God in the Storm

16The waters saw you, God,

the waters saw you and writhed;

the very depths were convulsed.

17The clouds poured down water,

the heavens resounded with thunder;

your arrows flashed back and forth.

18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,

your lightning lit up the world;

the earth trembled and quaked.

19Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen. (Psalm 77:16-190

Thoughts: This is talking about how God redeemed His people through a storm.  God brought a storm- a hurricane like whirlwind to open up the waters for the Israelites to go through and escape the Egyptian army.  It was by a hurricane that God made a path to help His people.  Now, God, even though He was obviously answering prayers, did not make Himself visible.  He was there though His footprints were not seen.  God uses storms to not just punish us (which He also has the power to do), but also to help us.  Sometimes in the hard times God shows Himself. 

Prayer: Lord, in the storms that I face, may I see your hand leading and guiding me.  

A Song I wrote about hope in the hurricanes of life:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhlZcOk7L4Y

The Secondary Place of Family

29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife^e or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)

Thoughts: Sometimes we tend to marry family with God so much that we can easily forget that family is not God.  This passage reminds us that family is a blessing.  But God can bless us when we choose Him to be first in our live.  No person, however important, can take the place of God.  So when a child dies or a spouse divorces/leaves, we do not give up on God.  We do not worship our parents.  Parents die too, and we still should keep the faith.  Those who are able to hold lightly to those God has placed around us, will do well.  The balance is to love but not to love in the place of God.  A soldier who is not willing to leave family to answer their call to post would not be a good soldier.  A Christian who cannot leave family to serve, values their own comfort above their call and the kingdom suffers for lack of devotion.  In the end, the soldier goes to defend family.  So the Christian serves Christ for the good of all including their family.  Family values gain strength when we value God first. 

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to answer your call and trust your blessing and value your will.  

Twelve Thrones

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)

Thoughts: Jesus calls the Day of the Lord at the end of history as "The Renewal of All Things."  In other words- things will be given new life, hew hope, new energy, made new again- made young again.  This is a day to look forward to.
    He promises that they will be given 12 thrones- one for each of them.  In John's vision of Revelation he saw these twelve thrones circled around God's great throne (Rev. 4:4; 21:12-14).  In the end, they throw their crowns before God- giving them up to Him.  Any reward we have is not something we have earned, but a gift from God who gives us all talent, ability, opportunity, grace, and desire. 

Prayer: Lord, I cast my crown before your great crown.  

What's In It For Me?

27Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27)

Thoughts: Peter was good at giving things up, but he also second guessed himself continually.  He was good about getting out of the boat, but then he sank in the water.  He was good at saying he would never forsake Jesus, but then he denied him three times.  So here Peter speaks of leaving everything, but then asks, "What's in it for me/"  Jesus was beyond patient and gracious.  Peter was talking about all he would give up, when Jesus gave up heaven and would give up his life.  However, Jesus was not beyond wanting his disciples to have hope and to believe in a reward.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to have hope without fear.  Help me to follow you no matter what.  

God Does the Impossible

26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Thoughts: Jesus was saying salvation is impossible by human effort alone.  But God can save because of His grace and power through the cross of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to make the impossible possible.
    But this is a principle in scripture found in other places and confirmed here.  Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15).  The angel told Mary when she asked "how can this be since I am a virgin?", that all things are possible with God. Paul took this a tiny step further when he said, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13).  
     This is not saying God will do the illogical- like make a rock so big He cannot move it.  Truth, reality and God's will merge together against such silliness.
     But it does indicate that God can do the unusual to save us- including coming down to earth and dying on the cross for our sins.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the hope we have in you.  Thank you that this hope goes beyond the probably and what we view as possible here.  

Who can be saved?

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25)

Thoughts: Jesus said it was hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.  The disciples responded like no one could enter at all.  With man it is impossible.  God made it possible to come to His kingdom through Jesus.  The disciples were astonished abut Jesus' restricting the kingdom like this.  So many people assume that because we are simply born we deserve to be in heaven.  But such an attitude downplays our own sin and waters down the perfection of heaven.  Heaven is a perfect place and we are not  a perfect people.  We need forgiveness, and God came down in Jesus to give it to us.  The only way to be saved is to be forgiven of our sins.  Whosoever will come to Christ will be saved.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you came to make the hard and impossible possible. 

The Rich and the Eye of a Needle

24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)

Thoughts: There is an opening in an eye of a needle, but it is not that big.  Now some scholars say "the eye of a needle" was just a small gate and a camel had to bend down to get through it.  This implies we need to bend our necks in homage and worship to come to God.  Camels don't bend their necks easily.  Either way, Jesus point is the same- it is hard, and it takes more effort for those who have a lot to hold onto it gingerly and to be generous.  The more money you have, the more you see what money can do for you- and can multiply for you.  But the point of life is not just multiplying money.  Love, kindness, faith and hope make life far more meaningful.  If you have all the money in the world but you aren't loved and you are selfish, life can be very lonely.  The monument and legacy you make to yourself is shallow without faith hope and love.  Yet, if the rich become generous to the best causes the rich can be true blessings in life.  

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the wealthy.  We ask you to have mercy on their souls, We ask that you would bless the wealthy with a great sense of generosity.