For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Matt. 8
Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith (v. 10). What made it amazing? What can you do to increase your faith? All three of the healings noted in this chapter tell me something about salvation.
- The Leper: The Old Testament law is clear that touching a leper, or even anything a leper has touched, defiles you. Not so with Jesus. When Jesus touched the leper, the leper became clean. So it is with our unrighteousness. There is nothing in heaven or on earth that can make us clean inside except for Jesus. He is willing, we just need to come to Him.
- The Centurion: The centurion understood his own unworthiness as well as Jesus’ complete authority. We need to understand both of these things in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Peter’s mother-in-law: As soon as Jesus healed her, she began to serve Him. Salvation doesn’t change our life situation, it changes how we live our life. When He saves us, we begin to serve Him in everything we do.
Is. 49-50
How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy (49:1-7) about the Servant of the Lord? There are so many snippets of Jesus in these two chapters! It is amazing to see them all. But one thing I noticed this morning is that the first four verses in particular also seem to apply to Isaiah. “Before I was born the LORD called me;… He made my mouth like a sharpened sword” (From Is. 49 1-2). God did indeed call Isaiah to speak the word of the LORD. What caught me, though, was his statement in verse 4. “But I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.’”.
It is not immediately obvious to me if or how that statement might apply to Jesus. But I can certainly see its application to Isaiah. And there’s a lesson in it for me. Being a mouthpiece for God is never an easy job. This was especially true in Old Testament times. Yet Isaiah faithfully spoke God’s word for many years, often doing strange and unpleasant things, as commanded by God, to get His message across. Did the people listen? Not so much. I can just imagine the uselessness and helplessness Isaiah must have felt as God’s people continued to ignore, ridicule, and persecute him and his message. Why did Isaiah continue in his difficult, seemingly fruitless obedience to God? Because, unlike the Pharisees and teachers of the Law Jesus called out in Matthew 6, Isaiah did his works of righteousness not for any reward from man, but for God.
Ps. 113
What does the Lord do? How can you praise Him from dawn to dusk? “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of His people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.” (Ps. 113:9). Being a woman without children in Old Testament times was a huge social stigma. A woman’s worth was largely defined by her ability to provide children, especially sons, to her husband to carry on the family name. Also, a woman with no children had no one to take care of her when her husband died. Theirs was not the kind of environment where a widow could thrive without help. This is why this Psalm included the childless woman with the poor and the needy. She, like they, was completely without social status.
God, however, gives the lowly status. Not the pretentious status offered by society, but genuine value and worth in the One who is exalted above all. Those who are empty – humble – He fills to overflowing with the love and glory of our Creator. “Let the name of the LORD be praised!” (Ps. 113:2a).