Matthew 17: 22 - 18:9

Jesus is using a bit of hyperbole in His teaching in today’s passage. The use of such grand exaggeration was a pretty common teaching method in Biblical times. The problem it presents for contemporary readers is our tendency to focus on the wrong emphasis. Once you hear something about cutting off your hand or gouging out your eye, it is hard to think of anything else. Jesus’ point is that the Kingdom of God is so very wonderful, beyond anything we could describe, that we would want to overcome any obstacle preventing us from entering into God’s presence.

We would do well to ponder Jesus’ comments about sin. We live in an age of entitlement. Personal responsibility or accountability is not emphasized nearly as much as the notion that we have a right to expect to be cared for regardless of the decisions we make in life.

Jesus has been teaching that our entrance into God’s Kingdom brings about a change in our way of thinking. We learn to think of ourselves, others, and the world we live in from God’s perspective. Children of God’s Kingdom have a new vision for life that centers around; a hunger for God; a heart for other people; and a hatred of sin.

Our human nature wants to negotiate with God. “Come, let us bargain” we want to say to Jesus. Just how much do we need to hunger for God? Just how much do we need to care for our neighbors? Just how seriously do we need to hate sin?

God says that anything we do, in any way, shape, form, thought or deed, to live our life apart from God is sin.

To make it possible for us to enter into the Kingdom of God Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of all we do, in any way, shape, form, thought or deed, to live our life apart from God.

Can our response be any less than hating the sin in us, for which Jesus was crucified?

What does today’s reading reveal to you

about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

Matthew 17: 1-20

I received a wake-up call this morning. It wasn’t like the slobbery, snuggly wake-up calls I get when Cheryl sends Buster and Hershey to get me up to go to the gym. It wasn’t like the sweet and gentle wake-up calls I get when Cheryl awakens me. My wake-up call this morning was like a bucket of cold water in my face.

I love the story of Jesus’ Transformation. I have wondered what it was like for Peter, John and James to see Moses and Elijah; to see Jesus shining in all of His Glory; to hear the voice of God.

Then Jesus comes off the mountain and encounters a large crowd. A man kneels at Jesus’ feet and makes an appeal for his demon possessed son. Then Jesus rebukes the crowd for their lack of faith. Wait a minute! Jesus isn’t rebuking the crowd. Jesus is rebuking His disciples. (Here comes the bucket of cold water) Jesus is rebuking me!

I wasn’t up on the mountain with Jesus; I was back in the valley, busy with ministry while waiting for His return. Like the disciples I am rebuked for having little faith; then encourage by Jesus to have small faith. Little faith? Small faith? What’s the difference?

Little faith is how Jesus refers to a divided life. It is a life more focused on obstacles than on the promises of God. A mustard seed may be small in size, but it is completely committed on being a mustard seed. Jesus wants me to have faith that is centered completely on God with an unwavering belief that nothing will prevent the fulfillment of God’s will. Mustard seed faith is grounded in the life of Christ within me.

When my prayers seek to nurture the life of Christ within me God affirms to me that “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

When my prayers seek to nurture the life of Christ within me God encourages me to “be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

When my prayers seek to nurture the life of Christ within me God’s gift to me is faith that empowers me to fulfill God’s will for my life.

What does today’s reading reveal to you

about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

Matthew 16

Charles Sheldon's inspirational book In His Steps explains what could happen if we asked ourselves, 'What would Jesus do?' Many years ago a youth group in the Midwest tried to live out that idea. Pretty soon WWJD bracelets and necklaces were available everywhere and what began as a serious effort to be committed followers of Jesus was trivialized into a cutesy saying.

Jesus calls to His followers to join Him in a great adventure to bring the Kingdom of God to our world. Yet, far too often, His followers have exchanged their opportunity for an adventurous journey for membership in a religious club that meets on Sundays for coffee and conversation. It is easy to tell when we are slipping into the realm of trivialization. It is when we are more interested in being entertained in a comfortable setting on Sunday than fulfilling the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

What does today’s reading reveal to you

about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do

or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?