Bible Devotion

Day 1

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 4:12–17

1.  John the Baptist was to prepare the way of the Messiah. Can you recall what his main message to the people was?

2. Why did he feel compelled to denounce the sin of adultery of a foreign ruler? (King Herod seduced the wife of his brother and after putting away his own wife, he married his brother’s wife.)

3. What was the result of his public denouncement and what can we learn from his action?

4. In this short passage, Matthew highlighted an important juncture of salvation history, as it marked the end of John the Baptist’s ministry (he was the last of the prophets, see 11:13), and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. How effective do you think John’s ministry had been in being the preparer of the way for the Messiah?

5. Now Jesus began his ministry in, of all places, Galilee:
a. According to Matthew, why did Jesus begin His ministry in Galilee?

b. From the following information, what other reasons might Jesus have in beginning His ministry in Galilee?
Galilee:
  • the most northerly district of Palestine
  • small, but densely populated — according to Josephus, there were 204 villages with no fewer than 15,000 people each [do your own math]
  • most fertile region of Palestine
  • from 8th until 2nd century B.C., it was mostly in Gentile hands
  • an area with the most Gentile influence

6. Matthew used the term “proclamation” to describe Jesus’ preaching, and it is the term used of the proclamation of a king’s edict. As such Barclay opines that the message so proclaimed had to be “certain”, “with authority” and with its sources “from the King”. How may this be applied to Jesus’ message?

7. What was His message? What might it mean to the listeners of Galilee?

8. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Who Might Be More Receptive to the Gospel?

As we seek to share the gospel with our loved ones and others within our sphere of influence, we often have a pre-determined mindset as to who might be more receptive to our sharing and who might be most hostile to our message.

In general, we lean toward sharing the gospel with the “nice guys” and tend to shy away from the more worldly ones or those who like to argue. In my years of learning to share the gospel, I have learned that this is not how the Spirit of God works.

I still remember the time I visited a Chinese restaurant owner of a small town. He seemed extremely friendly and he knew who I was and what my purpose of visitation was. And I knew his brother well too. After several visitations in which I thought I had built up a basic friendship (we talked about many things in common, almost like old friends), I thought it was time to share with him the gospel. Once I changed our conversation and talked about the gospel, he suddenly turned hostile. In fact he began to swear at me, at God and at his family. I had no alternative but to end not only my sharing, but my visitation.

On the other hand, in earlier years, when I was less confident in sharing the gospel, I bumped into another restaurant owner in a small town. Again, she knew who I was and what my purpose of visitation was, except that she made it clear she was a devout Taoist, and that I would be wasting my time in sharing the gospel with her. I was naïve enough not to give up and asked that she would give me 15 minutes to talk about the gospel as it was very dear to me and that she owed it to herself simply to know what it was about. As I sat in her rather well-decorated restaurant, surrounded by all her workers, I was rather discouraged, thinking that she was listening to me out of politeness only. Yet, at the end of my sharing (which went way beyond my 15 minutes), when I asked her dutifully what she thought of the gospel and whether she would believe in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, to my great surprise, she responded positively, in front of all her employees and gave her life to Christ right there and then!

Indeed, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16), and our job is to share faithfully to whoever is willing to listen, without prejudging them based on who they are.

Day 2

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 4:18–25

1. This was not the first time Jesus met these four young men; take a look at John 1:35-42 and get a sense of what preceded this calling by Jesus.

2. Can you imagine what might have happened to Peter and Andrew after their first encounter with Jesus in John 1?

3. Why did they respond to Jesus’s calling now and so readily?

4. How much might they have understood by being fishers of men?

5. Is using “fishers of men” an appropriate analogy of their calling by Jesus? How so?

6. What had the four given up in following Christ? What might be the toughest thing to give up?

7. What about you?

8. Matthew goes on to tell us the ministries of Jesus which were very effective and that His name grew rapidly. What did His ministries entail and why? What can we emulate of Jesus as we seek to minister to our world today?

9. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Following Christ

Sometimes, “converting” someone might be easier than helping one “follow” Christ.

It appears that because of persecution, the early believers, once they decided to believe in Christ, would be committed to follow Him till death, from their public act of baptism. Seldom would one be foolish enough to invite persecution by publicly confessing one’s faith, unless one truly believed that Jesus is the Son of God who died and had risen for our sake.

So, baptism became an instant and effective test on the genuineness of one’s faith.

But this is not necessarily the case today, especially if being a Christians invites no instant sacrifice and is even fashionable in some circles. How then can we be sure that these new converts have genuine faith — i.e. not just an intellectual faith or one that seeks temporal benefits of this life only?

Well, for one it is not up to us to judge the faith of another person. However, we must responsibly share the gospel not as a gospel of prosperity only, but one that demands total surrender to Christ, and makes Him both our Savior and Lord. Then it is up to the hearer to respond. If the hearer decides to put his or her faith in Christ, tests will come, as Jesus puts it in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:1-9), in the form of pleasure or trials. These tests will serve to prove the genuineness of their faith. It is true that some who fail their tests continue to remain as nominal believers, but we should be patient with them, because by remaining in the fold, they continue to avail themselves to the power of the Living Word. Perhaps, one day, they may still come to true repentance, especially when God allows them to face even more severe trials of life.

Day 3

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 5:1–12

This section marks the beginning of the famous Sermon on the Mount, and it begins with the Beatitudes:

1. How does the world define blessedness? How do you define blessedness?

2. The first reason for being blessed is because “theirs is the kingdom of God”:
a.  Why is one blessed because the kingdom is his or hers?

b. Is being “poor in the spirit” a must for one to be in the kingdom of God? Why or why not?
3. The second reason for being blessed is because “they will be comforted”:
a. Why do people consider that mourning is a loss and not a blessing? What might be the loss that would cause a person to mourn the most?

b. Will all who mourn necessarily be comforted? How then will a mourner not be comforted? On what basis will a mourner be willing to receive comfort and thus be blessed?
4. The third reason for being blessed is because “they will inherit the earth”:
a. What is the meaning of “inherit”? What does “inherit” not mean?

b. Who then does Jesus say will inherit the land/earth? Why? (You may want to look up Ps. 37, the theme of which is “inherit the land”.)
5. The fourth reason for being blessed is because “they will be filled”:
a. What do people go after in order to fill or satisfy their inner hunger?

b. Can they be filled? Why or why not?

c. What then is meant by hungering and thirsting after righteousness?

d. How can Jesus “guarantee” that they will be filled?

6. The fifth reason for being blessed is because “they will be shown mercy”:
a. To whom does the world like to extend mercy?

b. According to your personal experience, how different is the basis of God’s mercy from that of the world’s?

c. Do you still extend mercy to only those whom you think deserve it?
7. The sixth reason for being blessed is because “they will see God”:
a. What makes a heart impure?

b. How can one have a pure heart?

c. How does this particular beatitude speak to us concerning our daily time of seeking God?
8. The seventh reason for being blessed is because “they will be called sons of God”:
a. What does it mean to be called a “son of God”?

b. In what way does being a peacemaker resemble Jesus, the Son of God? What “peace” does Jesus make?

c. What then is the true meaning of being “peace- maker”?
9. The eighth reason for being blessed is again because “theirs is the kingdom of God”:
a. Why would one be persecuted “because of righteousness” (v.10)?

b. In v.11, whom does Jesus substitute for “righteousness” (v.10)? What is the message He is sending to these first audiences about who He is?
10. It is obvious that no one can, by themselves, live out the beatitudes, therefore the eight beatitudes as a whole, are not the “conditions” based on which one belongs to the kingdom of God. What then are the beatitudes in relation to the Kingdom of God?

11. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Incomparable Ethics

The Sermon on the Mount of Jesus has been the admiration of many great men and women in history for the last two thousand years. But did Jesus preach it to be admired? Did He teach it to be kept as the supreme standard of ethics?

Gandhi, the Father of modern India, had a high regard for the Sermon of the Mount. As he spent time reading the Bible and attending church searching for the truth in both the United Kingdom and South Africa, he came to appreciate the person of Jesus Christ and His teachings, especially the Sermon on the Mount.

However, he concluded that Christianity was only one of the great religions, but not the only true religion. It was obvious that his life had been greatly affected by what he read of Jesus Christ. His non-violent revolution reflected his understanding of the Sermon on the Mount.

However, as great a man as he was, and as close to the True Light as he once was, it is said that when he died, he confessed that he was still searching for light, but all around him was darkness.

The Sermon on the Mount indeed sets out a set of supreme ethics, but they are not to be observed. No one can live out such a perfect set of ethics. They reveal,beyond the letter of the Law of Moses, the heart of God’s perfection, so that we may thirst after Him and find Him. And for those who have found Him, it is His will that we be salt and light, exhibiting the kind of ethical living that befits the citizens of the Kingdom of heaven, so that people will be drawn to and give glory to our Heavenly Father.

Day 4

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 5:13–20

1. As we read of the analogies of us being salt and light of the world, how do these analogies relate to the beatitudes?

2. To what aspects of the analogy of the salt is Jesus referring?  How does exhibiting the beatitudes by Christians serve the function of the salt?

3. To what aspects of the analogy of the light is Jesus referring? How does exhibiting the beatitudes by Christians serve the function of light?

4. What then would you say is the responsibility of Christians in this secular world?

From v. 17 through v. 48, Jesus is talking about the Law and true righteousness (i.e. a right relationship with God) and He opens with vv. 17-20:

5. Vv.17-18: affirming the validity of the Law
a. Why can’t the law be changed in any way?

b. But why does it need to be fulfilled and how would Jesus fulfill it?

6. Vv. 19-20: The Law and righteousness
Read v. 19 carefully as it talks about two kinds of people (and one’s attitude toward the Law): There are those who break the Law and those who keep the Law.
a. Which kind of person did the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law think they belonged to and why?

b. According to Jesus, would they be able to enter into the Kingdom of heaven?  Why or why not?

c. Would those who break the Law and even teach others to do the same be like the Pharisees — i.e. they will not be able to enter into the Kingdom of heaven?  Why or why not?
7. How then can one’s righteousness surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law? (See Gal. 3:9-11.)

8. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
The Law and I

I have had the privilege of walking alongside many Christians over the years, helping them to ponder over their passion and mission in life.  One of the tools we have used is the writing of a Personal Mission Statement.  In arriving at such a statement, one of the questions we considered is what values or virtues we might hold dear.  As a result, the Personal Mission Statements, so arrived at, often reflect these values or virtues.  Quite a few Personal Mission Statements include words similar to these: “I shall live according to the Ten Commandments.”

However, as I read these or similar words in their statements, I wondered whether we still misunderstand the function of the Law.

As Paul makes it plain,
So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Gal. 3:24-25)
Indeed, the law has been divinely inspired by God, but its purpose is to lead us to faith in Christ.  Therefore, Paul reminds us that the sum or end of the law is Christ (Rom. 10:4) and the goal of the command is love (I Tim. 1:5).

In Christ, our new supervisor is love and not the law. The Old Testament Law still gives us specific reminders of God’s holy standard, but since we are no longer children (Gal. 4:1), the “law” that supervises us is that of loving God and loving our neighbors (Matt. 22:37-40).

Day 5

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 5:21–32

1. From vv. 21-48, Jesus uses a “formula” to highlight the futility of gaining righteousness by keeping the letter of the Law.  Can you detect the “formula” in vv. 21, 27, 33, 38 and v.43?

2. From the use of this “formula”, what is the error highlighted by Jesus?  Is this error common today to Christians, including yourself?

3. Vv. 21-26: On Anger
a. Refer to Exodus 20. To which commandment was Jesus referring?

b. What is the letter of this Law and what is the spirit of this Law?

c. What sin is it when we call someone Raca (literally an idiot) or a fool?

d. In OT times, when one was offering a sacrifice (to atone for one’s sin), what was he or she trying to mend?  But Jesus points out that effective atonement needs to be mended at two levels. What are they?

e. Jesus then offers very practical advice in v.25.  How did He apply the same principle to our relationship with God in v.26?
4. Vv. 27-32: On Adultery
a. Refer to Exodus 20. To which commandment was Jesus referring?

b. What is the letter of this Law and what is the spirit of this Law?

c. Jesus often uses exaggeration to hammer His point across. What is His point in vv. 29-30?  How can you apply this in your life?

d. The Jews of His time, had developed a practice called “Divorce for Any Cause”; it was commonly used by the men.  How did Jesus address their wrong in this area?
e. If divorce is only permitted based on adultery, then what would the wife be turned into (or labeled) by the husband who divorced her (even though she had not committed adultery)?
5. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
Anger

Indeed adultery is a serious sin which unfortunately has become more and more prevalent among Christians. Most Bible-believing churches still take it seriously and uphold the teaching of the Bible in this respect.  But not so, with the sin of anger!

Anger is a serious enough sin that Jesus has to mention it together with adultery in the Sermon on the Mount.  In fact, He has to mention it before adultery and equates it with murder!

If a Christian leader admits that he is constantly plagued by adulterous thoughts, he will definitely not be allowed to continue his leadership role.  But I have seen Christian leaders who are quick-tempered and yet are allowed to continue to serve in the church as if what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount does not matter.

In fact, the Scripture is full of teachings that admonish us against anger, and consider a person of anger not fit for Christian leadership.  Allow me just to quote a few such passages from the Scripture:
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” (Prov. 29:22)

“…because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:20)

“(An overseer must) not (be) given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” (I Tim 3:3)

“Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.” (Titus 1:7)
Of all kinds of Christ-likeness that we can think of, Jesus Himself only mentions two in the Bible:
“…learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” (Matt. 11:29)
What do you think His reason is?

Day 6

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 5:33–48

1. Vv. 33-37: On Taking an Oath
a. Refer to Numbers 30:2, and see what the letter of this Law is and what the spirit of this Law is.

b. What normally was the reason for their swearing, especially by pointing to heaven, earth, or Jerusalem?

c. Why then is swearing itself something that “comes from the evil one”?

d. What does it teach us when we need to impress others of our innocence or truthful words or deeds?
2. Vv. 38-42: On True Humility
a. Refer to Exodus 21:22-25: Whom does the Law address?  The victim or the judge?

b. Is the Law aimed to exact retribution or to restrict excessive retribution?
Jesus explains in vv. 39-42 the spirit of the Law:
c. Why did Jesus use the example of striking one’s cheek and not the cutting of one’s hand?

d. Why did Jesus use the example of taking one’s tunic and not the seizing of one’s children?

e. How long will it take for you to walk one mile?  Why did Jesus use the example of one mile, not ten?
3. How would you define a person who can overlook the hurt of bearable physical pain, the loss of material possession and the involuntary doing of something extra within one’s ability?  Behind all these, what might the toughest to overcome - the hurt, the loss, the inconvenience or one’s pride?

4. Vv. 43-48: On Our Enemies
a. Refer to Leviticus 19:18, and see what the letter of this Law is and what already the spirit of this Law is.

b. Jesus gives several reasons that loving one’s neighbor only is not God’s kind of love.  How does each of His reasons speak to you:
  1. Being sons of God;
  2. Not being better than tax collectors and pagans;
  3. Being perfect as our heavenly Father is.
c. What then should you do?
5. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
True Humility

In the Beatitude, Jesus says,
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.”
In essence, Jesus is not saying anything new.  He is simply repeating what has already been written in Psalm 37.  Throughout the psalm, the theme is one of “inheriting” (73: 9, 11, 18, 22 and 29).

The teaching is clear, as the people of God we look to God and God alone to provide for us and to increase our wealth.  That is the meaning of inheriting.  Whatever we have is not ours, but is given by God.

As children of God and citizens of heaven, we have to exhibit this attitude in order to be light and salt to the world.  Yes, this is not fashionable, and in fact, contrary to the secular mind.  The world teaches that if you want to get ahead, you have to be aggressive; if you want to be successful, you have to be ruthless; and if you want to be rich, you have to “leave no crackers on the table.”

In fact, the beatitudes as a whole aim to de-secularize our worldly mindset.  But the toughest is perhaps this third beatitude.  Perhaps Jesus senses the perceived impracticality of such an approach. He gives three further examples — those of turning the other cheek, letting go of even one’s own cloak and walking the extra mile.

These examples have at least two things in common:
1. They are all bearable: Jesus was not talking about the cutting off of an arm, having one’s wife or children seized, or walking an impossible distance; and

2. They all must overcome the greatest hurdle of all, pride or ego!
Therefore, if a person can overlook or put up with physical pain, the loss of material possessions and inconveniences, and, most important of all, can let go of his ego, he will truly be humble!  In fact, he will almost be invincible!

Day 7

Read slowly and reflectively the assigned passage twice at least and consider the questions below.

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 6:1–15

Almsgiving, prayer and fasting were the three great cardinal works of the religious life. Through these, the Jews thought they would be OK with God if they devoted themselves to these “acts of righteousness” (6:1).

1. Vv. 2-4: Almsgiving
a. What was the intention (i.e. the desired outcome) of their public act of almsgiving, according to Jesus?

b. While such an act would not draw reward from the Father in heaven, yet Jesus said they “have received their reward in full”.  What have they received as a reward?

c. What is meant by “the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing”?  Is it possible?  (Have you noticed that you have done something so natural and habitual to you that you are not even aware that you are doing it?)
2. Vv. 5-8: On the Wrong Prayer
a. Again, what was the intention (i.e. the desired outcome) of their public act of praying, according to Jesus?

b. While such an act would not draw reward from the Father in heaven, yet Jesus said they “have received their reward in full”.  What have they received as a reward?

c. Vv. 6-8 spells out the proper attitude of prayer which includes:
  1. Being behind closed doors (what does it mean?)
  2. Prayer is being spoken to the unseen Father (and so?)
  3. Not being like the pagans (what is the purpose of saying many words in their prayers?)
  4. Recognizing that our Father knows our need. How important is this to prayer?
  5. How should the above affect your prayer life?
3. Vv. 9-15:  On the Right Prayer

Having talked about what prayer is not, Jesus now gives us a “model” prayer.  Let’s reflect on this familiar prayer afresh and the significance of its contents:
a. Address: who is our object of prayer and where is He?

b. Why should we begin our prayer not with supplication, but with acknowledging the holiness of His name, and about His kingdom?  How would you define “adoration” within this context?

c. In supplication, why would Jesus begin with such earthly request?  How would it affect the prayer that follows?

d. Confession:  How important is it that our prayer needs to include not only confession, but having our forgiveness tied to our forgiveness of others?  Have you taken this seriously in your confession?

e. In further supplication, the focus is on sin and temptation:  How practical is this prayer of asking God to “not lead us into temptation”?  Are we not trying to pass the buck?  Why or why not?

f. Some manuscripts end with a doxology (“for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever”).  Why did Jesus teach us to end our prayer with a doxology?

g. How different is this prayer from that of the pagan to their gods?

4. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?


Meditative Reflection
On Prayer

Wanting to learn to pray is always the heart-cry of all Christians who seek to love God and it is also an area that all of us feel so inadequate.  I guess it is not something new; even the disciples of Jesus felt the need and thus asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. (Luke 11:1)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew sets the prayer that Jesus teaches against the error of some of the Jews of His days and that of the pagans.  Both took a reward approach to prayer: For some of the Jews, prayer was simply an outward “act of righteousness” (6:1), to make them feel good about themselves religiously; and for the pagans, a means to twist the arms of their gods to satisfy their wants.

While most of us do not use prayers as an “outward” act of righteousness, we often use it to gauge our own spirituality.  In a way it is right, if we love the Lord, we naturally will hunger and thirst after meeting Him in prayer.  But more and more, we gauge our spirituality based on how long we pray, and even if we can “listen” to God through our prayer. 

The meaningfulness of our prayer is far more important than its length.  Some pagans can pray for hours to their gods, and it is nothing more than a reflection of their “discipline”, which does not necessarily translate into a love relationship.

And whether God chooses to speak to us through the time of prayer, in another time, or through some other means is absolutely His prerogative.

It is interesting to note that in Luke 11, it was after having seen how Jesus prayed that the disciple asked to be taught how to pray.  This meant he longed to pray like Jesus.

In two of the recorded prayers of Jesus (John 17 and Matt. 26), the focus of Jesus’ prayers was glorifying the Father through His submission which reminds me of one of the insights of Henry Nouwen on prayers.

Nouwen likened prayer to the method of performing trapeze.  He discovered the likeness through interviewing a trapeze performer who dazzled his audience with his amazing swinging back and forth.  To Nouwen’s surprise, the performer gave total credit to his brother who grabbed hold of him every time he finished his swinging routine. He added that all he had to do was to open his hands and trust that his brother would grab him. If he tried to grab his brother instead, it might spell disaster.

Nouwen went on to liken our prayer as one of emptying our hands of things that we like to hold onto (be it self-will, preference, timing and even the way we like to see things happen).  Prayer, like that of Jesus, is a process of submission, whereby we learn to let go of things that are hindrances to our total submission to God. When we are able to extend a truly empty hand to God, He will certainly grab a hold of us.  Humans may fail us, God never will.