Category Archives: The Gospel of Matthew

It’s tempting to skip over Matthew 10:1-22. Most of this chapter records warnings and promises that Jesus gave His disciples right before giving them a very special mission. “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,” He says, “but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” TheseContinue reading “Devotion # 27”

If you’ve ever grown a garden, you know that timing is everything.  You can’t wait around with planting and harvesting.  There’s always work to be done. Several years ago, my wife and I had a very large garden.  At the time, we had some medical expenses we were trying to pay off, and so weContinue reading “Devotion #26”

Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed.  Halleluiah! I know it’s been a little while since I’ve posted any devotions from Matthew.  The last leg of the season of Lent and then Holy Week got the best of me.  I found myself a bit too busy and overwhelmed to get my thoughts down each morning.Continue reading “Devotion #25”

Grace is a tricky thing.  It doesn’t always look right.  Just consider the kind of folk who fill the annals of salvation history in the bible: Abraham lied (twice) to save his own skin, giving his wife to other men, saying Sarah was his sister and not his wife. He later committed adultery and conceivedContinue reading “Devotions #24”

It was the perfect setup.  There Jesus was, surrounded by crowds of people, all of them hanging on His every word. Matthew version of the story doesn’t give us many details, but you can only imagine the big commotion that was caused as the paralyzed man is brought to Jesus’ feet (Mark and Luke mentionContinue reading “Devotion #23”

“Pastor, why do the demons want to enter into a herd of pigs?                  My answer:  Beats me. Poor piggies! “Pastor, why do the pigs run off a cliff?”                  My answer:  Wouldn’t you if a pack of demons suddenly entered you? “Pastor, the pigs died, the farmers lost their income. Why would Jesus allow thisContinue reading “Devotion #22”

Who could look the Son of God in the eyes and say, “Lord, You are not first”?   I’d never do that. Would I?  Don’t I?  Every day. I come up with 101 justifications for a 1001 exceptions to every rule of faith.  Yes, I love Jesus. But sometimes it’s just too easy to say,Continue reading “Devotion #21”

Technically, I’m supposed to be on vacation this week. I promised my wife I wouldn’t spend it working and writing. That’s sometimes hard for me to do, but I’ve done a pretty good job keeping that promise, I guess.  Almost… I figure since I’m up early this morning and the family is still sleeping, my workingContinue reading “Devotion #20”

I know they say you can’t go home again.I just had to come back one last time.Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam.But these hand prints on the front steps are mine.Up those stairs, in that little back bedroomIs where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.And I bet youContinue reading “Devotion # 19”

Maybe, I’m just a bible nerd, but there are a lot of times that I like to pretend that I’m a part of the sacred story. I daydream that I’m Adam standing by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but unlike him, my wits are about me and the moment that lyingContinue reading “Devotion #18”