Matthew 9:1-13

Week 4 Memory Verse
 

Enter by the narrow gate;

for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction,

and there are many who go in by it. 

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way

which leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

 

 

READ MATTHEW 9:1-13!

 

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ~Matthew 9:13

 

Jesus came into this world with one purpose. His face was set as flint. He wasn’t looking to the right or the left. He came willingly. He came for no other reason than to die for the love of his creation. His purpose gave hope for all mankind. My point here is this: Jesus wasn’t focused on the sacrifice itself, but rather the mercy and love behind His sacrifice. He believed there was a world that needed his mercy. There is a world out there that needs our mercy too.

In the scripture above, Jesus challenges the Pharisees (the religious) to learn the difference between mercy and sacrifice. Church ministry can be a challenging thing sometimes. We need to be careful not to become a “Pharisee”. We should pray daily against pride and self-righteousness. Everyone is in a continual state of growth from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) We need to always remember the purpose of the church:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

Luke 4:18

It’s not always a simple task. It’s hard work. Sometimes it’s a sacrifice. If you have ever ministered to someone in bondage or a situation that seems impossible, then you know what I am talking about. Ask yourself this: “Have I seen someone’s life change from the love I have invested in them?” I bet your answer is “yes”.

My Bible tells me that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) So I am just naïve enough to believe (the key is belief) that if the church truly tapped into the power that Jesus has given us, we would see the unimaginable happen! I believe that if we fiercely sought the Lord, mercy and love for this world would overtake us and a great revival would consume this nation! I believe that there is so much power in the name of Jesus that the dead could be raised, the lame could walk, the blind could see, the mute could sing praises, the deaf ears could be opened up to hear the audible voice of the Lord! I believe there is nothing….NOTHING that God wants to hold back from us!!

 

 

TIME OF REFLECTION:

What are some areas of your life that unbelief or doubt has started to take residence? Find a scripture about the power/authority Jesus has given you.

In today’s passage Jesus healed a paralytic man. Jesus performed many miracles in the Bible. Look up some of the miracles Jesus performed and remember Jesus IS the same yesterday, today and forever!!!

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: NAOMI CHANCE is the wife of 16 years to Dale, and homeschooling mom to three children.  She serves as Ladies' Ministries Director and in the Media Department at Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas, where her whole family is very active!