a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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The Word was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him. He came to the world that was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God. (NCV)
John 1:10-12
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ... Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (NIV)
Heb. 2:17-18
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. (NIV)
1 Tim. 2:5-6 |
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April 2
For those on Earth! - Matthew 8:3-4
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!” And immediately the man was healed from his disease. Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. But go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded for people who are made well. This will show the people what I have done.”
Full Text
Key Thought
This is a mini-story of the Incarnation. God saw that humankind had a need and reached out and touched us. I don't know how we are to fully understand what it means for God to live in human flesh, but he did. That is what the Jesus story is all about. And when he did, he didn't wear the robes of royalty but of the peasant so he could touch us, the most average of us, with his incredible gift of love and grace. Because he did, we can be sure he hears us with a voice of understanding when Jesus intercedes for us at his side.
Today's Prayer
Almighty God, please give me strength to trust in you. Help me to care less about riches and more about the broken, just like Jesus does. Thank you Jesus, for being my assurance, not only of heaven, but of heaven's hearing my heart. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
When Jesus came down from the hill, great crowds followed
him. 2 Then a man with a skin disease came to Jesus. The man
bowed down before him and said, “Lord, you can heal me if
you will.” Top of Page
3 Jesus reached out his hand and
touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!” And
immediately the man was healed from his disease. 4 Then Jesus said
to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. But go and show
yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded for
people who are made well. This will show the people what I have
done.”
5 When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer
came to him, begging for help. 6 The officer said, “Lord,
my servant is at home in bed. He can’t move his body and is
in much pain.” 7 Jesus said to the officer, “I will go
and heal him.” 8 The officer answered, “Lord, I am not
worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command
it, and my servant will be healed. 9 I, too, am a man under the
authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I
tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another
soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do
this,’ and my servant does it.
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who
were following him, “I tell you the truth, this is the
greatest faith I have found, even in Israel. 11 Many people will
come from the east and from the west and will sit and eat with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But those
people who should be in the kingdom will be thrown outside into
the darkness, where people will cry and grind their teeth with
pain.” 13 Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home.
Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would.”
And his servant was healed that same hour.
14 When Jesus went to Peter’s house, he saw that Peter’s
mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. 15 Jesus touched her
hand, and the fever left her. Then she stood up and began to
serve Jesus.
16 That evening people brought to Jesus many who had demons.
Jesus spoke and the demons left them, and he healed all the
sick. 17 He did these things to bring about what Isaiah the
prophet had said: “He took our suffering on him and carried
our diseases.”
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
Used by permission.
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