Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matt. 10:29-31 CSB). As Jesus sends the twelve...
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38 CSB). Jesus is speaking in terms readily understandable to his listeners who lived in an agricultural culture. We...
A scribe approached him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matt. 8:19-20 CSB). This scribe is an aspiring disciple, declaring his intent...
“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8 CSB). This passage -- indeed, every Bible passage...
No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matt. 6:24 CSB). The word “serve” in this verse is the Greek word douleuō, which refers to...
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matt. 5:6 CSB). Be honest - do you constantly hunger and thirst for righteousness? When your yearning for God begins to fade, do not ignore or deny that feeling…admit it. Ask the Lord to rekindle your passion for...
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1 CSB). Jesus now faces one of the greatest challenges in his earthly life: the 40-day wilderness ordeal of fasting and temptation. How did he pass the test? With his deep-rooted, unwavering reliance...
When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, ”This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17 CSB) The...
And there it was-the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy (Matt. 2:9b-10 CSB). The star that guided the wise men moved with remarkable precision, leading...
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel” which is translated God is with us. (Matt. 1:22-23 CSB) Seven centuries before Christ’s birth, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would...