That evening people brought to Jesus many people that had demons inside them. Jesus spoke and the demons left the people. Jesus healed all the people that were sick. Jesus did these things to make happen what Isaiah the prophet said: "He took away our diseases and carried away our sicknesses." - Matthew 8:16-17
Matthew continues to show us Jesus' power over what destroys our lives. Interestingly, it is Jesus' touch and word that are so powerful in these stories. His touch seems to be more of a demonstration of God's love, while his word is a demonstration of his authority and power.
Matthew reminds us, however, that Jesus' authority and power are not for his advantage, but for the blessing of those in need. He is God's promised Servant! His authority is demonstrated in his service to us. Thus, as we seek to be like Jesus, we need to be servants as He was.
Acts 11:18
When they [the Jewish Christians] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
Thoughts on Today's Verse....
Breaking through racial and cultural barriers is never easy. Thankfully, God's Spirit doesn't let us settle comfortably into our prejudices. Instead, we are challenged, led, and pushed to break through racial hatred and cultural ignorance. Let's be the kind of people who rejoice and praise God as every barrier dividing people falls.
Let's press on until the triumphant promise of the Gospel is fulfilled: "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians — you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). In doing this, we anticipate the incredible chorus of heaven that praises God with folks from every language, tribe, people, and nation (Revelation 7:9-11).
Thoughts
Do we not continually pass by blessings innumerable without notice, and instead fix our eyes on what we feel to be our trials and our losses, and think and talk about these until our whole horizon is filled with them, and we almost begin to think we have no blessings at all? - Hannah Whitall Smith
Love slays what we have been that we may be what we are not. - Augustine of Hippo
Has he taken over your heart? Perhaps he resides there, but does he preside there? - Vance Havner
Matthew continues to show us Jesus' power over what destroys our lives. Interestingly, it is Jesus' touch and word that are so powerful in these stories. His touch seems to be more of a demonstration of God's love, while his word is a demonstration of his authority and power.
Matthew reminds us, however, that Jesus' authority and power are not for his advantage, but for the blessing of those in need. He is God's promised Servant! His authority is demonstrated in his service to us. Thus, as we seek to be like Jesus, we need to be servants as He was.
Acts 11:18
When they [the Jewish Christians] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
Thoughts on Today's Verse....
Breaking through racial and cultural barriers is never easy. Thankfully, God's Spirit doesn't let us settle comfortably into our prejudices. Instead, we are challenged, led, and pushed to break through racial hatred and cultural ignorance. Let's be the kind of people who rejoice and praise God as every barrier dividing people falls.
Let's press on until the triumphant promise of the Gospel is fulfilled: "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians — you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). In doing this, we anticipate the incredible chorus of heaven that praises God with folks from every language, tribe, people, and nation (Revelation 7:9-11).
Thoughts
Do we not continually pass by blessings innumerable without notice, and instead fix our eyes on what we feel to be our trials and our losses, and think and talk about these until our whole horizon is filled with them, and we almost begin to think we have no blessings at all? - Hannah Whitall Smith
Love slays what we have been that we may be what we are not. - Augustine of Hippo
Has he taken over your heart? Perhaps he resides there, but does he preside there? - Vance Havner
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