Matthew 9
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
Today we start to look at how Jesus left His mark on the people He came into contact with. You have just read the account of Jesus healing a man paralyzed from birth. Read this account again from the top.
Here are a few questions for you to think about.
Who did Jesus leave His "Mark"on? (think about more than just the paralyzed man)
What effect did it have on those involved?
Has Jesus left a similar mark on you? How?
Pray today that God will help you see the mark that He has left on you.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
MONDAY- "MARKED"
HAPPY MONDAY!!! Today, we continue our March theme of "Marked". At THE GATHERING earlier this month, we looked at the movies, books, songs, and people that have left a "mark" on us. It was really neat to hear how so many things have really left an impresson on all of us.
So many things really leave a mark on us. But what we are going to be diving into for the rest of the month is how Jesus leaves His mark on us and what we do with that.
Question number one for the week: Has Jesus left His mark on you? How? If not, why?
I want you to spend some time today really answering that question. How we answer that question is key for the rest of the week.
READ THIS VERSE:
Galatians 6:17 (New International Version)
17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
What does this mean to you?
Think about that today. Talk to you tomorrow!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
FRIDAY: SERVING-The Least of These- Field Trip Day
Today (and tomorrow, and Sunday, and the next day....you get the picture) is serve day. At the beginning of the week, I asked you, "How is your serve?". I hope that you are beginning to find that answer. Today....you start. Start with your family.
Find a way to serve your family. Do the dishes without being asked, do the laundry, pick up sticks in the yard, or do the one chore that no one likes to do. Don't do it for money, yourself, or for a pat on the back from your parents. Don't even let anyone know that you are doing it. Simply do it because of the example of Jesus' service to us. After that, keep looking, doing, and serving. Maybe it's helping a friend in need, offering a helping hand to someone at the grocery store, or doing an act of service at church. When you see a need, forget about yourself and.....
DO IT.
It's Your Serve!
Find a way to serve your family. Do the dishes without being asked, do the laundry, pick up sticks in the yard, or do the one chore that no one likes to do. Don't do it for money, yourself, or for a pat on the back from your parents. Don't even let anyone know that you are doing it. Simply do it because of the example of Jesus' service to us. After that, keep looking, doing, and serving. Maybe it's helping a friend in need, offering a helping hand to someone at the grocery store, or doing an act of service at church. When you see a need, forget about yourself and.....
DO IT.
It's Your Serve!
THURSDAY: "SERVING-The Least of These"-Random Acts?
Hopefully so far this week, you have began to understand this whole idea of serving others. So where do you start?
First of all, you need to remember your motivation.
1 Peter 4:10 (New International Version)
10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
First of all, you need to remember your motivation.
1 Peter 4:10 (New International Version)
10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Mark 10:44-46 (New International Version)
44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
1 Peter 4:11 (New International Version)
11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Now that you are motivated, it's time for the next step.
You need to: Look for opportunities. These are around us all the time. The biggest part of doing this is that you have to look with "different eyes". Let me explain. Instead of: looking out for opportunities to get out of doing something, hiding in your room and watching your favorite show, running directly from the school bus into your house, and looking down at the ground when you walk.....LOOK AROUND. Look for things that need done. Look for those who need help. Basically, look for opportunities to SERVE. If you look beyond your ordinary, everyday, "same old" life for opportunities to serve, YOU WILL FIND THEM.
Today.....LOOK AROUND.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
WEDNESDAY: SERVING -THE LEAST OF THESE- "Is Serving Contagious?"
Today is Wednesday. I want to open with a question: Is serving other contagious? If it is, how can you "spread" it?
Watch this:
Pastor Rick Warren says:
"The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it."
Watch this:
Pastor Rick Warren says:
"The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it."
Jesus says in :
Mark 10:45 (New International Version)
45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
For service to be contagious, you need to "catch it" from someone. The scripture above gives us a good picture of how Jesus set the example. We should see how He was a servant. We should "catch" it and spread it to people around us. Are you currently here to serve or be served? Is your example of how you live your life one of serving or being served? How can you be a "contagious server" in your life, right now, where you live?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
TUESDAY- "Serving...The least of these"
Malachi 3:8-18 (NIV)
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'
14 "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. [a] I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not".
Happy Tuesday! Today we are going to continue our look at our month's theme of "Serving-The Least of These". As we said yesterday, today we are going to dive right into the subject of service, serving God, and serving others. I want you to re-read the section of scripture in a different version:
MALACHI 3:6-17 (New Living Translation)
6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
13 “You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord.
“But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’
14 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? 15 From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’”
The Lord’s Promise of Mercy 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
17 “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
In this section of scripture, we get a stern warning from God. He warns us against "robbing" Him but what does that mean to you? Today, ask yourself these questions:
*Does what is said in verse 7-8 apply to you? Why or why not?
*Do you feel like you are currently serving God? If not, what can you doe to change?
*In verse 16-18, what promise is given to us? What does that mean to you?
*What do you need to change in your life to receive that promise?
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'
14 "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. [a] I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not".
Happy Tuesday! Today we are going to continue our look at our month's theme of "Serving-The Least of These". As we said yesterday, today we are going to dive right into the subject of service, serving God, and serving others. I want you to re-read the section of scripture in a different version:
MALACHI 3:6-17 (New Living Translation)
6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
13 “You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord.
“But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’
14 “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? 15 From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’”
The Lord’s Promise of Mercy 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
17 “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
In this section of scripture, we get a stern warning from God. He warns us against "robbing" Him but what does that mean to you? Today, ask yourself these questions:
*Does what is said in verse 7-8 apply to you? Why or why not?
*Do you feel like you are currently serving God? If not, what can you doe to change?
*In verse 16-18, what promise is given to us? What does that mean to you?
*What do you need to change in your life to receive that promise?
Monday, February 9, 2009
MONDAY- "How's Your Serve"?
So how is your serve? Do you have a good one? Before your mind goes into sports mode, I'm not talking about your tennis serve, your volleyball serve, or even your ping pong serve. For the rest of this month, we are going to be looking at (and working on) another type of "serve". Basically, I'm asking how is your "serve" for God? When I ask you about serving, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For some, you might think of someone serving our country. Others may think of someone who serves you food at a restaurant. For some of you, you might even be thinking of being served as in "You just got served"! We, as human beings, tend to lean towards self service or expecting others to serve us. If nothing else this month, I hope that we can begin to see that we are called NOT to serve ourselves or to be served by other but that we are called to serve. This is probably not a part of your culture. As we Begin this week of daily devotions, I want you to think about that question: " How is your serve'? Last month, many of you agreed to serve others by participating in a 30 Hour Famine to raise money for 'The least of these", how is that going for you? Did you say you would participate just because everyone else was going to? Did you forget? Did you decide that other things are more important to you? Please think about it. Tomorrow, we are going to see what the Bible says about serving others and the pitfalls of serving ourselves. For the next five minutes, think about how you are currently serving others. After that, talk to God about it. Maybe you need to ask Him to forgive you for being self serving. Maybe you need to thank Him for all the opportunities that He gives you to serve. Take the time, talk to Him, thank Him for all the things that He has done (served) for you.
See you tomorrow,
Dan
See you tomorrow,
Dan
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