It seemed impossible for me to read today’s chapter without recognising exquisite pain in the haunting beauty of the words woven into it…
READ MATTHEW 12 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
If we knew that pain (or certain death) was ahead of us, most of us would want to avoid it. But at the outset of His ministry, Jesus knew He was going to die. [v38-40] For the first time, the haunting beauty of His chosen words reveal foresight into unthinkable pain.
He saw a smouldering wick. The last drop of oil was keeping it alive, but in warmth only. The faint dark smoke, drifting upward in gentle swirls, will soon cease to rise. The imagery makes me wonder what ingredient could be trapped within the remnant of oil, fuelling it to linger there just a little bit more…
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen; the one I love, in whom I delight. I’ve put my Spirit on Him and He’ll proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out. No one will hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smouldering wick He will not be snuffed out until He’s brought justice through to victory and in His name the nations will put their hope.” [v18-21]
The Creator God has indeed made everything beautiful in its time. He’s also set eternity within every human heart.[a] But for today, the question has to be: Can I really fathom what Father God has done – His exquisite pain endured in sending Jesus. Am I willing to give Him a second thought today – to what it’s really cost Him – from beginning to end?
Read More… CLICK on “15 March – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Wanting to speak directly with the Author of HIStory? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[b]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
I’ll worship the Lord in the splendour of His holiness and tremble before Him, along with all the earth. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the seas resound, and all that’s in them! [Psalm 96:9,11]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: Pray for God’s Grace on Brazil[c]
Your Country: Parents and Carers of Children
Yourself: Victory over temptation
Your concerns for today
In everything I pray for and everything I want, Lord, help me seek wisdom. Blessed are those who find wisdom and those who gain understanding. Wisdom is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. [Proverbs 3:13-14]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
Help me to remember that Your “bond-servant”, Father God, must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged. [2 Timothy 2:24]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”
Help me to be one who has believed Your message, O God. And one to whom the arm of the Lord has been revealed. [Isaiah 53:1]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[d] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Topic = Giving God’s Good News
Jesus said: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” [Mark 16:15]
[a] Ecclesiastes 3:11
[b] Matthew 6:5-15
[c] http://www.operationworld.org/country/braz/owtext.html
[d] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31