Day 12 - The NT Challenge

Matthew 26

I thought it was rather interesting today that two very important people to the story remained un-named in Matthew's account. I kind of think that it was because the WHAT was was so much more important than the WHO - especially in these cases.

A woman anoints Jesus with precious perfume and a man offers his house for Jesus to honor Passover. It didn't really matter who they were. In fact, if we knew who they were that might take some of the focus off what they did. The woman's anointing gave Jesus the smell of an anointed King that probably lasted up until his very burial. The man opened up the opportunity for Christ to try one final time to explain what was about to happen to this rag-tag group of followers who were about to be swept into the greatest battle ever played out between good and evil.

Sometimes, does the WHO really matter at all?

Lord, help me to be willing to be part of the WHAT rather than worrying about being a WHO.

Information about the anointing taken from Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Spangler and Tverberg


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Day 11 - The NT Challenge

Matthew 23 - 25

In this section, Christ lays out the events of the final days. Never before did I realized the clarity with which Christ spoke of the final days. For some reason I always thought that the detail came only from Revelations!

One thing from chapter 23 that stood out the most was in the "woes" to the Pharisees. I think it stood out because it is something that I struggle with - wether it is as a Bible teacher at school, a mentoring leader with the girls, a women's ministries coordinator, or a ladies speaker - it is just a small statement, but it holds such a harsh accusation. . .

"They preach, but they do not practice."

In the context, Christ is pointing out to the Pharisees how horridly they were leading their Jewish followers astray, but in those seven little words, He sums up the major problem with not just their outlook on ministry, but on their inability to look inside themselves.

Dear Lord,
Please help me to practice what I preach. To not be just a listener, but a doer. To be sure I'm not a pretty teacup that's filthy and gross on the inside making myself totally unusable by your and unprofitable for those to whom I am sent to minister.
Amen




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Day 10 - The NT Challenge

Matthew 21- 22

Loved how in Matthew 21 Jesus curses the fig tree, and the tree has enough sense to wilt. And yet in the next verses, the arrogant Pharisees have the audacity to challenge Christ. The created thing has more sense than the created person.

Lord, please help me to keep in mind that I am your creation and should respond as such.

It's kind of sad how in Matthew 22, the Sadducees apparently spent so much time crafting the perfect question, that had they spent the same time trying to get to know The Lord, they would have understood Him much better. The Pharisees weren't much better, they spent their time following Him around, and had they used all that time in His presence wisely, imagine how much closer they would have been to Him.
Even today, it isn't just about me spending time thinking about Him or hanging out with Him, it's about me getting closer to Him.
Lord, please help me to use my time with you more wisely.
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Day 9 - The NT Challenge

Matthew 18 - 20
A lot is mentioned about being a servant to those around you, but there were two things that stood out most to me:
20:15 "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?"
How often do I get upset - or at least a little irked - when someone seems to be blessed more than I am? How pathetic is it that I am doing the same thing as the workers in Christ's parable?! They felt like they should be able to dictate where the Lord's blessing is given - that if it isn't given to them in the amount they feel is right, well, they should definitely speak out about it.
I need to learn to be grateful for what I've been given, and not "begrudge His generosity" to others.
20:32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"
I love the fact that Jesus knew exactly what the blind men wanted, actually what they needed, but He still asked them. Jesus knows my every need, but He desires me to ask Him. He's standing there saying, "Darlene, what do you want me to do for you?" What will be my response? Something superficial? Something easy? or Something amazing?!
Dear Lord,
There is so much that I want for you to do for me, but while I wait for your perfect timing, help me not to begrudge what you are doing for those around me as if there is some limit on your available goodness and blessing.
Amen
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Day 8 - The NT Challenge

Matthew 15 - 17
"This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

All I can say is OUCH! The Lord has such a clear understanding of where we (who am I kidding - where I) struggle the most. The knowing and the doing / The believing and the acting. . .


I can so relate to the disciples! Not that long ago, they had see the Lord feed 5000 with five loves and and 2 fishes. Here they are now faced with feeding 4000 people (LESS) with seven loaves and a few fishes (MORE) and they still say that they can't do it! Sometimes my spiritual memory is ever so short. . .

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The NT Challenge - Day 7

Matthew 12 -14
Wow! I really kind of sympathize with the disciples! Jesus just lays out one parable after another and they are supposed to be catching them all! There heads must have been swimming, but they faithfully followed on.
Lord, may I be that steadfast even when I feel like one of your slow learners!
(14) I didn't realize that just before the feeding of the 5000, Jesus had gotten word that John the Baptist had been killed. Here He is, in mourning, and this mob is following Him, and instead of telling them to go away or getting frustrated, He has compassion on them! What a Savior!
I just love Peter's daring impulsiveness! It speaks to the very heart of me! It makes me laugh to read the account of the walking on the water! He ASKES to be called out of the boat, but then his focus is distracted away from the Lord and down he goes! I love how the Lord didn't lecture or chide, but He merely asked the question that needed to be asked, and answered, "Why did you doubt?". So often that same question could be asked of me. . .
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