 2 “not just know” His Words,but 2 weave them n2 our hearts/minds/lives,so THEY become the foundation/bedrock of our entire life...our thinking...our heartbeat...!He is not telling us to “throw away” all the books/blogs/videos,etc.Nor is he telling us 2 steer away from church.He IS telling us 2 make it “THE PRIORITY” that we personally seek 2 know Him through His Word’s,& that we apply His Words(His Wisdom&Discernment) 2 all we let shape our heart/mind/life.Dear Jesus,my heart/mind/life has so many areas that have been “misshaped”.Grant me a new enthusiasm 2 seek You through Your Holy Scripture,& the needed attributes from You,so my heart/mind/life r “reshaped” by You!

Matthew 6

Matthew 6 begins w Jesus describing those who are BLESSED!& all of these blessings r ETERNAL-they transcend all time,& all worldly means of measure!So,unless I have an eternal perspective,I will fall short of “appreciating” what Jesus is saying...& not know “what to look for” as blessings!Even worse,I will MISS the ETERNAL BLESSINGS that Jesus describes,& I will b misled n my life by searching for/seeking the wrong things.I will also have many “misunderstandings” about God & His Word!N Matthew6:19-24,Jesus tells me how 2 correct my  “focus&perspective”,so I do not miss these blessings,nor have these misunderstandings.Jesus says,”Do not lay up 4 yourselves treasures on earth....,but lay up 4 ur selves treasures n Heaven...For where ur treasure is,there will b ur heart also.”Where our heart is”,can b very difficult 2 b aware of as we live through each day.BUT,WHERE my heart is,has ETERNAL significance!AND,WHERE my heart is(what I am desiring)will determine my perspective&focus 4 what I am looking for...what is defining my life.Verses22-23 say this,”The eye is the lamp of the body.So if ur eye is healthy,ur whole body will b healthy,ur body will b full of light,but if ur eye is bad ur whole body will b full of darkness....”We will eventually see what we desire 2 see,through the perspective/lens we choose 2 have!N The Beatitudes,Jesus is describing/defining the perspective&lens we need 2 have 4 our life,if we r 2 know HIS Blessings,& Know HIS Voice/His Word!N HIS Great Love&Concern for us,HE is telling us how 2 NOT MISS Eternal Blessings,& how 2 not b MISLED by looking 4 the wrong things n life.What I am “looking 4 n life” could even steer me away from truly knowing HIM!So! I must know what 2 look 4...what IT is that is “ETERNALLY WORTH” looking 4!If not,I will become “full of darkness”.N v 24,Jesus says that “No one can serve 2 masters.Either he will hate the one & love the others, he will b devoted to one & despise the other.U cannot serve both God & Money”.Unless I have the RIGHT PERSPECTIVE 4 life & what matters n life,I could very well end up ETERNALLY BANKRUPT,& far away from truly knowing The Lord,& His Ways...His Blessings!Dear Lord,many times my vision has been impaired as U describe n these verses....,I need UR help n changing this.Thank You for the loving ways U encourage me/correct me...& the Grace U offer to help me.Please correct my perspective and change what I look for n all circumstances&situations around me,so I see what U see!