Fresh Start Daily

Devo: Matthew 19:23-30

This is a continuation of the story of the rich young ruler in the previous verses. Jesus said that it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven. The disciples were amazed and asked Jesus who then can be saved. They asked that question because they thought that  riches were a sign of God’s blessing.

Just because someone possesses great wealth doesn’t mean that they are blessed by the Lord. The rich young ruler in the previous story had great wealth but he did not have a personal relationship with God. He may had had a good relationship with people (Matthew 19:20) but not with God.

God does not mean that He is against riches. He made king Solomon the richest man on earth that no one today has surpassed. King Solomon did not ask for it but God gave it to him because he was pleased with him. God made Job wealthy as well. Even when he lost everything, God restored everything and even gave him double (Job 42:10).

It is not money that is evil. It is the LOVE of money that is evil. The rich young ruler in the previous story went away when Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions, give them all to the poor, and follow Jesus. He went away sorrowful because he had great wealth and he couldn’t let it go. He had fallen in love with this world. He did not obey Jesus because his wealth was more important to him than Jesus. He loved his wealth more than God.

Rich people can be saved if they surrender their lives to God and prioritize God over their riches.

Peter then told God that they left everything for the Lord, and bluntly asked Him what their reward would be from following Jesus (v. 27).

This was Jesus’ response:

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” – Matthew 19:28-29

Jesus assured the disciples that they will receive a reward in heaven. Jesus also said that they have a special role on the final judgment. Just like the disciples, everyone who sacrificed for God will receive a reward. God knows the hardships we endure for following Him and He will honor that. Aside from the eternal life in heaven, we will receive a hundredfold from the Lord.

In the commentary, enduringword.com, it says,

“Hundredfold is obviously not literal in a material sense; otherwise, Jesus promises a hundred mothers and a hundred wives. Jesus will do more than make up what we have given up for His sake, but the return may be spiritual instead of material. Hundredfold certainly is literally true in the spiritual sense.”

I like that. I like the spiritual reward of joy, peace, contentment, hope, and everything that satisfies the soul.

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” – Matthew 19:30

We should always humble ourselves before God because truly, we are nothing without Him. I like what Barclay and Spurgeon said regarding this verse (which I read from enduringword.com).

“Jesus lays it down that there will be surprises in the final assessment… it may be that those who were humble on earth will be great in heaven, and that those who were great in this world will be humbled in the world to come.” – Barclay

“You remember the old Romish legend, which contains a great truth. There was a brother who preached very mightily, and who had won many souls to Christ, and it was revealed to him one night, in a dream, that in heaven he would have no reward for all that he had done. He asked to whom the reward would go; and an angel told him that it would go to an old man who used to sit on the pulpit stairs, and pray for him. Well, it may be so, though it is more likely that both would share their Master’s praise. We shall not be rewarded, however, simply according to our apparent success.” – Spurgeon

Devo: Matthew 19:16-22

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” vv. 21-22

He told the man to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor; and to follow Him not only to satisfy the man’s questions but also to expose his heart. God knows our heart. He knows the idols we keep in our heart. The man could not renounce his possessions. He did not obey Jesus. It shows that his god was money.

“The call to forsake everything and follow Jesus is a call to put God first in all things.” enduringword.com

“The principle remains: God may challenge and require an individual to give something up for the sake of His kingdom that He still allows to someone else. There are many who perish because they will not forsake what God tells them to.” enduringword.com

“And what were these in comparison of peace of conscience, and mental rest? Besides, he had unequivocal proof that these contributed nothing to his comfort, for he is now miserable even while he possesses them! And so will every soul be, who puts worldly goods in the place of the supreme God.” (Clarke)

The rich young ruler came to Jesus. He CAME to Jesus because he needed help.

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?'” v. 16

There was something missing in his life despite his great wealth. He could buy anything and everything that he wanted but he was not happy. This question echoes many people’s plight. We all have that hole in our heart that longs for something eternal. It is because God created us for Him. It means that only God can fill that void. The rich young man asked what good things he should do to have eternal life. He thought that he could be saved by doing good works.

“So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.'” v. 17

Jesus told him to keep all the commandments.

“He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” vv. 18-19

The ones that Jesus mentioned refer to our relationship with other people.

“The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?'” v. 20

The commandments mentioned by Jesus are difficult to do and that no one has obeyed in its full sense perfectly.

When Jesus commanded him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t give to the poor. That means he did not really love his neighbor. He loved money more than people. Also, when Jesus told him to follow Him, he went away. He did not obey Jesus. He loved money more than Jesus.

The man said that he had kept all those things from his youth, but it was not true. He may have kept some of the commandments but not all of it. The commandments talks about our relationship with people and our relationship with God. If we want to be perfect, we have to fulfill all of the commandments. However, we cannot do all of those perfectly.

If we could be perfect by our good works and by honoring God in everything at all times, there was no need for Jesus to come down to earth and save us. I have talked to a lot of people, believers and unbelievers, who think that we can earn our salvation. I think it’s something that we have to really understand.

It’s not a point system in heaven. If we could earn points every time we do good, then securing our place in heaven would be a competition and we would be taking all the credit for our spot. Instead of giving all the glory to God, we seek the glory for ourselves.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

In Luke 23:39-43, one of the criminals who were hanged on the cross mocked Jesus while the other criminal rebuked him and asked Jesus to remember him when He goes to heaven. Jesus’ response was, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

That criminal who recognized Jesus as God was hanged for his sins. He was a sinner. He was not righteous but because he repented, Jesus promised that he would be with him in heaven. We are saved by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS. Good works are a result of our salvation. Because of our gratefulness to God, we do good works. It is not for our merit. It is all for the glory of God.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

Devo: Matthew 18:15-20

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.‘

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.“

19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.“

Yes, these verses are about dealing with a sinning brother (or sister), but what stood out to me are verses 19 and 20. I’ve read it many times before and know this by heart but it spoke to me anew this morning.

Maybe because my husband and I pray together every day for us and for the people around us. It’s always a pleasant surprise to hear some of our prayers answered. This morning, however, made me realize that it’s because we both agree on the things we ask God for.

It is true that God is in the midst of people praying together in His name. God honors our individual prayers but when two or more pray together for the same thing, it shows how much we desire for it to happen.

That’s why we ask our church community to pray with and for us for things that are important to us. There is power in fellowship. Even if there are only two people praying together, God is in their midst. God is not looking at the number of people gathering together.

When I was still single, my friend, Anna, and I would pray and fast once a week for different things/people. We would exchange our prayer requests and pray for each others’ list. We were so happy every time we received the answer to our prayers. We both got different things going on in our lives so we aren’t able to continue praying and fasting together but it’s something that I practice to this day.

Even when we don’t exchange our prayer requests anymore, I keep her in my prayers. She does the same thing for me. Last night, we were texting and she said that she always prays for me. It’s a blessing to have people pray for you.

The people who really care about you pray for blessings over your life. They know that best person who can help us is not them but our God in heaven. I’m happy to have prayer partners.

Devo: Matthew 18:10-14 (The Parable of the Lost Sheep)

This is a good reminder of how much God loves us. Just like the shepherd, God will leave the ninety-nine to look for the one that’s straying.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” V. 12

It’s a reminder for us to truly care for people who are sinning. This is an area that I am still growing in. Sometimes instead of understanding people and caring for them, we judge. We fail to realize that God can redeem them.

“And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.” V. 13

It says in this verse that God (symbolized by the shepherd) rejoices when the straying one is found. He is happier to find a lost soul than the ninety-nine who were never lost. He is not mad when the straying one is found. He does not blame either. He just accepts the person back and rejoices.

It has a similarity with the parable of the prodigal son. The son strayed and sqaundered his inheritance even when his father was still alive. Yet, when he returned home after losing everything, the father, seeing him from afar, hurried to meet his son happily and gave him a feast just for coming back. He had no bitterness in his heart at all.

Not that the father did not love the son who never left. He was just ecstatic to know that his son was returning.

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” V. 11

Just like that father, God, being our heavenly Father, does not want His children to be lost.

“Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” V. 14

I think it was last night when I was contemplating and I thought that everything that God did and does is because of love. He is a loving God. That is His character. What an honor it is to be recipients of that wonderful, awesome, great love. We are not deserving of it but He loves us anyway.

This is something we need to be reminded of daily because it’s easy to think that God does not love us when hardships come. Sometimes we wonder if God really loves us or if He ever really loved us when bad things happen or when we don’t get the answer to our prayers. It’s easy to fall into the self-pity trap because things are difficult.

However, we need to doubt our doubts. God loves us deeply that He will not let us stray. And if we ever do, He will “go to the mountains” just to find us and bring us back. God does not want us to doubt His love for us. That doubt is not from God so we have to rebuke them.

Father God in heaven, help us to believe from the bottom of our heart that You love us, and that nothing can take that love away. Forgive is when we doubt Your love. Help us to respond to that love properly. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Devo: Matthew 16:21-23

In the previous verses, Jesus commanded Peter for his faith (Matthew 16:13-20). Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God. However, in Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus called Peter “Satan”. Jesus told His disciples the things that must happen to Him.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” v. 21

Peter could not believe what he heard from Jesus. He did not want Jesus to suffer so he rebuked Him.

“Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to you!'” v. 22

I think Peter’s reaction was something that us human beings would also have had we been in his position. Of course we would not want Jesus to suffer and be killed. However, his response was not in line with the Scriptures. He also did not submit to the authority over him. Jesus explained why Peter’s reaction was of Satan.

“But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'” v. 23

Take note of the phrases “things of God” and “things of men”. That is a clear contrast. Peter was not mindful of the things of Christ. He was only thinking of physical things. He was not thinking of the purpose of Jesus’ mission. Jesus had to die on the cross.

Just not being mindful of the things of God makes us enemies of God. When we spend too much time on the things of men or things of the world, we do not please the Lord.

Satan took advantage of the fact that Peter was not mindful of the things of God and used him to speak the way he did to Jesus.

“We can be sure that Peter was not aware that he spoke for Satan, just as a moment before he was not aware that he spoke for God. It is often much easier to be a tool of God or of the devil than we want to believe.” enduringword.com

In Matthew 16:17, Jesus said to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Peter was also not aware that God used him to reveal who Jesus is in the previous story. It’s important that we fix our eyes on Jesus so we will not be used by the enemy. It’s important to be mindful of the things of God and not the things of men.

Father God in heaven, help us to always be mindful of You. Help us to always seek You first before doing and saying anything. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Devo: Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus asked His disciples who He is not because He doesn’t know the answer. It is for His disciples to understand who He is.

“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man”, am?” v. 13

The disciples replied, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” v. 14

They gave Him the opinion of others about Him. However, Jesus wanted to know who they think He is so He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” v. 1

Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” v. 16

Jesus praised Peter for his proper declaration of His identity.

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven…” v. 17

It’s amazing that God revealed that truth to and through Peter without him probably realizing it.

“Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.” v. 20

“Before they could preach that Jesus was the Messiah, they had to learn what that meant.” Barclay, enduringword.com

Wow. It’s true that we cannot share God with others if we do not know who He really is. He is more than a prophet. He is the CHRIST and the SON OF THE LIVING GOD. He is the Messiah. He is God Himself.

We have to know God personally before we can share Him with others. It’s important to spend time with Him privately before going public. His question to His disciples is also a question to all of professing believers.

“But who do you say that I am?” v. 15

Who is Jesus to us? Does our life as believers reflect that we know Him? That we belong to Him?

“We answer this question every day by what we believe and do. If we really believe Jesus is who He says He is, it will affect the way that we live.” enduringword.com