Matthew 8 - 11.14.25

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

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

8 The 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. 9 For 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.”

10 When 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. 11 I 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. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Observation:

I have often been drawn to this passage. I am in awe of his faith, how someone who is not a Jew, and in a position of authority humbled himself for the sake of his servant. What stood out as I read this is Jesus asking the centurion, “Shall I come and heal him?” The man was obviously wanting Jesus to heal his servant.  Jesus by asking opened the door for this man to express his faith, a faith that Jesus later said was greater than any he had seen.  Then Jesus talks about the feast and subjects of the kingdom being thrown out.  As I went back to read this, for a moment I thought I accidentally copied part of Jeremiah. :-).   This part seems a bit out of place.  I’m guessing he did this to show that not only Jews would be present in Heaven.  If fact, some would not be admitted.  Then, he told the centurion to go home, he granted his request just as he believed.

Also notable is the centurion calling Jesus “Lord.”  He had come to believe in who Jesus was.  He was a man of authority and humbled himself.

Application:  

Are there times in my life when Jesus gives me a question to answer so I can come to a realization and declare my faith?

What do I believe?  How do my words and actions show it?

How can I handle times of questioning differently?  Times of trials?  Do I humble myself acknowledging Jesus as Lord and asking Him to move?

Jesus was amazed and declared to everyone that the centurion’s faith was greater than any He had seen.  Are people today looking at my faith that way?  Are outsiders looking at how I live my life and believing in a God who can do miracles?

I want to be a light for his kingdom.  I want to have faith that believes so strongly in Jesus and His power that God is amazed by my faith.

Prayer:

Father God, Jesus declared, “Nothing is impossible for you.”  Am I walking in faith like that?  Am I letting you work through me to do what is impossible for man, but easy for you? Lord, please help me keep your greatness at the front of my mind. So, I can walk in faith. May the worries of the world not choke out your truth.  You are mighty and holy, so awesome in power.  The centurion observed you working as an outsider and came to you.  Lord, we do not know who is watching.  I pray I am being a good example that draws others to believe like this.

Thank you for all you’ve done in my life and are yet to do.

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Matthew 9 - 11.13.25

SCRIPTURE

“Some men brought to Jesus a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.

When Jesus saw their Faith—

HE said to the man, “Take Heart. Son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this—some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

KNOWING—their thoughts—Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are Forgiven’, OR to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

But—I want you to know that the Son of Man—has authority—on earth to forgive sins.”

So—Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Get up—take your mat—and—Go Home.”

Then—the man—got up—and went home.

When the crowds SAW this—they were filled with (fear) and awe; and they Praised God, who had given such authority to a man.”

OBSERVATION

Some men brought their friend who needed Jesus’ help.

The friend was paralyzed so they carried him—possibly some distance—lying on a mat—to see Jesus.

When they arrived at the house where Jesus was teaching there was a crowd gathered at the entrance—so the friends had no way to enter into the house. The friends were desperate to get their friend to Jesus. Right here is where I begin to feel convicted. How desperate am I to get any of my friends or loved ones to Jesus? Desperate enough to carry them a long way on a mat through town? Desperate enough to carry that mat up to the roof when I couldn’t make it through the doorway?

These friends somehow managed to carry their friend up to the roof.

I’m guessing this made some noise. I’m thinking it took awhile to make a large enough opening for their friend to fit through. In Luke’s account we learn that Pharisees and Teachers of the Law had traveled from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem to hear Jesus Teaching. This was a large gathering with many influential Jewish Leadership included.

They must have all paused to look up—wondering what was going on—especially when the tiles began to come off. Then all of a sudden like something out of cirque to soliel---the paralyzed man drops down out of the newly created “sunroof” right in front of Jesus. There must have been a moment of shock and awe.

Jesus goes right to the heart—literally!

“Take Heart, son—your sins are forgiven”

APPLICATION

Take Heart—Your sins are Forgiven

Jesus is still offering the Same Forgiveness Today that HE offered that Young man.

Only God can forgive sins, so Jesus was claiming to be God. HE backed up His claims through the many miracles HE performed, His Teachings, and His death on the cross and His resurrection.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name but Jesus under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that HE purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

YOU are Holy—All knowing, ALL merciful, ALL powerful, ALL Worthy to be praised. You are not slow as some consider slow..YOU are giving every opportunity to bring people into Your kingdom and the saving knowledge of Your goodness and mercy. But there will come a day when there will be no more time.

Help me Heavenly Father to wake up to greater urgency for those things that burden Your heart. Give me the desperation to be like these friends who carried their friend on a mat and stopped at nothing to get him in front of YOU. People are lost and hurting and broken. Like I was once, they don’t know what they don’t know. Open the eyes of their heart. May I be one to always share my Love for YOU. YOU gave everything for me.

In Jesus Name. amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Psalm 91 - 11.12.25

Scripture

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Observation

Psalms 91 is the ultimate promise of God’s divine protection. The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. And you won't fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. You will not be harmed though thousands fall all around you and no terrible disasters will strike you or your home. God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will carry you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones. You will overpower the strongest lions and the most deadly snakes. You will be satisfied with a long life and will see God’s saving power (Ps 91:3-13,16, CEV).

Like many other promises in the Bible, this is conditional. This promise of protection is to those who dwell in the shelter of the most high and who rest in the shadow of the almighty. (verse 1).

Application

Let us examine ourselves. What does it mean to dwell in the shelter of the most high? Have we made God our shelter? Do we continually live in Him? Our home is our place where we belong, where we are our true selves. Do we run to God for shelter? Is He our home? Are we walking so close to God, that we are literally in his shadow. If we dwell in the shelter of God, and we rest in the shadow of the Almighty, then all these promises of protection are for us. If not, let us search our hearts for sin and disobedience. Let us repent and correct ourselves, and draw close to God, make Him our shelter and let us rest in his shadow, so that we can be assured of the promises of protection in Psalms 91.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for making me your child. Thank you for your love and patience with me. Please help me to make you my shelter. Help me to rest in your shadow. Show me areas of my life where I have not fully made you my shelter. Shine your light on what needs to be corrected in my life. Father, I need you. I want to dwell in you as my shelter, and I want to rest in you. You are my strength. You are hope. I can do nothing without you. I ask you to forgive me of any sin that you are showing me right now. Draw me close to you. I thank you because all the promises of Psalms 91 are mine, because I dwell in you as my shelter and I rest in your shadow. I will say of you Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely You will save me from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. You will cover me with your feathers, and under your wings I will find refuge; Your faithfulness will be my shield. I will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me. Because I make you my dwelling, no harm will overtake me, no disaster will come near my house. You will command your angels concerning you to guard me in all my ways; They will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not strike my foot against a stone. I will tread on the lion and the cobra, and I will trample the great lion and the serpent. You will rescue me because I love you. You will protect me, because I acknowledge you. I will call on you, and you will answer me. You will be with me in trouble. You will deliver and honor me. With long life, you will satisfy me. Thank you Jesus, because you are faithful to do what you have promised. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

- Asha Chacko George