On: Matthew 8-14

Matthew 8
I love that in the middle of chapter 8, it says that a religious scholar asked to go... and Jesus didn't turn him away, but rather He challenged him that this would be not a situation he was use to... but the very opposite... But it doesnt say he went with him, and it doesn't say he left. Was he upset with Jesus because his own religious ways did not line up with faith and truth and love? Or was he so desperate for those exact things he instantly gave it all up so He could follow Jesus?
v.28-34 - I find it interesting that the people didnt consider it safe to go in this region because of these 2 madmen who'd been possessed. But when Jesus changed it to where the evil spirits were gone, making the region safe, the town was against it and only focused on the death of the pigs - not the freedom of the region.

Matthew 9
In verse 10-30 I love how straight up Jesus was!! These 3 verses really capture how the majority of us think quite occasionally - at least for me. We raise ourselves up so high and righteous, we gain pride... and then we expect Jesus to believe and act in the same way. The healthy do not need a doctor - the sick do. Jesus wasn't after religion. He wanted mercy - he is a personal and relational God!! We need to decrease, so HE can increase.
In verse 36 it says he healed their hurt lives. So many times we focus on the huge outward miracles of the Lord... but every time physical healing was done... so was emotional. Jesus was restoring and building faith in these people!

Matthew 10
In the beginning it talks about them praying for working hands and it was answered immediately. Who was the answer? The prayers. God sometimes calls US to GO and BE what we are asking for! This definitely makes me want to be more aware of what I am asking for (haha).
I think chapter 10 is my favorite chapter so far. V. 5-28 I feel is such a meaty story of a life that is abundant.. hard but fruit bearing. These verses are also good to prepare for outreach as well I believe. This is a perfect example of how to react in day to day situations and to respond to lfe and act out of LOVE.
In verses 29-42 God is not gray nor is He lukewarm - and this part shows so well that tehre is no middle ground. We are other for or against God. If we can't decide, we need to reevaluate who we are, what we walk out, what we say we believe, who we think God is and what we KNOW God is.

Chapter 11
Verse 6 God calls those who expect things, that may seem impossible BLESSED. and MOST blessed!
Verse 28-30 really stuck out to me... Jesus mentions that we can come and experience REST like never before, and we can by working with Him. His perspective is so much greater than ours. His way of rest is a lifestyle... it is our mind, hearts... Its our reactions, our belief. rest is not just in body but in everything we do. I also love that it says "unforced rhythms of Grace"... How gentle is our God. How freeing He is. At the end it says we will LEARN to live freely. Usually things aren't instant, But keep at it!! If we experienced so much freedom at first I believe we wouldn't function correctly. We have to be good stewards over our blessings no matter how small or large.

Chapter 12
V. 6-8 really makes me chuckle. We are so caught up in the do's and dont's, the RULES of RELIGION! This is NOT good... Jesus says it almost directly too - it is not about ritual, or repetition - its about our HEART. Religious people get so ruffled by Grace!! (v.9-14)
I find it interesting in v. 25-29 evil never stops evil... the enemy would never cast out an evil spirit. ONLY good would cast out evil. How quick we are to judge... just look at the fruit its bearing! Is it good fruit or bad fruit.

here are some verses throughout chapter 12 that stuck out to me:
v. 6: I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.
v. 6: There is far more at stake here than religion.
v. 32: When you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the one who forgives.
v. 34: Its your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words.
v. 43-45: I believe this is such a perfect picture of our generation. But even more so situations of injustice. We can get people out of their situations... but we also have to provide a way to stay out to be filled with TRUTH. We will automatically allow evil back in so quickly because its alot more comfortable than having to learn something COMPLETELY NEW - especially a life style or believe system.

Chapter 13
I want to be at v.23!! Someone who not only hears but TRULY takes in wisdom... and then turns around and does something with it, produces good fruit and works hard to see the dreams of my heart line up with the dreams of the Lords heart and then come true (also in v. 31-32).
Verse 58 also really stuck out to me for some reason.

Chapter 14
Jesus didn't just perform miracles, it was the way He lived. Every second there was something going on that shouted the glory of God. And in the Bible it says we are to do even greater things that Jesus did! So what do we have in our hearts... in our lives... that prohibit us from walking out a life as exciting as Jesus did. Are we full of sin, unforgiveness, are we bitter or resentful? Or are we just not ready? And how do we become ready? And it his even suppose to be our focus? or should we only allow our focus to be to Love God and be Loved by God.