The Gospels through the Summer, Day 28 All authority. Read Matthew 28. As we conclude the book of Matthew, we read about the miraculous resurrection Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus Christ was dead and buried, yet God raised him up victorious over sin and death. Jesus met with his disciples to share with them and demonstrate his victory and as part of his final words to them, begins by making the statement that all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to him. What a profound statement! There is nothing in this world that is not under the authority of Jesus Christ. Nothing that happens to us,…

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 26 As you read Matthew 26, it’s quite a long chapter and a lot of different things happen during the course of this chapter. Still, verse 54 sums up the entire chapter… Jesus was obedient and fulfilled scripture. Everything Jesus did was for purpose and was because God told him to. When we think about our lives, can we say the same thing? Is everything that we do a result of Christ living and working within us?

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 25 Two destinations. Read Matthew 25. Jesus begins to share that there are two destinations that people will end at. One is heaven and the other is hell. As Jesus uses this chapter to explain the differences, we see what results in people arriving at either place. God is a loving God, but make no mistakes, he will punish sin. Are we seeking after God and all that he is or are we just expecting to be given God’s glory, regardless of how we have acted or what we have pursued in our life? We need Jesus.

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 24 Christ is coming back. Read Matthew 24. The disciples asked Jesus how they will know when he will be returning, so Jesus goes through a list of signs and ways that that they will know that he is about to return. Still, Jesus makes it very clear that no one will know the exact time when Christ will return again. Are we waiting for his return? Even though we do not know exactly when he will return, he does give us signs and points us to ways in which we see scripture being fulfilled around us. Christ is very clear that no one…

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 23 What kind of a spiritual leader are we? Read Matthew 23. As Jesus continues his teachings, he turns his focus to the spiritual leaders of the day. As these people have been leading and teaching the people of Israel, Jesus condemns them for teaching one thing and yet living out something different. He shares with them that he sees the hypocrisy that they live out and that he does not agree that what they are teaching and what they are doing match. Jesus tells the people to follow what they say, but not what they do. As leaders, it can be very easy…

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 22 Who owns what? Read Matthew 22 As Jesus goes through some intense testing, we read about how the leaders of the day were trying to trick him and get him to mess up and say something they could use to incriminate him. Jesus was perfect in what he said, just like he was perfect in everything he did. Jesus makes this statement in this verse and it is one that reminds us just how mistaken our thoughts often are when it comes to ownership. We don’t own anything. God owns it all and he allows us to share in that. As a result,…

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 21 As we continue to read through the Gospels this summer, today we are reading Matthew 21. As we see Jesus enter triumphantly at the beginning of the chapter, we then see Him continue to display his power. As Jesus is sharing, we see him referencing the fact that people can have Christ’s power in their lives. Do we have and live in Christ’s power every day? Are we bringing our prayers and our requests to Him and praying through Him in His power?

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 20 Read Matthew 20. Jesus continue sharing and gives this message to explain the idea of service. As Jesus moves through this chapter, we understand that his idea of service is a little different from what our idea of service might be. Jesus serves people with the idea of giving them what they need, not necessarily what they want. Jesus works through his gift of mercy and grace, not our idea of justice and fairness. We must continue to be focused on how we treat other people. Jesus treats people through his mercy and his grace, not our idea of justice.

The Gospels through the Summer, Day 19 Read Matthew 19. As Jesus continues to share with his disciples and with others, a young man approaches him to ask a question that many of us to day also ask. What must I do to be saved? Jesus begins by leading him through several of the commandments and laws that the man would be familiar with. Then comes the statement in this verse above. “I have kept all of these things, what do I still lack?” Many of us try to be good. We spend our lives doing the things that we feel are good and that make us a good person…