In the US, we believe we are owed a soft, cushy life because we are Christians. This passage should help you understand that things are not always going to be “cushy” as a Christian. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 17:11-13

11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to sufferat their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 17

Please watch this week’s Word Wednesday. I will unpack this text more there.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you can be a person of two minds. Notice how Jesus exalts Peter for understanding who He is. Then turns around and rebukes Peter for not understanding who He is. 

Your walk with Christ is difficult when you swing between focusing on Him and focusing on the cares of this world. As a Christian, you do not have the luxury of living a half in life for Christ. People are watching you and taking their cues from you. 

Does your life lead people to Christ or to “hades?” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 16:15-17; 21-23

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 16

“You can’t say that. It’s offensive!”

That is the anthem of the American Christian. We sugar coat everything so that we do not “offend” people. Unfortunately, in our desire not to be offensive, we have forgotten something. Being offended is a response, not a requirement. 

It is possible to say something with a pure motive and the listener will be offended. Their feeling is not about what was said, it’s about unresolved issues in their life that are now projected on to the speaker. Then people gather around and cancel the speaker, even though what they said was pure.

Jesus did not concern Himself with offending the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. He concerned Himself with His God given purpose(shout out to Mike Marocco). 

Are you more concerned about saying “the wrong thing” or rightly sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Choose wisely! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 15:12-14

12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 15

Do not let your testimony waver. Even though the disciples witnessed Jesus walking on water. Even though Peter walked on the water. When the moment of truth came, with the exception of John, all the disciples abandoned Jesus when He was arrested. 

What Jesus has done for you is real. Hold on to that knowledge and bring it to the front of your mind when difficult times and faith challenges come. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that if we do not have faith we cannot please God. 

Do a faith check today. What has Christ done in your life to show that He is worthy of your faith? Store that away and use it when needed. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 14:32-33

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 14

Stubborn, know it all “Christians” are in for a rude awakening. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they will have company in that rude awakening with non-believers. All will be treated like “weeds” when Jesus returns. 

In the United States, we have created this bubble of righteousness. We have convinced ourselves that the “All Loving God” we “know” will allow everyone to go to Heaven when we die or Christ returns.

That’s the most dangerous and ignorant thought out there. 

Why would Christ die on the cross if God was bringing everyone to Heaven no matter what? It doesn’t make sense. There is no evidence in the Bible to support that way of thinking.

PLEASE put your trust in God! Seek Him first. Do not be double minded. Do not think that you’re in right standing with God because you think, “How could a good God not be good to me.”

God loves you. However, He is a just God. If you do not accept what Jesus did on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin, you are not saved. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 13:36-43

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 13

Are you reading your Bible daily?

This may seem an odd question since you receive this text daily. However, statistically speaking, not all of you are taking the time to read the daily chapters you receive. I want to encourage you to read these chapters daily. 

People want to hear from God, but will not read the Bible with purpose daily. This is how you hear from God. Meditating on God’s word is how you begin to bear good fruit in your life. 

If you want to be a good tree that bears good fruit, read your Bible daily. Skip other things but never your time with God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 12:33-37

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 12

This is a well known passage. I wonder if Christians understand the significance of what Jesus is saying here. With the many things that we deal with daily, Jesus is never the source of worry, pain, frustration, or any of the countless circumstances that are stressful. 

No, He is the answer. As we earnestly seek Him, He comforts us with His promise of hope. The key is to focus on Him and not our situation. 

The human body is fascinating. Even with the idea of multitasking, a person can only focus on one thing at a time. I encourage you to put your focus on Jesus and follow the path He lays out. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 11

This passage can be a challenge for some. We think that our family’s are the most important people in our lives; how could Christ say we should love Him more than we love them. 

Here’s how: If we put anyone before Christ, we put their lives in danger. By putting them before Christ we are saying to God, “you are second to this person.” God is a jealous God. This means that He is not going to fight for first place in your life. He will simply remove His hand of protection from you. This gives free rein over your life to the enemy. 

However, when we love Jesus more than we love our family, He enables us to love our family better than we ever could if we put them first. Meditate on this. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 10:37-39

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 10

Stuck in your ways?

The worst thing that can happen to a Christian is they get stuck doing things in Christ a particular way and when revelation knowledge comes, they miss it because they’ve always believed a certain way or done things a certain way. 

We see this played out in this passage. Jesus has been performing many miracles. He then drives out a demon from a demon possessed man. The Pharisees, who were the “spiritual giants” of that day, could not accept that Jesus was “better than them” so they made a ridiculous claim. 

Quite honestly, I have witnessed this in my life. Christians manipulating situations to fit what they believe rather than accepting revelation knowledge and growing in wisdom. Please do not do that. Seek growth! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 9:34

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 9

By Any Means Necessary!

Are you familiar with that phrase? When I hear it I think of someone doing every thing within their power to make something happen. Reading this passage reminds me of that phrase. 

In one moment we see Jesus reach out and touch a man with leprosy. This would have made Jesus unclean. He did not care about that. The thing that man needed was human touch. Jesus gave him that. 

The next moment reveals how compassionate Jesus was to the man with leprosy, because He heals the Centurion’s servant by saying he is healed. 

Jesus healed by any means necessary. He did it according to the faith and need of the asker. Remember that the next time you decide that God must answer your prayer a particular way. He’s going to do it “by any means necessary.” Let Him! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 8:2-3 & 13

2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before himand said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 8

The prevailing thought in my life these days is “authentic church.” As I have dwelled on this thought, the Lord has been pointing out a need to strip away fluff from what we call “church.” 

He has not brought this thought to conclusion. This passage got me thinking about the idea of bearing good fruit. The church should be a good fruit bearer. Yet how often do we see the opposite. The reality is WE are the church. If the “church” is bearing bad fruit, that means WE are bearing bad fruit. 

Of course I understand that not everyone falls into that category. However, all of us are responsible to honor God with our lives in such a way that people will see our lives and glorify the Lord. 

Consider the words of Jesus Christ in this last section of His Sermon on the Mount. How can you make adjustments in your life to be a good fruit bearer? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 7:15-20

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 7

Why do you do what you do for people? Is it important to you that people know about all the good you do for others?

I encourage you to spend time in solitude answering these questions. Do the tough work of self-evaluation. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you where you might be vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy in this area. 

When we seek recognition for the “good” we do, we are out of alignment with God and what He wants for us. Seek to honor Him in all you do. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 6:1

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 6

Today we begin reading one of Jesus’s longest teachings. There is so much here that we could do a several week/month Bible study on this chapter alone. 

What struck me about this passage is Jesus says, “you are the salt…” Then He says, “if the salt loses its saltiness.” That struck me. Is He saying that we can lose our ability to live a Christ-honoring life? What do you think? 

How does your answer inform how you live? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 5:13

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 5

Passages like this are in the Bible, yet most of us underestimate what it means to be “led by the Spirit.” We go about our daily lives doing what we think is best for us. Then, when something goes wrong or we face a crisis we say, “Holy Spirit activate” as if this is our super power. 

I encourage you to give the Holy Spirit full reign in your life without restriction. Honestly, you will have to change some things in your life. However, in Christ, these changes will draw you closer to God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 4:1

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 4

This passage is a reminder that being a “religious giant” will get you nowhere in Christ. God wants humble, compassionate servants. People who value the lives of others over their own life. Is that you? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 3:7-10

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 3

Pride, fear, and power are a dangerous combination. Any world leader, or leader in general, who exhibit these qualities will ruin lives. 

Notice the lengths to which King Herod went to make sure the born King of Israel would not live. He tried to match wits with God and the people payed for his loss. This may lead you to get angry at God wondering why  He allowed so many kids to die, but He saved Jesus. 

God allows man to make their own decisions. Every decision we make that goes against His desire will have negative consequences. This is why it is important to be rooted in the Word of God reading it daily, pray in solitude daily, and surround yourself with mature Christians. On your own, the enemy will make short work of you, and the people around you will bear the consequences of your disobedience to God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 2:16

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 2

Today we start reading the book of Matthew. Please know that 28 days is not nearly enough to digest all the teachings in Matthew. I know a church that is taking years to teach through the book of Matthew. This month will be a very broad overview. I encourage you to read each chapter multiple times per day. You can listen to the Bible instead of your music or favorite podcast. 

This passage is a glimpse at the integrity of Joseph. Think about how difficult it must have been for him to learn that Mary was pregnant and he knew he had never been with her. Armed with that knowledge, he planned to QUIETLY divorce her. Integrity!!

When someone does you wrong, is your first or second thought to let ‘em have it? Take a page from the life of Joseph and be a righteous person. God knows your needs. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 1:19

19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 1