Forgiving Others; Walking Through the Valley of Death

Today’s Reading:
• Matthew 18:21 - 19:12
• Psalm 23:1 - 6

Matthew 18:21 - 19:12
Today's reading opens up with Peter asking Jesus just how many times a man should forgive another.  Jesus told Peter that the number was an astonishing 70 times 7 (18:22).  Jesus then tells Peter a story about a king who forgave his servant of a tremendous debt, only for the servant to turn around and throw another servant into jail for a much smaller debt.  The king heard about this and got angry because his servant refused to forgive another for the exact same thing he was just forgiven for.  The king's servant was thrown in jail.

Forgiving one another is a tremendous task and just saying the words doesn't account for anything.  Jesus says we must forgive from our hearts (18:35).  There are people in my life that have done me and my family some terrible wrongs.  I am certain that I am not the only person on this Earth who has had people seriously sin against them.  How do we get past that? 

I know that there are things that I am not yet past.  I do make a conscious effort to release the anger, but even though I'm not as angry anymore it doesn't mean that I have been able to forgive them yet.  How can we turn to the Lord and ask forgiveness for our sins, yet still hold our forgiveness from others?  I think this one takes a lot of praying, self reflection, and a lifetime to truly master.

Psalm 23:1 - 6
This is a very well known Psalm.  It is a favorite because of how well it demonstrates the comfort and protection of being with the Lord.  It tells of how the Lord protects us and meets our needs.  The Lord is with us -- regardless of what happens on this Earth, regardless of what happens to our bodies, regardless of who hurts us and regardless of how we die. 

This life we live is a split second in a time span that ranges all eternity.  It is brief and it is filled with suffering; but irrespective of all of that, the Lord is there to walk us through the end -- through the valley of death.

Jesus Reveals Himself as the Son of God

Today’s Reading:
• Matthew 16:13 - 17:9
• Psalm 21: 1 - 13

Read Bible Passages Online

Matthew 16:13 - 17:9
Jesus revealed that he was the Son of the Living God to his disciples.  Simon Peter was the first to be given this knowledge -- not through Jesus, but instead revealed to him through God himself.  Jesus then told his disciples that they must keep this news quiet and not tell anyone.

Jesus told his disciples that he must suffer and that he would die.  Peter found this incredulous and took Jesus aside to tell him so.  After all, Jesus was the Messiah.  He should take his worldly throne and rule.  Jesus recognized this as an attack from Satan and rebuked it.  Of course Jesus would be tempted to take this route, he is both man and God in nature.  Satan had tempted Jesus many times throughout his entire life and he always failed.

It had to be devastating for the disciples to learn what was going to happen.  It had finally been revealed to them the true nature of Jesus Christ -- he was the son of God Himself!  And then they learn that he is going to be killed and suffer greatly? 

It has been a couple millennium since Christ came to this earth so we have the benefit of hindsight.  We know that in order for us to have a relationship with God we must go through Jesus Christ, who lived a completely sinless life before being sacrificed.  The disciples didn't truly understand that, they wanted to know why Jesus, the son of God, didn't use his powers to avoid that fate.

Jesus then took Peter, James and John to a mountain.  There the face and clothing of Jesus were transformed.  The face of Jesus shone and his clothing became pure white.  Then Moses and Elijah appeared and began to talk with Jesus.  Peter was enthused and proclaimed so (did he interrupt, I wonder? It doesn't say).  Then the voice of God boomed down and proclaimed to them that Jesus was His Son.

I often wonder what it would have been like if I were alive to meet Jesus.  I can't even begin to fathom being on a mountain top with Jesus, Moses and Elijah all at once.  And then to literally hear the voice of God at the same time is just awe inspiring in thought. 

I often think how great that would be, but then I recall all the tribulations the disciples went through.  Am I happier here, living my comfy life, writing about things I already know in my heart to be truths, even though I haven't physically heard the voice of God or seen Jesus perform a miracle? 

Or would I be happier having those truths revealed to me through great miracles, visions, and by hearing the voice of God Himself and then suffering greatly for sharing what I had seen?  Even today many people suffer by spreading God's Word, many are still martyred for doing so, but from where I sit here I have the freedom to share the word of God and my thoughts without physical harm coming to me. 

It doesn't really matter, I live the life I live; I was born when God deemed me to be born into the times and country and situations He deemed me to be born into.  I will take what I have, which is a true knowledge in my heart of the existence of God and Jesus, and do what I can to share that with others.  I still know Jesus Christ, and I still know God.  I might not physically tremble as His voice booms above me, but His voice still speaks to my heart. 

Psalm 21: 1 - 13 
In this Psalm the people of the kingdom of David rejoice in the Lord for granting David's victory against their enemies.  The people proclaim that the Lord is truly great to David.  He grants David a long life, victory over his enemies, blessings, splendor and majesty.  They talk of how others who scheme against the Lord run away as soon as they realize that God is going to strike against them.  The verse further affirms how I feel -- there is no side to be on but on the side of God Almighty. 

The Phenomenal Power of Jesus Christ

Today’s Reading:
• Matthew 4:12-25
• Psalms 4:1-8

Read Bible Passages Online 

Matthew 4:12-25

Yesterday I read about the baptism and temptation of Jesus Christ, and today I read about the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew talks of the first four disciples – Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John, and how they dropped everything immediately and followed him.

Can you imagine just dropping everything you know in a very instant to follow someone, to devote your life to them, to change everything you know? That’s the awesome power Jesus Christ has! We then got to read about how Jesus cured everything … everything! Diseases, demon possession, blindness – you name it, he cured it. The power there is just phenomenally awesome. No wonder he had huge crowds following him wherever he went – I would have been in those crowds, too.

Psalms 4:1-8

There is much good advice in this Psalm. It talks about how sin occurs when you let anger control you, which is so very true. How often do you say and do things that you shouldn’t, just because you were angry? My favorite part of the Psalm, however, is this verse 4:7

“You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvest of grain and new wine”

It is always joyful knowing that you have the Lord with you, no matter what the situation or what you’re going through, and that he always have a plan for you, as long as you “trust the Lord” (4:5).