2 August - Matthew 8

We’re reading Matthew chapter 8 today in the Tattoo Church Reading Plan. Here are some points of interest to think about:

1. In the opening of this chapter we read about Jesus’ interaction with a man that no one else would dare spend time with. People with leprosy were ostracized in society because no one wanted to catch the disease. The man took a great risk coming into contact with people to ask Jesus to heal him. Did you notice how Jesus chose to heal him? He touched him. This was probably the only time since he contracted leprosy that anyone touched him. The man’s was starving for human contact and Jesus heals him by touching him. Not only did he meet his physical need of healing from leprosy but Jesus also healed the man’s heart by touching him.
2. Then Jesus talks about the man who had more faith than anyone other person he met in Israel. And the man was a not a Jew. This must have been a smack in the face to every Jewish person who was listening because they believed they were the only “chosen” people by God. 
3. In this chapter Matthew records Jesus telling someone how much it would cost to follow him. In summary, Jesus told them it costs everything to follow him. Often we try to determine what the minimum we have to do to “follow” Jesus. Don’t we? 
4. We also read a pretty well known story about Jesus calming a storm at sea by speaking to the wind and waves. His disciples were afraid of dying and Jesus rebuked them and told them they needed more faith in him. Jesus knew it took time to build a relationship and his men needed more time with him to fully trust him. The same is true for us. The longer we have a relationship with God the more we learn we can trust him.

Do you have “parts” of your heart that you don’t trust anyone with? You can trust Jesus with them. He wants to heal you completely; especially in those areas you hold most tightly to. Are you trying to do the minimum in your relationship with God? He won’t settle for anything short of everything in your life; not because he’s malicious but because he knows it’s what’s best for us. Do you have a difficult time trusting God to take care of things in your life? You can trust him. The longer you do life with God the more he “proves” himself faithful and the easier it is to trust him.