Today's Reading: Matthew 26: 1-13
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 26: 1-13
Bible Study
Jesus completed all his teaching and entered into the final stage of his earthly journey. There are three things happening in this passage:
1. Killing: The chief priests and the elders of the people plotted to kill Jesus.
2. Grumbling: Jesus disciples were grumbling on the woman's act of devotion using the expensive perfume to anoint Jesus.
3. Devotion: The woman's act of devotion was being praised by Jesus of what the woman had done.
We understand the killing part, but we may not understand the grumbling part. How on earth could Jesus disciples grumbled on someone special act of worship to Jesus in that critical time?
N.T. Wright gives us one sentence to think of. He says:
Jesus turns aside the grumbles and accepts the devotion.
So, it's not the "why" that we need to think of but the "how" we need to respond to. If you are under lots of grumbling, do you think you can turn aside those grumblings and accepts appreciations from other people? Do you think you can turn aside those grumblings and focus your daily intimate personal devotion to Jesus?
1. Killing: The chief priests and the elders of the people plotted to kill Jesus.
2. Grumbling: Jesus disciples were grumbling on the woman's act of devotion using the expensive perfume to anoint Jesus.
3. Devotion: The woman's act of devotion was being praised by Jesus of what the woman had done.
We understand the killing part, but we may not understand the grumbling part. How on earth could Jesus disciples grumbled on someone special act of worship to Jesus in that critical time?
N.T. Wright gives us one sentence to think of. He says:
Jesus turns aside the grumbles and accepts the devotion.
So, it's not the "why" that we need to think of but the "how" we need to respond to. If you are under lots of grumbling, do you think you can turn aside those grumblings and accepts appreciations from other people? Do you think you can turn aside those grumblings and focus your daily intimate personal devotion to Jesus?
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Your choice: Killing, grumbling or devotion?
What I got from Jesus today is an invitation to enter into a life-long safe zone, Kingdom of heaven.
We can see how those authorities want to kill Jesus. Sometime, we might make the same choice to use our authority if we have any to kill Jesus servants. To confuse, to obstruct or even to destroy Jesus Kingdom ministry. It happens everywhere in the world day after day that Christian leaders are being pulled into this darkness to do a killing job for Satan. It's so sad, and most of the time the killing job is in the name of God, just like how those authorities killed Jesus!
We can see how Jesus disciples grumbled in the most inappropriate time. A woman who used the perfume which costs one year of her wages to pour on Jesus' head. Such an honorable act of devotion and they grumbled. It's so sad! Have you recently grumbled against some people's act of using too much money to your church ministry? Can you not grumble, spreading grumbles and to bring more appreciation and acceptance to your church? What is the use of your grumble, especially your "share" your grumble with other people? Don't do anything not to glorify God please!
We can see how the woman showing her devotion to Jesus by offering one year of her wages to anoint him. Have you ever think of making an offering of one year of your wages to express your devotion to Jesus? I think once a life time we might have this call to offer an alabaster jar of perfume to honor Jesus. When it's time, do you think you can have the heart to make such kind of devotion to Jesus?
Don't make a wrong choice!
We can see how those authorities want to kill Jesus. Sometime, we might make the same choice to use our authority if we have any to kill Jesus servants. To confuse, to obstruct or even to destroy Jesus Kingdom ministry. It happens everywhere in the world day after day that Christian leaders are being pulled into this darkness to do a killing job for Satan. It's so sad, and most of the time the killing job is in the name of God, just like how those authorities killed Jesus!
We can see how Jesus disciples grumbled in the most inappropriate time. A woman who used the perfume which costs one year of her wages to pour on Jesus' head. Such an honorable act of devotion and they grumbled. It's so sad! Have you recently grumbled against some people's act of using too much money to your church ministry? Can you not grumble, spreading grumbles and to bring more appreciation and acceptance to your church? What is the use of your grumble, especially your "share" your grumble with other people? Don't do anything not to glorify God please!
We can see how the woman showing her devotion to Jesus by offering one year of her wages to anoint him. Have you ever think of making an offering of one year of your wages to express your devotion to Jesus? I think once a life time we might have this call to offer an alabaster jar of perfume to honor Jesus. When it's time, do you think you can have the heart to make such kind of devotion to Jesus?
Don't make a wrong choice!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to make a good choice to show our devotion to you that your are really our Lord, our Savior and our King. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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