Don Fredenburg
Jim Tucker
H.E. 'Hub' Bowen
Mike Coble
Ron Bowen3/23/2018
"The person that can accept me is blessed."
— Matthew 11:6
KEY THOUGHT: John's question to Jesus about his Messiahship helps prepare us for the road that lies ahead in Matthew's story of Jesus. Jesus will be repeatedly rejected and criticized for healing activities that follow. Hostility intensifies between Jesus and the religious powerbrokers of his day. They reject him. But underneath this repeated pattern is another pattern of even greater significance. While Jesus continues to heal and care for the crowds, he intensifies the training of his disciples. All that he warned them about when he sent them out to minister now comes true in his own ministry. Clearly Jesus is preparing them for the dark times ahead while at the same time placing the truth of God in their hearts to sustain them. For nearly every believer who honors Jesus as Lord, there will come a time of darkness and struggle. In those moments of doubt in the Savior's presence and grace, this statement in today's Scripture should always be a reminder that some roads the Savior walks, some roads the Savior leads us down, are hard. Some may even end in a cross, but even then, they also lead us to glory.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Most holy and powerful God, through your Spirit please help me understand the full range of Jesus' ministry. I don't want to conform Jesus to my desires. I want him to be Lord—not just on my lips, but in my heart and soul and mind. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
