Today's Reading: Matthew 16: 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 16: 1-12
Bible Study
You need to know that Pharisees and Sadducees did not like to work together. So, this is a rare time that they worked together to set a trap for Jesus to step in in order to accuse him as a false prophet.
It was somewhat like the request for you to take a test by top leaders in order that they believe that you have the ability to do what you claim you can do. If you were in Jesus position, what would you do?
This may be a natural response: I can do it! Let me show how powerful I am now!
Do you know what did Jesus do?
First, he did not listen to those leaders and did nothing.
Second, he did something in a new paradigm way. He said, "You cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be give it except the sign of Jonah."
Jesus was trying to tell them the signs he already performed should be enough for them to know that he was doing lots of miracles. If they did not understand and did not know, then they needed to understand what happened to Jonah:
1. Jonah repented and listened to God to deliver God's message to the people of Nineveh.
2. The people of Nineveh repented and listened to God for a renewal of their lives.
Jesus was hinting to those leaders to repent and listen to God but not lived in their pride and sins.
Jesus was reminding his disciples to trust in him that he is the provider. And, to give warning to them not listening to those sinful leaders and Jesus himself should be the one that they should be listening to. We will be more clearer of this point in tomorrow's passage of Peter's confession of Christ.
There are so many confusing messages in this world, are you able to know who you should listen to?
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: Who are you listening to?
What I received from Jesus today is warning in our daily listening. There are lots of decisions that we need to make each day. How do you know you have made a right decision? Who are you listening to before you make that decision?
Have we listened to the teaching and advice of those sinful people just like the Pharisees and Sadducees in this passage to have the effect as a yeast bringing bad influence to our lives.
As N.T. Wright says:
Warning against the 'leaven' of someone's teaching meant warning against ways in which the true message of God's kingdom could be corrupted, diluted, or watered down.
Who are you listening to?
How much time you can be with Jesus to make sure that you have been listening to the right person - our Lord Jesus Christ?
To go with yesterday's message, if you are abel to listen to Jesus daily then you are able to do his job, enjoy doing his job and can be able to do it well!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to be able to spend more time with you that we are really listening to you and to those you send to us to deliver your messages. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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