Sometimes, perhaps more often than I realize, I don’t make a very good transition from the teaching I receive to the living I do.

I think about that in the considering the jarring transition between these two verses in Matthew 20:

“And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again” (19).

“Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him” (20).

How could you hear verse 19 but come up with verses 20 and 21?!

As easily as I might hear a message on forgiveness . . . and then avoid a certain brother after the service.

Or as easily as I might read these very verses . . . and then go on to resent someone lording it over me.

I am blessed, though, by how Jesus takes the outlandish mother-and-sons request and ties it in with the teaching He had given just before that:

“And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (27).

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (28).

“You become great by doing as I do!”

Posted: November 27

Sometimes I may know (vaguely) that something is missing in my relationship with God. Or in my life in a more general way.

I may feel that way even when it appears to me that nothing is missing at all.

In other other words, I may feel like this fellow:

“The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” (Matthew 19:20).

“Lord, I have been faithful in all those things you mentioned. But something in me tells me I’m still missing something. I feel so unfulfilled and ill-at-ease. Please, what is that missing thing?!”

Have I been desperate and courageous enough to go to Jesus with that same need?

And have I been desperate enough and courageous enough to yield to His answer?

I certainly can identify with this:

“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:22).

I hope that young man didn’t let his sorrow and his possessions get in the way of obedience. I hope he decided to follow Jesus no matter what.

That’s what I want to do.

Posted: November 26