February 19th, 2024
Monday, February 19th
We All Face It
By: Pastor Amie
Matthew 11:1-19
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[c]
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
One day, Tom and I sat Aubrie down to discuss some things she needed to work on. She was around 12 years old and truthfully I don’t even remember what the problem was. What I do remember is what happened after we finished our lecture.
Aubrie sat across from us and began to shake uncontrollably. Her breathing picked up and tears flooded her eyes. Confused at her response to us at that moment, I asked her what was wrong.
“I don’t know if I believe in Jesus” came out of her mouth so desperately I didn’t even have time to process what she said. “I’ve been staying up every night watching movies about Jesus just to help me believe! Mom, does God hate me?”
Doubt. We’ve all faced it. Heck, even John the Baptist. Our loving Savior didn’t shame John in his moment of desperation, rather He reminded John that He is who John knows He is. He did that for John, and He does that for us. In our hardest nights, sometimes unwanted doubt creeps in but take heart. The blind received sight. The lame walked. The unclean were made clean and the deaf can hear. Those who are dead are now alive because Jesus is who He says He is.
We All Face It
By: Pastor Amie
Matthew 11:1-19
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[c]
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
One day, Tom and I sat Aubrie down to discuss some things she needed to work on. She was around 12 years old and truthfully I don’t even remember what the problem was. What I do remember is what happened after we finished our lecture.
Aubrie sat across from us and began to shake uncontrollably. Her breathing picked up and tears flooded her eyes. Confused at her response to us at that moment, I asked her what was wrong.
“I don’t know if I believe in Jesus” came out of her mouth so desperately I didn’t even have time to process what she said. “I’ve been staying up every night watching movies about Jesus just to help me believe! Mom, does God hate me?”
Doubt. We’ve all faced it. Heck, even John the Baptist. Our loving Savior didn’t shame John in his moment of desperation, rather He reminded John that He is who John knows He is. He did that for John, and He does that for us. In our hardest nights, sometimes unwanted doubt creeps in but take heart. The blind received sight. The lame walked. The unclean were made clean and the deaf can hear. Those who are dead are now alive because Jesus is who He says He is.
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