Who is He?

When Jesus entered Jersusalm, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Matthew 21:10-11

As Jesus made his final march into Jerusalem toward the cross, the people of the city were asking the right question "Who is this?" Unfortunately the excited pilgrims who shouted "Hosanna" were giving an incomplete answer. Jesus is indeed a prophet but the term prophet alone falls far short of an adequate answer. Peter got it when He answered Jesus' similiar question with this declaration: "You are the Christ, the son of the living God" (16:15-16). From a prophet we can receive wise words. From the Son of God we can receive salvation and life. Our answer to this question makes all the difference. Do we really know who the One we are praising is?

Father, I thank you that you have allowed me to see and know Jesus as Your Son and my Savior. Continue to increase my knowledge of Him that I might not fall short of embracing Him fully for who He is.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

"The crowd rebuked them [the two blind men] and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'" Matthew 20:31

The blind men believed something about Jesus that the rest of the crowd did not. They believed that Jesus would care about them and respond to their call. So with persistent faith they continued to call in spite of the crowds discouragement. And Jesus did care! He stopped, called them, spoke with them, had compassion on them, and He healed them! Do we so believe in the compassion of Jesus for our own lives and the lives of those near us?

Father, I do believe in the compassion of Jesus and pray that I might come to believe as fervently as these blind men. May the discouraging voice of the world or that of my own heart never dim my belief in Your great love and power.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

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

After watching the rich young man walk away without Christ and hearing Christ's comments on salvation, the disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus' answered that it is impossible for any person to be saved by his own doing but with God the glorious work of salvation (i.e. forgiveness, new life, citizenship in heaven) is possible in the life of any person. We have experienced salvation and have seen it occur in the lives of others but we may fail to realize that what seems like so simple a transaction on the outside is in fact an amazing, miraculous work of God.

Father, thank You for the miracle of salvation that you have worked in my life. Open my eyes to realize and rejoice in the wonder that every saved person is evidence that You are at mightily at work in the world.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

How Great a Debt

"Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" - Matthew 18:33

Jesus tells the parable of a servant who was forgiven of a great debt, yet refused to cancel the debt that was owed to him. In this parable Christ is illustrating what he had previous modeled in the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." -Matthew 6:12. Just like our debt of sin, ten thousand talents would have been impossible for this servant to repay. In Christ we have been forgiven for the insurmountable wage of our sins. For this reason we are called to forgive those who have wronged us. The motivation for and power behind this kind of forgiveness is love. “. . . it (love) keeps no record of wrongs.” - 1 Cor. 13:5

Father, thank you for loving me enough to send your Son to the cross to pay my debt of sin. Reveal to me anyone who I need to forgive and help me to show them the same kind of limitless love you have shown me.

I'm praying for you.

Matt Moore

Jesus Alone

"When they looked up; they saw no one except Jesus." Matthew 17:8

Moses and Elijah were heroes of the Jewish faith so Peter's intent to treat them as equals to Jesus is understandable since he had not yet experienced the resurrection of Jesus. They were still learning that Jesus stands alone. He alone is the unique, beloved Son. He alone is the Savior. He is to stand alone in our faith, affections, and allegiance. In all likelihood, we who know Jesus on this side of His resurrection are also still learning His uniqueness and learning to allow Him to stand alone in our life.

Father, continue to revel Jesus' glory to my eyes and speak of His uniqueness to my ears until He fully holds His rightful place in my understanding, devotion, faith, and service.

"...on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Matthew 16:18

"Who needs the church anyway?" Apparently Jesus does! He builds it and empowers it to accomplish His mission. He assures that His church, made of those who confess Him as Peter did, will stand triumphant so that hell itself will not be able to withstand its offensive. How awesome to belong to Christ's church!

Father, I thank you for including me in the triumphant church of Jesus Christ. Make our church what what Christ intends for it to be as we submit our lives to Him.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

"Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion for these people...'"
Matthew 15:32

Compassion (deep-seated concern and care) was a driving principle in Jesus' ministry (see also 9:36 & 14:14). The first principle in Jesus life was obedience to the Father. But this obedience was not a drudgery because it was mixed with love for the Father and compassion for people. With compassion he healed the sick, fed the hungry, taught the masses, developed disciples, and sent out witnesses to the lost. We are the recipients of His compassion and as His life fills us we will become instruments of His compassion to the people around us.

Father, I rejoice in the compassion that drove Jesus to the cross for me and I pray that His compassion for those around me will be more and more manifest in my own life.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark