Sunday | Overview - Matthew 6-10
January 5, 2025
Thanks to Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, we learn more about the love and life of Jesus and His commands for us as His followers. It’s important to remember that, like the beatitudes (blessings) in chapter 5, this book, and all of the Bible, is not simply good advice for us but Good News! We have a totally new, transformed way of seeing and serving the world that sometimes doesn’t make sense but is required of us who call ourselves Christians, who possess a new, transformed heart. We are called to a higher standard, and He gives the power of His Holy Spirit to help us with that!
The subsequent chapters, Matthew 6-10, begin to show us real stories of restoration that Jesus brings to broken people. He restores their health and their lives but more importantly, God wants to restore hearts because everything else flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). Matthew records stories and examples of how to live like Jesus with hearts of humility, putting others first, not thinking ourselves superior, turning worry into trust, seeking God’s help through prayer, and sharing this Good News. Take note of the humility of the centurion (Matthew 8:8), an outsider and not a Jew, but included now in God’s Kingdom because of his faith in Jesus!
As you spend time with Jesus this week, allow Him to continue to transform your heart with humility, compassion, love, forgiveness, kindness and obedience. We can become more like Him every day because of His power given to us through His death on the cross for our sins, His resurrection to life everlasting, and His ever-present Holy Spirit.
Devotional provided by:
Brian Broekhuizen, FCA Area Director – Kent County Michigan
