Matthew 9:1-4 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
Observation
Jesus has been healing people on both sides of the lake. The Religious men of the day did not like what Jesus said to the paralytic....that his sins were forgiven. Jesus did not hear them say this, but he knew their thoughts. Then he asked some rather direct questions of "these religious men". Why their hearts are evil, but on the outside they are "very religious, maybe what we would call today "Do Gooders".
Application
The question today is am I the same as the religious men? Do I look good on the outside but think evil thoughts in my heart? Evil seems like a strong word so what does that word mean. A few definitions are anger, irritability, immoral, harmful, mischief, misfortune, bad. Yep, I've thought that way. Angry about something that seems unfair to me, thinking about how I could speed up and cut that person off like they just did to me, irritable because of.....life and stuff. That is NOT the way Jesus wants me to live. Romans 12:1-2 tells me to offer my body as a living sacrifice to God, to have mind renewed by transforming the way I think and act. How is that going to happen? Exactly the way it says. I have to offer myself up to the the Father and His ways and live a pleasing life to God. Doing that will transform the way I think. Is this being a "Do-Gooder"? No, far from it. A Do-Gooder is doing things because he thinks he is supposed to be good, ie.."I just want to be a good person". But rather if I transform my mind so I think more in line with God and His Ways, then I will "do things" (whatever they are) so there is Glory given to the Father. Jesus healed to give glory to His Father, not to heap praise on himself, that is why he told people not to go around telling everyone what had just happened, BUT rather to go to the temple and give praise to God for the miracle.
So what will I be thinking about today? Because Jesus knows my thoughts, so will my thoughts bring glory to his name and kingdom, or will they be evil in nature?
Prayer
Father, You have told me that if I offer myself to you as a walking, working, living sacrifice to you wanting to please you, that that would transform and renew my mind. You know my thoughts, and I want them to display your good, pleasing and perfect will through me, instead of any evil, worthless thoughts which only shows my sin. Thank you that you care enough for me to walk with me and change me. Amen.
Observation
Jesus has been healing people on both sides of the lake. The Religious men of the day did not like what Jesus said to the paralytic....that his sins were forgiven. Jesus did not hear them say this, but he knew their thoughts. Then he asked some rather direct questions of "these religious men". Why their hearts are evil, but on the outside they are "very religious, maybe what we would call today "Do Gooders".
Application
The question today is am I the same as the religious men? Do I look good on the outside but think evil thoughts in my heart? Evil seems like a strong word so what does that word mean. A few definitions are anger, irritability, immoral, harmful, mischief, misfortune, bad. Yep, I've thought that way. Angry about something that seems unfair to me, thinking about how I could speed up and cut that person off like they just did to me, irritable because of.....life and stuff. That is NOT the way Jesus wants me to live. Romans 12:1-2 tells me to offer my body as a living sacrifice to God, to have mind renewed by transforming the way I think and act. How is that going to happen? Exactly the way it says. I have to offer myself up to the the Father and His ways and live a pleasing life to God. Doing that will transform the way I think. Is this being a "Do-Gooder"? No, far from it. A Do-Gooder is doing things because he thinks he is supposed to be good, ie.."I just want to be a good person". But rather if I transform my mind so I think more in line with God and His Ways, then I will "do things" (whatever they are) so there is Glory given to the Father. Jesus healed to give glory to His Father, not to heap praise on himself, that is why he told people not to go around telling everyone what had just happened, BUT rather to go to the temple and give praise to God for the miracle.
So what will I be thinking about today? Because Jesus knows my thoughts, so will my thoughts bring glory to his name and kingdom, or will they be evil in nature?
Prayer
Father, You have told me that if I offer myself to you as a walking, working, living sacrifice to you wanting to please you, that that would transform and renew my mind. You know my thoughts, and I want them to display your good, pleasing and perfect will through me, instead of any evil, worthless thoughts which only shows my sin. Thank you that you care enough for me to walk with me and change me. Amen.
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