Bible Devotion

Day 1

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 9:1–13

As each Gospel writer is inspired to put a slightly different emphasis on certain events, we find that Matthew skips the more graphic details of the opening up of the roof, but focuses on the exchange between Jesus and the scribes in this town of Capernaum. It is now called Jesus’ own town and He has chosen it to be His base of ministry:

1. Why did Jesus tell the paralytic to “take heart”? Why was his heart being weighed down?

2. Why did Jesus charge the scribes as having “evil thoughts”?

3. Compare the two acts – the healing of the paralytic and the forgiveness of his sin:
a. Which is easier to say?

b. Which is easier to actually perform? (Can God forgive just anyone? What is His basis for forgiveness? See 1 Jn. 1:9.)
4. Why could the power to heal prove Jesus’ authority to forgive?

5. What does Matthew aim to tell us about Jesus in this miracle?

6. From this account about Matthew himself, can you describe the kind of life a tax collector might have? Take time to think of someone that you know who might live a life quite similar to that of Matthew. How hard might it be for that person to become a Christian? Why?

7. Why then would he follow Jesus immediately upon being called?

8. What did Matthew do right after he became Jesus’ disciple? Why did he not cut off all ties with friends of his former circle? (Many commentators tell us that the term, sinners, refers to prostitutes).

9. Ask yourself, if you were one of the Pharisees would you feel comfortable about Matthew and his circle of friends and their lifestyle? Would you also wonder why Jesus would willingly be part of such a dinner?

10. As a Christian, what might be the kind of people with whom you will not feel comfortable in associating?

11. Mull over the reply Jesus gave in v. 12-13. How should it affect your attitude toward reaching people who might make Christians uncomfortable?

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

Meditative Reflection
Friends of Sinners

It is not uncommon for Christians who wear their faith on their sleeves to come across friends or acquaintances who are of a rather worldly type and who feel uncomfortable in their presence. You might have even heard them say, “I guess I should not swear now that he (or she) is here.” You might take it as a compliment and rightly so, as long as it does not also steer them away from you.

I have an acquaintance who is exactly of this worldly kind — he works in the service industry and is a gambler and a swearer. When he came to know that I was a pastor, he felt somewhat uncomfortable with me. Then because of work, he could not avoid my presence and had to interact with me. Given time, he felt more comfortable with me, and at times, uttered a few words of obscenity which is part of his vocabulary. But one day, he made a comment out of nowhere: “You are really a kind person; you speak to people in such a fatherly gentleness.”

As light and salt for the Lord, our very presence and our life may make others uncomfortable, but I do not believe who we are as Christians will necessarily alienate us from non-Christians. Yes, we do not compromise our integrity and godliness (e.g. I do not gamble with this acquaintance of mine) and this will necessarily create a gap between us. But our gap can be bridged by our love, given time.

This reminds me of a Christian who had a very poor relationship with her mother-in-law. As in most cases, both had contributed to the poor relationship. But this Christian earnestly prayed for a chance to reconcile, and it appeared that whatever she did was not good enough in the eyes of her mother-in-law, until one day, her mother-in-law fell ill with a serious sickness. As she sacrificially cared for her, without a word of complaint over a long period of time, she was so happy to tell me one day that her mother-in-law had reconciled with her. Love does bridge the gap of differences.

Day 2

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 9:14–26

1. In vv. 16-17, read carefully the parable of a new (unshrunk) cloth on old garment, and new wine in an old wine skin. What then does Jesus refer to as an old garment or an old wine skin? What then is the new patch or new wine?

2. Now if Jesus represents the new, in what sense is it (He) new?

3. Now if the Law of Moses is old, then in what sense is the Law old?

4. Refer to vv. 14-15 (on the issue of fasting). Why is fasting in the presence of Jesus like mixing the old with the new?

5. Jesus did leave them for a while, but now the Holy Spirit has come and dwells in each believer. Has fasting then become “new” again, or does it remain (part of the) “old”? What was the purpose of fasting by the disciples of John and the Pharisees that made it “old”?

6. Based on what you have read so far in Matthew, how did the rulers of the synagogue view Jesus? Why then did this ruler choose to fall at Jesus’ feet?

7. Why did Jesus choose to revive the little girl only in the presence of a few disciples and the parents? Why would He exclude the wailing crowd from this?

8. What would be the physical condition of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years? (See Lev. 15:19-24.)

9. Apart from her health problem, try to describe her other conditions, physical, emotional and spiritual (i.e. attitude toward God).

10. Jesus said the same to the woman, as He did the paralytic, “Take heart”. What was He trying to say to the woman?

11. Is there anything that is weighing you down today? Can you hear Jesus say “take heart” to you today?

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

Meditative Reflection
Take Heart

I really find it comforting that in both the healing of the paralytic and the healing of the bleeding woman in Matthew 9, Jesus preceded his healing with the words, “Take heart”.

It is easier to understand what has weighed down the woman who has been bleeding for 12 years — the constant dizziness and weakness, the ceremonial uncleanness — all caused the woman not to have a life at all (not to mention that in Mk. 5, we learn that she has spent all her money on doctors!) She has been weighed down physically, emotionally and spiritually as well (she was considered unclean to men and God).

But we know less about the paralytic, except in Mark 2 where we learn that he had four good friends who helped lower him down from the roof because of the crowd. But in this case, Jesus gave him the reason for him to “take heart”. It was because his “sins are forgiven.”

Indeed, the only thing that should weigh us down is sin. The woman might have her weight of ill health lifted with her healing, but there are plenty of worries in life awaiting her. The same with the paralytic—his weight of not being mobile and permanent dependency on others might be lifted by his healing, but there will be many challenges in life awaiting him as well.

But if our relationship with God is restored, we shall be able to enjoy peace that transcends all understanding. (Phil. 4:7)

Day 3

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 9:27–38

1. Why did Jesus choose to heal the two blind men only when He had gone inside the house? Did it have anything to do with Matthew’s comment in v. 26 and v. 31?

2. What does it say to us about the focus of Jesus?

3. Why did Jesus ask if they believed? And what is meant by, “According to your faith will it be done to you”?

4. Are you exercising faith as you face your challenges in life?

5. Matthew is recounting Jesus’ ministry on earth, and he describes it geographically — “went through all the towns or villages (of Galilee).” What does it mean to you?

6. He also describes it sequentially: teaching, preaching and healing. What kind of a model did Jesus set in terms of evangelism?

7. Behind His activities (or ministries), Matthew describes also His heart:
a. What did Jesus see in these people and what does it mean?

b. What does this say about the people of today?

c. What is the motive behind His ministry?

d. What can we learn, then from Jesus, when it comes to our sharing of the gospel?
8. Has what Jesus said in v. 37 changed much? Does the problem remain the same, or has it worsened? Why?

9. What would you have expected Jesus to say to the disciples given the situation (of shortage of workers)?

10. Why then did He urge the disciples to ask the Lord of Harvest (i.e. pray about the situation) instead?

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

Meditative Reflection
Short-term Mission

As much as many short-term mission trips have changed their focus these days, short-term missionaries are a mighty army that God has raised in these days to penetrate through many regions not open to conventional missionaries.

When I say that their focus has changed, I am referring to the change from direct sharing of the gospel to merely pre-evangelistic work of cultural exchange, friendship building or service-oriented projects. Some of these changes are justified in that in regions hostile to Christianity, this is not only a prudent way but, in some cases, the only way they could have contact with Christianity.

However, in regions not hostile to the gospel, service-oriented only projects only serve to smooth the egos of believers, making them feel good about themselves. Whether in hostile or non-hostile regions, the eventual goal of any short-term mission should be the saving of souls. As much as pre-evangelistic missions are necessary, if such remain at a purely pre-evangelistic level year after year, a re-thinking or reassessment is in order.

Day 4

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 10:1–20

1. Read this passage carefully. Do you get a sense that this was a message just for their immediate assignment or for the longer term? Why?

2. If you were one of the Twelve, and were given such authority, how would you feel? But with respect to the preaching part, were they “qualified” to preach? How much did they know? Did it really matter?

3. What might be the reasons for reaching the Jews only, and not the Gentiles, not even the Samaritans? Do you think this particular instruction affected how they perceived the Great Commission in the early part of the Book of Acts?

4. Jesus was very specific in His instructions of not taking anything for the journey. Should this principle be applied to us today?

5. What about the instruction to stay in one house (instead of moving around)? What was the purpose of such an instruction?

6. Was the shaking of dust too harsh a treatment against those who rejected them? Why or why not? What was the message here?

7. Did the Twelve include Judas? How then could he also perform miracles?

8. Why would Jesus describe such a mission as one of sending sheep among wolves? What is then the message of being shrewd and yet innocent? What does it mean?

9. What is the context within which the promise of the Spirit speaking through them is given?

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

Meditative Reflection
A Faith Ministry

Most Christian para-church ministries will describe themselves as ministries of faith, meaning that they believe that their ministries are in response to the calling of God and as such they are committed to depend on God for their financial resources. Such an understanding is absolutely biblical — biblical in terms of both the teachings and examples taught in the Scripture.

But a more detailed look at the teachings and examples from the Scripture in this respect will point us even more directly to the ministers themselves in the first place. Abraham obeyed the call of God to uproot and he embarked on a journey marked by faith (Gen. 12). Elijah obeyed the call of God to flee to Kerith and he lived by faith (1 Ki. 17). And, Jesus called His disciples and they obeyed and lived by faith (Matt. 10).

However, modern-day theology in the West downplays the essence of faith in being a minister of the gospel in the guise of financial prudence. I am not advocating that the church should not look after their pastors responsibly, nor that the pastor can ruthlessly and irresponsibly plunge the church into a financial crisis in the guise of faith. But the fact remains, if a ministry is of God, He will hold Himself responsible, and if a minister is called by God, one of the tests of his or her calling is whether God will provide for their financial needs. God does not change and neither will His Word.

This is why when a student intern who had a clear sense of calling into full-time ministry chose to live on student-loans as he quit his job and entered into seminary, I strongly advised him against it. If God had called him into full-time ministry, He would have provided all that he needed (not all that he wanted though). If he could not trust God to provide for his needs while he was still single, how could he trust God to provide when he has a family? How can he teach the people to trust in God when he pastors a church?

I know that by ourselves we will not have faith — enough to embark on a journey like Abraham or Elijah, but I do trust that if God is the one who calls, He will also grant us faith — enough to finish the mission He entrusts to us.

Day 5

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 10:21–42

In sending the Twelve to preach the good news of the Kingdom, Jesus appears to be giving instructions beyond the immediate tasks and foretells of persecution that will be suffered because of Him. (10:22)

1. Vv. 21-23: The Severity
a. How severe will the persecution be? Can you recall present or recent event(s) in history that echoes its severity?

b. Why would people react so violently to the gospel?

c. While Jesus urges us to stand firm, but He also advises us to flee. Why? Does v. 23 give us a clue?

d. According to R.T. France, “The Son of Man comes” appears to be “an echo of Daniel 7:13 which does not speak of the ‘son of man’ coming to earth, but rather [of His] coming to God to receive authority.” (TNTC, Matthew, 184) What then is the core message of this encouragement?
2. Vv. 24-25: It comes with the territory.
a. Have you ever taken this meaning of following Christ seriously?  Why or why not?
3. Vv. 26-31: “Do not be afraid”—this segment begins and ends with this same encouragement.
a. Reason #1: Nothing will be hidden —The message appears to be that if you do not preach, the message will still be made known.

b. Reason #2: Our soul cannot be killed — Only God can kill both body and soul; our persecutors cannot, Satan included!

c. Reason #3: Even our body is precious to Him — more precious than sparrows.
Which of the above reasons is most helpful so that you will “not be afraid” of persecution?

4. Vv. 32-39: A choice that we must make:
a. Vv. 32-33: to acknowledge Him or not to

b. Vv. 34-38: a sword before peace

c. Vv. 39: which life to choose
For disciples of the first several centuries and for today’s Christians in hostile regions, these tests are real. What then would be the reason that they will acknowledge Christ till the end? For most modern-day Christians, we do not have to face severe persecution, how then can we make known our choice to God and to the world?
5. Vv. 40-42: The reward
a. Why does Jesus call His disciples, “the little ones”?

b. In using a cup of cold water, how does Jesus clarify the meaning of “receive” in this context?
6. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?


Meditative Reflection
Martyrdom

It is all too easy to consign the age of the martyrs, the church of the martyrs, to the past, to that period of time with its gladiatorial contests and amphitheatre sports, which came to a conclusion around the beginning of the fourth century. The term ‘martyr’ has come to refer to only this period. But as we all must know and recognize, martyrdom did not suddenly cease in the fourth century. In our own times the mention of but two names must serve to remind us that the twentieth century is a century of martyrdom, an age of martyrs just as that past age was. For many Anglicans the vicious death of Archbishop Janani Luwum, during the ghastly period when Amin was president of Uganda, brought home the fact that Christian believing and commitment can still lead to murder and death. Likewise, in Central America, the sudden shooting down of Archbishop Oscar Romero in his own church as he celebrated Eucharist brought shock and sadness to many Roman Catholics and other Christians.

These two deaths focus only on what is presently happening in this century of the church’s existence. It is no more nor less than what happened in the first four centuries or indeed in any age — The fact is, there are many people in our world who have given their lives unto death for the sake of Jesus Christ and his gospel. We live in an age of martyrdom; for those of us who live in areas where our profession of faith is not a direct threat to our lives, we should do well to reflect that within the same family and fellowship — that body of believers throughout the world — there are those who face such a possibility daily.

(Source: David Hope, Friendship with God)

Day 6

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 11:1–19

1. John was born for the mission of the one preparing the way of the Messiah (11:10); he witnessed the testimony of the Father and the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ baptism and he publicly declared Him as the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29-34). Why did he doubt that Jesus was the Messiah now? What had changed?

2. Jesus used Isaiah’s prophecy, but not entirely, about Himself (61:1-3; 35:5-6) in His reply to John. What was missing that would be very personal to John’s immediate situation and which might have caused John to “fall away” and doubt?

3. Jesus appears to be using three distinct phases to refer to the advancement of the Kingdom:

(i) the days of the prophets to John,
(ii) from John till now (John’s baptism of repentance) and
(iii) from Jesus onward.
a. What are the roles of the three phases?

b. What role did John the Baptist play that made him the greatest “among those born of women”? In what sense was he the “greatest”?

c. The third phase is distinctly different from the two earlier phases which were in preparation for it. Why is it then that “he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John?” In what sense is that one “greater”?

d. In vv. 7-9, what did Jesus present John as - a gentle or forceful person?

e. How different was Jesus from John? How might this difference have caused John to doubt?
4. Jesus contrasted the wisdom of the generation then with His wisdom and that of John. With these words, did Jesus approve or disapprove of John and his ministry? Why?

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

Meditative Reflection
Different Roles for the Kingdom of God

In Matthew 11:16-19, Jesus ends His comments about John the Baptist with words of rebuke to the generation then, for they had rejected both the ascetic and forceful ministry of John and the celebrative and gentle ministry of Jesus. In so doing, Jesus is not only chastising the people, but also affirming both John's ministry and His, even though John's ministry differed from His by filling a preparatory role for Jesus.

However, it remains a rather shocking thing that John would doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, at a time like this. His own miraculous birth and commissioning, the testimony of his own mother, Elizabeth, the testimony he himself witnessed of the Father and of the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ baptism, all led him to affirm and publicly declare Jesus as the Lamb of God.

How then would he end up doubting Jesus when he was in prison? Some scholars opine that it was Jesus’ celebratory lifestyle that caused him to doubt. John was too austere a person to comprehend a Messiah who would not fast. In fact, Jesus did fast, but not as frequently as John did, and certainly not as openly as he and his disciples would have liked. Worse yet, Jesus appeared not to impose fasting as a must on His own disciples. This was perhaps too much for John.

Here is a lesson for us today. There is not one set way of spirituality for all God-loving Christians. Throughout the centuries, there are saints who are called to a life of asceticism and contemplation. There are saints who devote themselves to a life of action, reaching the pagans in the most remote regions of the earth. There are saints who devote themselves to changing political and social systems that are evil. There are saints who devote their lives serving the poor. There are saints who give themselves to witness for Christ in their workplace and career. There are saints’, while living an ordinary life in the world, devote their lives in intercession for the Kingdom of God, and in waiting for the Lord’s return. As long as they are true to their calling and the role given to them by God, they should not envy or criticize those who serve a different role in the Kingdom.

Day 7

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

Scriptural Reflection
Matthew 11:20–30

1. Find Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum on a Bible map.

2. What privilege did they have over other regions according to Jesus and according to Isaiah 9:1-2?

3. Why should they have repented? Why did they not?

4. Do you know what Sodom, Tyre and Sidon had in common, geographically (look up your Bible’s map), racially, spiritually and in terms of their fate?

5. Why would Jesus say that they would have responded differently?

6. V. 25 begins with “at the time” and it seems what follows is a result of Jesus’ lament in vv. 20-24:
a. In light of this, what was the problem with the people of these three Galilean cities?

b. Who might be the little children (see 10:42) by contrast?

c. By using the words “hidden” and “reveal”, what is shown as the key of knowing God?
7. In responding to the invitation of Jesus to come to Him, we have to

(i) acknowledge or are aware that we are weary and burdened,
(ii) exchange our yoke and our burden for His, and
(iii) learn from Him:
a. What are the causes of our weariness and burden?

b. Why does resting in Jesus have to involve an exchange of yoke and burden and not simply getting rid of ours?

c. Before we can find rest for our souls, why must we also tie our rest to learning from Jesus who is gentle and humble?
d. What is meant by the rest given by Jesus?
8. What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Meditative Reflection
At Peace with GOD

But what are your delights to be?
And they shall delight in abundance of peace:

Peace, your gold;

Peace, your silver;

Peace, your property;

Peace, your life:

Peace, your God.

Peace will fulfill your every desire. For what is here gold cannot become your silver; what is wine cannot become your bread; your light cannot become your drink also. Your God shall be all to you. He will be your meat that you hunger not; your drink that you do not thirst; your enlightening, that you be not blind; your stay and support, that you do not falter. Himself whole and entire, he will possess you whole and entire. You will not feel cramped for space in possessing him with whom you possess all else besides. You shall have all and he shall have all, because you and he shall be one. This complete whole will be his who possess you.

(St. Augustine, First Discourse on Psalm 36)

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