Today's Reading: Matthew 14: 1-12
**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 14: 1-12
Bible Study
After Jesus being rejected by the people of his hometown, we come to this dark passage of how John the Baptist was being executed. What is the purpose of Matthew to put this passage here?
N.T. Wright gives us a clue:
The meaning of Jesus' life is therefore thrown into sharp focus by this sorry little story about Herod, John and a dancing girl. It invites us not only to read on more thoughtfully, but also to examine that story of our own lives, and that of the church today. Where are we called to stand out against wickedness? What threats will we meet if we do? Or - since we can none of us assume that we should identify only with John in this story - what small weaknesses in our lives are we allowing to grow unchecked that might one day produce real wickedness? What Herod-like characteristics are lurking inside us, waiting for a chance to destroy us or others? If we can answer that question honestly, we shall understand all the more why it was necessary that Jesus should go all the way across his lonely way and, in the end, take the full weight of human wickedness upon himself.
John the Baptist was being executed, Jesus was being crucified, how about you? Are you willing to walk this lonely path with Jesus to extend his kingdom in the risk of losing your life? What are those weaknesses that could hinder our walk with Jesus in the road to the Cross?
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: Are you coming to walk with me?
What I received from Jesus today is his personal invitation to walk with him in the risk of losing our lives. You may think that I am kidding! I am not!
When I was having that wonderful Chinese dim-sum breakfast with Rev. Dr. Paul Ng and Rev. Yongman Chan in Hong Kong, they shared that a severe spiritual warfare is coming about same sex marriage. Someday, those priests may be arrested because we insisted on following the standard of God in all kinds of ethical issues. Are you ready to see me in jail because of that? Are you going to follow me in jail when the time comes?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to have the courage to walk with you in the risk of losing our everything and perhaps our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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