7 August - Matthew 11

Today we’re reading Matthew 11 together. Below are a couple things to think about:

1. In the beginning of this chapter we read about John the baptizer (the cousin of Jesus who baptized him) being in prison. From prison John sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the promised Messiah. See, even Jesus’ cousin who told everyone he was the Messiah had his own doubts when he was in prison facing death for following Jesus. We all have doubts. It’s normal. The question is what do you do with your doubts? Do you take them to God or do you allow your doubts to take you away from God?
2. Jesus told John’s disciples to go back and tell John everything Jesus was doing; healing the sick and afflicted and setting people free spiritually. 
3. Then Jesus said that the truth about him had been hidden from people who were stubborn towards God but revealed to those who approach God like a child. Faith isn’t an easy thing but it’s what we must have to enter a relationship with God. Jesus knew that and was acknowledging it. Jesus went on to say he wanted to free them from the spiritual weight of the old way of approaching God. Jesus came to earth to set in action a new way to have a relationship with God through faith in him.

Do you have doubts about God or your faith? First, it’s normal. Second, you don’t have to figure things out on your own. We’d love to have the chance to help you figure things out. If we don’t know the answer then we’ll try and figure it out together. Do you feel like you have a spiritual weight on you by the way you’re trying to follow God? If so ask God to show you how to live freely and lightly in Jesus. Jesus said he came to set us free and we should live in that freedom everyday.

6 August - Matthew 10

We’re back in the book of Matthew today, chapter 10. Here are a couple quick thoughts:

1. In this chapter Matthew records the words Jesus spoke to his 12 apprentices before he sent them out to proclaim the good news to people; that God loves them and wants a relationship with them. Jesus gave these men the power to heal people from sickness and spiritual bondage and even raise the dead. 
2. All that stuff sounds great until you get a little further into it. Jesus let’s his followers know that it will cost them everything to follow him. He told them that people they love will turn against them and turn them in to the religious leaders who will hate them. They will even be tortured in their places of worship. Jesus told them no student is above their teacher. Jesus said if they hated him they will certainly hate them as well. Then Jesus told his disciples to stand firm in their faith because they will be rewarded for their sufferings. 
3. Jesus said whoever admits to knowing him before other people then Jesus will claim them as one of his own before God but if they disown him then he will do the same. That sounds like a pretty good deal. 
4. Then Jesus really puts the hammer down, so to speak. He told his followers if anyone loves their father, mother, son or daughter more than they love him then they are not worthy enough to know him. Sounds harsh doesn’t it? However, Jesus just told them how they would suffer to follow him. He knew they would need to love him more than anything and everyone else. The same is true for us today. God doesn’t want us to hate our families but he does want us to love him more and make him a greater priority than anything else. This isn’t because God is needy and needs our love. Instead God knows we need to love him; it’s what we were designed for. We love God, not just because he’s God and deserves it but also because loving him is in our best interest.

We’re supposed to tell people about Jesus just like he told his followers to go and tell people about him and his love 2000 years ago. So who are you investing in today to show them God’s love? Are you being intentional in your actions and conversations to lead them closer to God? Have you felt like following Jesus has been harder than you thought it would be? Jesus told his disciples it would cost everything to follow him. Why should we be any different? Some people ask why they don’t see big actions by God like the disciples did in the Bible. Maybe it could have a direct correlation to the fact that we don’t follow Jesus like they did, giving up everything to follow him. What do you value more than your relationship with God? Do you realize you were made to love God and be in a relationship with him? Have you ever thought about it being in your best interest to follow Jesus?

5 August - Matthew 9

Today we’re reading Matthew 9 together. Let’s see what Matthew has for us today:

1. The opening of this chapter Jesus shows the religious leaders that he has the authority to forgive sins as well as the power to heal people. 
2. Then Jesus calls a tax collector named Matthew to be one of his disciples. Matthew not only accepted Jesus’ call but he threw a party and invited Jesus. The religious leaders were indignant that Jesus would hang out with “those types” of people. Jesus’ reply very clearly shows the heart of God. Jesus said he did not come for the spiritually healthy but for the sick. God loves everyone and his heart aches for those who haven’t yet decided to follow him.
3. The end of this chapter reinforces God’s heart for people who aren’t following him. Jesus sees the people and he had compassion on them because they didn’t have a spiritual leader. He turned to his disciples and told them to look at all the people who are trying to find him but there are so few people who will go tell them the good news; that God loves them and wants a relationship with them.

Does who Jesus chose to hang out with surprise you? The encouraging thing is that it means he would want to hang out with people like us too. God wants to have a relationship with everyone. Who are you trying to help lead closer to God right now? Are you investing in your relationship with them so they can see God’s love in your life? 

3 Aug: Genesis 50

Today we’re concluding our reading in Genesis with chapter 50.

1. We read about how people grieved the death of Joseph’s father, Israel. Even the Egyptians mourned his death. Either the Egyptians loved Joseph enough to grieve when he died or Israel was such a righteous man that they were saddened by his loss themselves; probably both.
2. Then Joseph went to bury his father in his homeland as he promised. Pharaoh sent all the royal court with Joseph to help him and mourn with him.
3. After Israel’s death, Joseph’s brothers feared Joseph would seek revenge for their mistreatment of him so many years ago. But Joseph clearly stated what we’ve learned; that he had forgiven his brothers and realized God used what was intended for bad to be good.
4. We read that Joseph lived a long life and then died. Before he died Joseph asked his family to carry his bones out of Egypt whenever they leave.

Again this is a chapter where we’re reminded that God can use what we think is bad to become something good. Many times in life when we’re going through something it feels horrible but as time passes we can see how God can use that situation for good and/or teach us a valuable lesson from it. What tough times did you go through that now you can look back on a see different? What have you learned through it? Maybe you’re going through a tough time right now; trust God and you’ll see how he can turn bad into good.

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.