5Which is easier: to say, ‘Yo...

5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

6But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

- P22

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

- P23

12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

- P23

Some of the teachers of the law accuse Jesus of blaspheming because Heproclaimed the paralyzed man‘s sins were forgiven, something only Godcould do. They do not realize that Jesus is the Son of God.  - P24

The Phariseesalso question why Jesus would eat with tax collectors, who are known fortaking bribes and charging more than they should. Jesus points out that thePharisees care more about rituals and outward displays of piety than caringfor people. Jesus treats sinners with compassion rather than contempt,
recognizing their need for forgiveness and mercy.  - P24

He not only forgives sinbut also offers physical healing and restoration. Remembering the forgiveness we received for our sins encourages us to have compassion rather thancontempt for the people around us who struggle with sin and need therestoration Jesus gives. - P24

yerDear Jesus, thank You for Your mercy and grace. Keep us humble and teachus to follow Your ways with sincere hearts. Help us show mercy to others asYou have shown mercy to us. In Your name, amen. - P25

26He replied, ˝You of little ...

26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" - P152

30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.

31The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."

32He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

33Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.

34Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
- P153

When the disciples are caught in a sudden storm, they cry out to Jesus tosave them. He questions why they are afraid and have so little faith, and totheir amazement, Jesus calms the wind and waves. Sometimes we feel likewe are caught in the storms of life, and we may wonder whether God evencares about us. We may feel so distraught that we do not even cry out toHim.  - P154

Yet, like the disciples, we can call out to the Lord and expect that Hecan save us from any situation. He is sovereign over all, even down to thesmallest detail of our lives. In any storm, we can call out to Him in faiththat He can save us. - P154

Jesus heals two men of demon possession, but the townspeople ask Himto leave. They experience a miracle, but they are afraid of Jesus, and theycare more about the loss of the whole herd of pigs than having a powerfulmiracle worker in their midst.  - P154

Many today likewise recognize that God ispowerful, but they will avoid or even reject Him when they feel that theircomfort is threatened. God freely invites all to come to Him, but many willnot receive His salvation because they idolize their own comfort.  - P154

May wenot allow our comfort to prevent us from appreciating our salvation, andthat may we pray that others would do the same. - P154

Dear God, I choose to trust in You no matter what storms I may face. When circumstances are uncomfortable, help me to remember that You are in control and that You have already shown how much You care for me. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P154

17This was to fulfill what wa...

17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases." - P148

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.

19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." - P149

Jesus heals Peter‘s mother-in-law of fever. He heals many others and drivesout spirits, fulfilling Isaiah‘s prophecy. Jesus then gives orders to cross thelake. A teacher of the law and another disciple approach Him and share theirintention to follow Him. Jesus teaches about the cost of following Him. - P149

Jesus heals not only Peter‘s mother-in-law but also all the sick and manydemon-possessed people, fulfilling what was prophesied through Isaiah.
Matthew confirms once more that Jesus is the expected Messiah who isfulfilling every prophecy about Him. This includes caring about physicalailments as well as spiritual infirmities caused by sin.  - P150

If we are to be likeJesus in this world, we, too, should care about the physical well-being ofothers as well as their spiritual health. May we encourage all to go to Jesusfor whatever healing they may need and to do our part in caring for thephysical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. - P150

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot - P150

Dear Lord, thank You that You care about my physical and spiritual health. I under-stand that following You can be costly. Please protect and sustain those who facelife-threatening situations for following You. In Your name I pray, amen. - P151

5When Jesus had entered Caper...

5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.

6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly."

7Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?"

- P144

8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."

10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

- P145

We see two examples of great faith in this passage. First, the leper is an outcast who would not be welcome in a large crowd. Yet, he plows through and comes before Jesus, believing that he can be healed. Next, a Roman military leader comes to ask for healing for his paralyzed servant. This centurion believes that Jesus’ words are powerful enough to heal even without Jesus coming to his home because he understands how authority works. These two men challenge us to have greater faith, reminding us that the Lord has authority over all things and that we can place our full trust in Him. . - P146

We can offer prayers for healing and restoration, express our gratitude for all His blessings, and obey Him even when we feel uncertain about the path ahead - P146

Notice the similarity between...

Notice the similarity between the man who builds his house on the rockand the one who builds his house on the sand. Both hear Jesus‘ words.
The difference is what they do in response to His teachings. We can oftenhear Jesus‘ words but then fail to put them into practice in our daily lives.
When we do not apply His teachings, we prove to be foolish as our spiritualfoundation is flimsy, unable to withstand the storms of life.  - P142

The good newsis that, if we do apply Jesus‘ words, our foundation becomes sturdy andstrong.  - P142

No difficulties or challenges will be able to shake us because we areconfident and grounded in Him. - P142

Psalm 1 is one of my favorite psalms, particularly because I enjoy versethree: "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yieldsits fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do pros-pers." I yearn to be like the person described in the psalm, who meditatesand delights in the Word of God.  - P143

If I want to belike the person who thrives like the prosperous tree in Psalm 1, I need thesupportof many brothers and sisters in Christ, who also seek to hear God‘sword and obey it. - P143

Heavenly Father, open my eyes to recognize what is false and help me to stay faithful to what is true. Help me not only to hear Your Word but also to practice it so that I may be strong in You against the storms of this life. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen. - P143