A Devotional Life

Matthew 13:44-46, 51-52. (The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price). It’s easy to overlook, but God calls you a treasure. Do you trust His view of you? In these parables, Jesus describes the kingdom as a treasure discovered by a man, and then as a merchant searching for fine pearls. In both stories, something priceless is found, and everything else becomes worth giving up to have it. From the thread of all parables in the chapter so far the man or owner is the Son of Man, Christ (Matthew 13:37), but in regard to treasures He says the man or owner is also his disciples, us (Matthew 13:51-52; 6:33). Through these parables, Jesus reveals not only that He is our treasure but also that we are His. Christ is our treasure. In the parable, when the man finds the hidden treasure, his discovery fills him with joy (v44) and a sense of infinite wor...

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50. (The Parables of the Weeds and Net). What would your future look like? The first time I was asked that, I knew I had to take my Maths and Science seriously. Although quite direct and sometimes uncomfortable, that simple question challenges one to plan today for the life they hope for tomorrow. And this is what Jesus does in today’s parables. In today’s parables, Jesus speaks about a future that affects everyone: the end of the age or God’s judgment. He also addresses a problem that affects everyone: the problem of evil, or the coexistence of good and bad. The purpose of presenting these two realities together (in juxtaposition using the same parables) is to make the point that you cannot believe or experience one without the certainty of the other. In other words, just as real and inescapable as is the problem of evil in our world ...

Matthew 25. (The Parables of the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and the Goats). Before the parables, Jesus in Matthew 24:36-51 describes His return as happening on an ordinary day, while people go about their daily routines. It will be sudden, like a thief in the night. So how can we live wisely? Jesus says by being ready (24:44). Jesus uses three parables to show what being ready looks like... Guarding what you have In Jewish culture, well-oiled lamps were needed to complete nighttime weddings. Losing oil and heading off to buy some is like losing the rings and heading off to buy some during your ceremony. Therefore, readiness, as shown by the wise virgins (v10), looks like guarding what you have. Notice where they are called wise: V4      “The wise took oil” V8-9   “The foolish asked the wise for oil, and ...

Matthew 5:1-12. [Series on: The Blessed] How would you describe a blessed and happy life? One of my friends believes there’s only one happy person each week, the lottery winner, and the rest of us just have make-believe happiness. Maybe you share my friend's view or have your own picture of happiness. The Bible also has its own picture, and in this short series on the Blessed we'll see who are the blessed of Scripture. In today's passage, Jesus gathers His disciples to the mountainside, away from the crowd and teaches them what a truly blessed and happy life—beatitude—looks like. Jesus shows that a blessed life is the life of a disciple, those who are: Poor in spirit (v3, Psalm 42:1; 63:1): who depend on God in everything. Mourning (v4, Isaiah 61:2-3): who seek God’s rescue/forgiveness by repentance. Meek (v5, Psalm 37:9-11): who humbly wait ...

Matthew 2:1-12. Once, I was with some friends, and we saw a famous person; they all got very excited, but I did not. When they began chatting about the celebrity, they realised why I missed the excitement. Matthew presents Jesus in a famous manner that demands a response that those who know Him can not miss out on. The gospel begins by showing that the nature of Jesus' birth proves He is the one all history and prophecies point to. He is The Promised King. He is of David's lineage (Matthew 1:17, 2 Samuel 7:13). The Promised Saviour. He is the seed of a woman, i.e. not of man but of God, like the first Adam (Matthew 1:18, Genesis 3:15). The Promised Lord. He is Immanuel - God with us - Israel's God is here (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14). So the news is out that Israel's God - The Messiah King, The Saviour, The Lord - whom all generat...

Matthew 19:16-28. One of my favourite kids' exercises is the marshmallow test. Kids are given a marshmallow and left in a room. If they can wait for some time, they get more. You see kids staring, sniffing, poking and doing all sorts to the marshmallow. The point is to teach kids to wait for a better reward in the face of instant gratification. In the passage, Jesus gives a marshmallow test to a rich man, and he begins sniffing, poking - he gets sad! And it also made Jesus' disciples greatly astonished. Why was this? Because the gospel pattern of life will always look nothing like what the world calls living. Eternal life looks like sacrifice in the now for a future reward! A Present Sacrifice. (16-26) The rich man asks what good thing he must do to have eternal life (16). Jesus responds: only God is good; keep His commands (17). But the man replies, (paraph...

Matthew 26:36-46. Do you ever have one of those mornings where you get up, take a shower, put on your work clothes and then go back to bed to grab just a wee more sleep before the train time ... because your body is screaming for rest. Yeah, I sometimes have that, it's called Monday mornings. In the passage, Matthew paints a vivid picture of a prayer struggle. On the one hand, the disciples are struggling with prayer. They fell asleep, again and again, and again (vv40, 43, 45). While on the other hand, Jesus is struggling in sorrow, so He prays, again and again, and again (vv39, 42, 44). At the end of the Gethsemane visit, they rise up (v46) and Jesus faces crucifixion in the strength of the Spirit and the will of the Father, while the disciples desert Him alongside Peter's denial. (v75, Mark 14:50) The passage reminds us of the importance of prayer: Like sleep a...

John 1:29-34. Can you recall your recent response at the sight of a baby or even a little kid? It's always one of delight and love, isn't it! We suddenly notice their cuteness, smile and even refreshing presence (literally, as one CNN article presents the outcome of research on how kids help the elderly live longer.) But we all know that kids outgrow this unsolicited cuteness, haha. In the passage, Matthew introduces another baby, Jesus, whom from infancy through eternity would still be worth beholding, "behold the Lamb of God" (John's gospel) because: He saves the world from sin (v29) - redeems us from the power of sin and death, giving us a new life in God. Romans 6:1-11. He baptises us with the Holy Spirit (v33) - who refreshes and empowers us to live for God. Although John the Baptist begins by beholding and testifying about Je...

Matthew 20:20-28. Question: Would you want your mum to visit your workplace? And if yes, would you be happy for her to meet your boss? Thoughts that come to mind: Would she mention that weird childhood habit I had?... Or would she tell my boss off for my workloads and demand a salary raise on my behalf? Getting close to the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, a mum visited her sons' workplace and had a word with the boss, as seen in the passage. She unhesitantly requested (in paraphrase, v21): I want my two sons to be next to you in command. (James and John Zebedee must be proud that mum kicked off a favourable conversation.) But Jesus, being the true servant boss, did not say "put in the hours, meet the KPIs, put yourself out there - people gotta see what you're doing, and gradually you climb the ladder and eventually you become everyone's boss." Rather, ...

Matthew 10. This is the day that the Lord has made we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Indeed, we are currently living in a very challenging season, but it is also true that God is aware of that, and He cares. Matthew 10 gives in great detail how Jesus commissioned His disciples - how he sent them into the world (a pattern which is repeated in the gospels Mt 28; Lk 9, 10; Jn 16). Amid His commissioning messages, he keeps reassuring us of His care, His peace and His Presence: So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31) ..in me you have peace... Take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:16-20) God cares for us, God loves us and God is with us... even here, even now, even in this season. Reflect & Pray ...

Matthew 2:1-11. I still remember my first attempt at reading through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. My mum gave my elder sister and me a classic reading plan during my first year at university, with a small prize for whoever finished first. At first, I was motivated by the reward. But somewhere along the way, something deeper happened. When I reached Genesis 6:5-6 and read about humanity’s sin and the grief of God, the weight of our brokenness became real to me. As I continued through the Old Testament, I journeyed with the strong sense of awareness that: the world was lost, and we needed rescue. But when I arrived at the first two chapters of Matthew, I found the hope. Particularly in this verse “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) For me, it was as though the grief of ...

Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus gives one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (v28). He promises rest not just for the body, but for the soul. Yet this rest is not automatic. Scripture shows that we enter it in two ways, through: Faith in Jesus (v28). Jesus says “Come to me” (v28), this is a faith invitation. Hebrews 4:1-3 teaches that God’s rest is entered by faith. The good news was preached, but it did not benefit some because it was not mixed with faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). When we believe in Jesus, trusting fully in His finished work and His promises, we come to Him and receive the rest He offers. Unbelief, however, keeps people outside that rest (Hebrews 3:18-19; 4:6). The first and most important step into divine r...