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Seeking…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.   

Commentary has a lot to say about verse 12, but the interesting thing I found is that every commentary I read interpreted verse 12 differently. One commentary took the violence fairly literally, interpreting the verse to mean YOU had to be so violently passionate for Christ that you would do ANYTHING to convert others. That interpretation doesn’t sit well with me.

Matthew 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Another commentary said that the violence is figurative: Those coming to Jesus to repent were so numerous that they were like an army, pressing in on a city, their enthusiasm for Jesus so powerful and all-consuming it is equated to a violent siege. Personally, I don’t find either interpretation satisfactory, but I am at a loss as to how to interpret this passage.

Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Precious Savior, Thank You for allowing me to grapple with Your word, seeking explanations when I don’t understand, holding those explanations up to see how they fit with my understanding of You. I get frustrated when I can’t arrive at what seems a logical conclusion, but I know You have a purpose in all things, and I know You appreciate my seeking a closer understanding of You. Amen.

Matthew 11:15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 

Have a blessed day.

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The greatest and the least…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

Today’s verses have me thinking about the greatest and the least. On earth, who is considered the greatest? Those with power. Those with money. Those with political clout. Those who are loud enough to be heard. Those who get things done. Those who get their names in the spotlight.

Matthew 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

Who are the least on earth? Children, the poor, those who are just barely scraping by. Those who put others before ambition or making a name for themselves, the physically and mentally infirm. As I type this list, I can see why Jesus caused such a stir in His day. These people will be the greatest in heaven? How does that even make sense? And yet, Jesus has always been about shaking up established power dynamics.

Matthew 11:11a Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; 

Precious Savior, There is so much that I don’t understand–about life, about You, about myself. Help me to keep asking questions, keep seeking answers, keep learning and growing in You. Thank You that You are all about disrupting the status quo. Give me the strength and the wisdom to love as You love. Amen.

Matthew 11:11b …yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

Have a blessed day.

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Sooooo many questions…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.   

John asks Jesus specifically “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” in yesterday’s verses. What I love about Jesus’s reply is that He doesn’t shame John for the question. He doesn’t bully Him. He doesn’t blast Him for doubting.

Matthew 11:6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 

I love Jesus’s reply because I have questions–sooooo many questions–and I spent years feeling like I couldn’t, shouldn’t ask them. But questions are a natural part of learning and growing. And even when I don’t get answers, there’s something cathartic about getting to actually ask the question. I think Jesus understands that.

Matthew 11:7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

Precious Savior, You created me to ask questions, to seek knowledge. Thank You for allowing me to ask questions of You, too. You don’t always give me answers, but You are always with me, holding me, drawing me closer to You. Thank You. Amen.

Matthew 11:8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.

Have a blessed day.

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Strengthening my faith…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

I don’t remember having the freedom to question in the church I grew up in. However, John is Jesus’s cousin. He baptized Jesus back in Matthew 3. And yet, even he has questions. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Matthew 11:2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 

I have come to believe that questions are a way for us to strengthen our faith. Jesus loves us fiercely. If we are confused or concerned or angry, He doesn’t want us to pretend everything is ok. We can’t grow that way. He wants us to bring everything to Him. Lay it at His feet. Ask the tough questions. He’s big enough to handle them. And while He won’t always give us answers, He’ll draw us closer to Him in the process.

Matthew 11:3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Precious Savior, Thank You to I can come to You honestly with my questions and concerns, my anger and fear. Thank You that You love me fiercely, that You are for me, that You want me to be at peace in You. Help me when I struggle. Amen.

Matthew 11:4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 

Have a blessed day.

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A way to give others hope…. (devo reflection)

Mark 1:43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:  

It seems almost counterintuitive that Jesus would give a “strong warning” to the now-healed-leper not to tell anyone about his healing. Telling others about Jesus and His presence in my life is a huge part of who I am.

Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Maybe the leper felt that way, too, or maybe he was just so relieved to be finally healed that he couldn’t contain himself. But as the news spread, it became harder for Jesus to do anything but heal, and while that was a crucial part of His ministry, it was not his sole purpose. The leper’s elation and gratitude ended up hindering Jesus’s mission.

Mark 1:45a Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places…. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that proclaiming Your goodness in my life is something I can do without restraint. Help me to share my story in a way that gives others hope and not in any kind of way that hinders Your work. Amen.

Mark 1:45b …Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Have a blessed day.

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An agent of compassion…. (devo reflection)

Mark 1:39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

There is a footnote after the word indignant in verse 41 which says that many manuscripts say that Jesus was filled with compassion instead of Jesus was indignant. The translation choice baffles me because compassion and indignation are vastly different emotions. Commentary supports compassion instead of indignation, but it still begs the question why such a popular translation (NIV) uses it.

Mark 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

NIV is my favorite translation, probably because it is the one I’m most familiar with, but on verse 41, I am totally siding with every other translation I can find–which uses compassion or filled with pity instead of indignant–because the Jesus that I’ve come to know over the years, is filled with compassion, not indignation.

Mark 1:41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Precious Savior, Thank You for the intellectual ability to parse out meaning from Your word. Thank You for the knowledge of You, who You are and who You are to me, to understand that Yours is a heart of compassion and not indignation. Help me to be an agent of compassion to Your people. Amen.

Mark 1:42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Have a blessed day.

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Deeply rooted in Jesus…. (devo reflection)

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 

I can imagine Jesus was pretty drained after driving out impure spirits and healing many. His response to feeling drained is to go to a solitary place to pray. I can learn a lot from that. In fact, I have. I’ve modeled my devotional time for years on it. I get up an hour before my family so that I can read and pray and concentrate just on my Savior before the day begins.

Mark 1:36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 

When my boys were little, when they needed me from sunup to sundown, it was a necessity. I had to connect with my Savior before that incredible need for my time, my attention began. (I love my children deeply, but raising children is no joke. It’s a lot of work!) But even now I find that I am just a better, more compassionate person if I root my day in Jesus, if I have that time to pray and reflect before each day gets underway.

Mark 1:37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Precious Savior, Thank You for showing us how to begin each day–rooting ourselves in You–Your love, Your mercy, Your compassion, Your word. Help me to always begin each day deeply rooted in You. Amen.

Mark 1:38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 

Have a blessed day.

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Precious, holy Jesus…. (devo reflection)

Mark 1:31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Honestly, there are a lot of things that I truly don’t understand about that dichotomy, but, based on what I’m seeing here, one thing Jesus fully understands from His human side is the demands of being needed.

Mark 1:32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.

Every time He heals someone, two more needing healing are waiting. People are desperate for healing, and Jesus–precious, holy Jesus–keeps healing. He doesn’t stomp His foot and tell them they are missing the point. He doesn’t tell them that He can heal them spiritually, which is so much more important than physical healing. He. Keeps. Healing. Even with the whole town gathered at the door.

Mark 1:33 The whole town gathered at the door,

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that to keep on keeping on, even when the need feels so great, is important. Help me, even when I feel worn too thin to keep going, to keep my eyes on You, keep my heart rooted in You, to lay my burdens at Your feet, to rest in You. Amen.

Mark 1:34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Have a blessed day.

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Keep going…. (devo reflection)

Mark 1:27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 

Jesus driving out the impure spirit got folks talking. They were amazed. News about Him spread quickly over the whole region. But what does Jesus do? Does He bask in the glory of His notoriety? Does He get on a soapbox to discuss issues?

Mark 1:28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

No. He keeps moving. He does the next right thing. He goes with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law is in bed with a fever, and they immediately tell Him about her.

Mark 1:29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for showing not only the big, grandiose moments, but also the more prosaic moments of Your life. Thank You for showing how to do the next right thing. Help me to keep going, to keep shining Your light, and keep looking for Your people who need hope and encouragement so that I can remind them about Your love. Amen.

Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 

Have a blessed day.

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Even if I don’t know the answers…. (devo reflection)

Mark 1:23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 

I have so many questions about today’s verses. Why was an impure-spirit-possessed man in the synagogue? Did they know he was possessed by an impure spirit? Could others tell just by looking at him? Had others interacted with the man prior to Jesus’s arrival?

Mark 1:24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Regardless of all these questions that I can’t answer, Jesus was able to use the situation for the good of the man (he drove out the spirit) and for His own glory (He showed that even impure spirits recognize and obey Him).

Mark 1:25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that there is no way for me to have answers to all the questions of this life, but, even if I don’t know the answers, I can be sure that You are in control, that You are working all things to our good and Your glory. Thank You. Amen.

Mark 1:26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Have a blessed day.