I was so blessed to be able to write a guest post for today’s Scripture reading! Visit Mom’s Toolbox to read what I learned in Mark 3.

We have started the book of Mark! If you would like to join us, here is the devotional for today’s reading.

Mark has very little preamble. It jumps right into the action!

And He was there in the wilderness forty days,
tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts;
and the angels ministered to Him.
Mark 1:13

This ties in with the post I did about how Jesus knows how I feel. We really do serve a God who knows what it’s like to be human. Not only did Jesus experience the full range of emotions, He was tempted by Satan.

It is really reassuring to me that God knows how I feel. I do not have to go through struggles alone, because there is Someone who understands and is always available for comfort and help.

Father, I love you! Thank You for the Sabbath, for the time to spend with You. Please forgive me for not acting like You today, for letting my frustrations turn me angry and a bit bitter. Change my heart, Lord! Help me to be like You. I pray for this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

There was no specific Gospel reading today, just a day for reflection over what we’ve learned so far from Matthew. Because I didn’t post on yesterday’s chapter, I thought I would post that today. It sums up Matthew nicely, I think.

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.
Matthew 28:6a

My God is alive. He faced death, felt forsaken, and rose from the dead. He is risen!

I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20b

Not only is my God alive, but He is with me always. This is such an incredible promise and I’m so glad that Matthew decided to end his writing of Christ’s life with this promise. My God is with us always. A personable, loving God. Someone I can get to know. With me always.

Father, thank You for displaying Yourself to us through Jesus Christ. You are an amazing God! I love You so much! Thank You for being with me always. Amen.

Today’s reading was Matthew 27:27-66. This section would have been incredibly depressing if I had not known the end of the story. Soldiers mocking Jesus. Jesus being nailed to a cross. Pain. Suffering. Death. Burial. A guarded tomb.

So what did I learn about God?

And about the ninth hour
Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:46

Jesus has felt like He has been forsaken. He knows! My God knows what life is really like. He knows what it means to struggle. To feel depressed. I heard this same message just a couple days ago. God understands.

When I feel down, I can reach out to God and know that He understands. If you need comfort, isn’t it best to go to someone who understands where you’ve been? If I need comfort, I can go to God because He knows. It sounds like such a simple message, but I needed to hear it today.

Father, thank You! I was feeling down today. Struggling with my emotions. But I am reminded now that You understand me better than anyone else. Please help me to remember to turn to You instead of feeling like there is no one who can understand. Thank you!

If you’re following along with the Gospel reading, today’s section is Matthew 27:1-26.

To be quite honest, I wasn’t sure what to think about today’s text. Only a small portion of the chapter directly involves Christ; instead, it deals with the events going on around Him. I’m reading through the Gospels with the specific intent to learn more about God’s character and I’m not sure what this section is teaching me.

Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
Matthew 27:11

Here, we have Christ telling Pilate nothing. Pilate asks Him a question and Jesus confirms that Pilate already knows the answer.

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders,
He answered nothing.
Matthew 27:12

Jesus doesn’t even respond to the priests and elders.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
Matthew 27:13-14

Again, Jesus doesn’t defend Himself. They were smearing His name. Creating lies about Him. Falsely accusing Him. Misrepresenting God. And Jesus doesn’t defend Himself.

I’m not sure what to think about this passage. What is it teaching us about God’s character? I’m still thinking about it. Any ideas?

We are just about to finish up with the first Gospel, the book of Matthew. Today’s reading is Matthew 26:36-75. If you would like to join us, this week’s reading schedule is posted here.

This is a really heavy chapter. Jesus is arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and begins His trial. But first, Jesus goes through an intense prayer session, pleading with God that He does not have to undergo this ordeal. As always, He offers to do the will of God, even if that means death.

However, while this entire passage is worthy of study, I was struck by something a bit different.

Then He said to them,
My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Stay here and watch with Me.
Matthew 26:38

God knows exactly how I feel! This is not just an intellectual knowledge, but the knowledge of someone who has experienced the full range of human emotions. Jesus felt depressed. Got angry. Was exceedingly sorrowful. While He was on earth, He did not just experience the positive side of human emotions. He experienced the full range, from exceeding joy to exceeding sorrow!

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He know how we feel!

Father, thank You! Thank You for not being distant, for not being separated from Your creation. Thank You for allowing Jesus to undergo the same temptations and emotions that I face. Thank You for giving me the promise that You understand! And that I can come boldly to Your throne for both mercy and grace. Thank You! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Are you interested in reading through the Gospels? Join me at anytime! Today’s reading is Matthew 26:1-35.

Now as they were eating,
He said, “Assuredly, I say to you,
one of you will betray Me.”
Matthew 26:21

I know this text doesn’t exactly say that God is love. It’s more of a direct revelation as to the heart of one of Jesus’ disciples. However, if you look at the context, Jesus is having His last meal before He dies. He knows it! This should have been a time of bonding the disciples together, reminding them of what was going to come, and talking of the promises of Jesus rising from the dead.

While some of that did occur, Jesus also revealed that one of the disciples is going to betray Him. Jesus doesn’t kick Judas out. He doesn’t condemn Judas to hell, though He does say in this passage that it would have been better if Judas had never been born. Jesus doesn’t get angry and scream at Judas. Instead, Jesus reveals the truth with sorrow.

To me, that shows a huge amount of love. Jesus is facing death. Betrayal. Punishment for the sins of every single person who has ever lived. And yet He is still sorrowful over one person who makes a tragic choice. That shows me that God still loves us even when we sin. We still have to face the punishment of our actions but God still loves us. If Judas had repented, Jesus would have forgiven him. That is love.

Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me even when I sin and disappoint You. Please help me to accept Your love, to love You more, and to share that love with other people. I pray for this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s reading is Matthew 24. I love this chapter! A focus on the second coming of Christ is hugely emphasized in my church, as evidenced by the Adventist portion of the denomination name.

We could spend a month talking about this one chapter and not exhaust all it contains. Alas, I had to pick only one verse.

But as the days of Noah were,
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:37

There are two things I want to point out in this verse:

1 – “…so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Jesus’ coming is definite. We can look forward to it! He is coming and will take us home with Him. A perfect world. A chance to spend eternity with our Creator. I can’t wait!

2 – “But as the days of Noah were…” God does not want us to be ignorant. Many times in the Bible we can find written the words “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” God does not leave us in the dark, wondering if He exists and if He will return. He gives us clear evidence, many signs in this chapter alone. We just have to open our ears and hear Him!

Father, thank You for sharing knowledge with us. Thank You for not leaving us in the dark! Even though some of the signs of Your coming are frightening, I know that You are with us. Please help me to rest in You instead of getting distracted by the things around me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s reading is Matthew 23. Woah. What an in your face chapter! Hubby sat down with me this evening and we read the chapter together. After finishing, I mentioned that it would have been really hard to be on the receiving end of Christ’s rebuke. I can just imagine the group of men standing near Jesus as their faces get redder and redder and their bodies get more and more tense with anger. They deserved the rebuke but it would have been really difficult to hear in person!

That said, I can still seeking out more information about God’s character. Here is today’s gem:

Do not call anyone on earth your father;
for One is your Father,
He who is in heaven.
Matthew 23:9

I’m not certain that I fully grasp the meaning of this verse. At first, hubby and I discussed the possibility that it was instructing us to not call our biological father “father.” That can’t be it, though…

Instead, I think the verse is saying that we should not treat anyone on earth with the same measure of spiritual respect that we offer God. We don’t need a human mediator to explain God, to forgive our sins, etc. Instead, we go directly to God in a one on one relationship. I don’t have to approach another sinful human being in order to talk to God. I can talk to Him directly as He is my Father.

Father, I thank You for being my Father. Thank You for caring for me and for showing that I can come to You directly. Please help me to remember that I can approach You without fear because You are always willing to hear me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.