Matthew 14:1
   This Herod must not be confused with his father, Herod the Great. This was Herod Antipas, one of three (or more) who took over sections of Herod the Great’s former dominion. Here he is referred to as the ‘tetrarch,’ a term that means Antipas was ruler of a fraction of what his father ruled.
   This ruler heard about Christ. This shows how news traveled concerning Christ. He gained attention in the area of Galilee, which was part of Antipas’ dominion.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 15:1-17:24

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:10 “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. It is a source of constant comfort and strength. You know how much it means to us to have Your words in our hands. We can read of Your intentions and desires for us. Thank You for showing us how You think towards us and telling us of Your love. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman who needs a job. Pray for a family that is travelling. Pray for a man who has blood clots.

Journal Entry #13213

Matthew 13:58
   This is one of many verses that has been commonly misunderstood. Many have, looking at this verse, come to the conclusion that Jesus’ ability to perform miracles rested solely upon the faith of the people he ministered to. These persons have the notion that we somehow cause Almighty God to act by the force of our faith. They think God unable to move without the impetus of our voluntary, trusting, wills. This is simply not the case at all.
   Jesus’ ability to perform miracles was in no way dependent upon the faith of humans. The ability of Almighty God to cause the sun to shine, and the rain to fall, and the earth to endure, is not based on our belief in him. Unlike Santa Clause or the Tooth Fairy, God’s existence is not perpetuated by our belief. He exists and acts, and is able to act, without our help. We could cease to exist tomorrow and Almighty God would not change in the least bit. He is totally self-sufficient.
   However, and that is a big however, Jesus’ desire to perform miracles was, and is, very much based upon the faith of humanity. Almighty God does not cast his pearls before swine. Though he may choose to give many great things to unbelieving people, and does so every day, he is not at all required to. Just the same, Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit, the Triune God, does choose to limit what will be done for those who fail to believe. God will not perform his greatest works for those who do not accept his person. He is a jealous God. They who ascribe more glory to man and animals, and even rocks and trees, more that to him, will lack in the miracle department.
   The people of Nazareth did not receive many miracles because Jesus would not reward unbelief. He was interested in those who accepted him for Who he is, not simply those looking for miracle handouts. They did not trust him. They did not accept his honesty. They would not follow his lead. They could not receive his blessings with the right heart.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 12:1-14:31

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for not discriminating on the basis of outward things. You always consider our hearts, and You know them intimately. Great Searcher of Hearts, search us and see that we love You, and that we want the blessings of Your hands. You are so gracious and loving to us. We will continue to ask for Your provisions. This is not because we think that it all You are good for, but that You are the only One who is good enough for it. You can be asked because You have the capacity to give what is needed. You always have the answer to the most vital need. You are the One who sees what the real needs are. You know what we truly need, not just what we think we need. Thank You for Your power and love, and how You bless our lives by just being a part of them. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a family that just lost a love one. Pray for a man on blood thinner. Pray for a woman going for cancer tests.

Journal Entry #13212

Matthew 13:57
   The people of Jesus’ town were being offended by him. This was not his doing, but their weakness. They could not accept that one of their own could be the Messiah. Unbelief is often a very demeaning thing. It causes men to think less of themselves than they might otherwise. Indeed, do we not now have a whole breed of persons who think they have arisen from apes, and who disdain to think they are the creations of Almighty God? Yes, this sin of unbelief will bring us low, and cause us to be offended by our greatest hope.
   The expression that Jesus puts forth here was more common that you might think. Many of the prophets experienced the same. For example, Jeremiah (Jeremiah 11:21-23) was reviled by his hometown. Thus, the people would readily understand what he meant by this saying.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-11:43

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the message of the gospel, Though many take offense in it, it is the Truth. It is a blessing to my life. Thank You for allowing us to be Your messengers, taking the good news to to whole world. Every day I am awed by how You orchestrate events and put people just where You need them to get certain things done. You are truly amazing! You can accomplish Your will so well. You are never surprised or caught off guard. You know the end from the beginning, and I am blessed to know You. Thank You for Your Son, the Lord Jesus! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a woman who has trouble with her legs. Pray for two men in serious condition in the hospital. Pray for two women involved in a car accident.

Journal Entry #13211

Matthew 13:56
   Jesus apparently had several sisters as well, though we do not know exactly how many. The people of Nazareth knew all of them, and many of the men may have had them for wives. Again, remember that Jesus’ family did not, at this time, accept his role as the Messiah.
   One of the biggest things that we easily forget about Christ is that many people rejected him. We always get the idea that everybody would accept him if they could meet him. However, if we are, as his church, living as we should, they have met him. And yet, many fail to accept. Jesus warned us of this, but told us to rejoice over those who do listen.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-9:28

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your rich blessings. You are so good at matching people with the blessings that You give them. You put husbands and wives together. You put pastors and churches together. You put kids and parents together. All of the most amazing blessings in life are Your inventions. You have made everything beautiful in its own way. You are the great Composer of the music of life. Every note is delightful to us. How wonderful You are! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man who is having trouble with his kidneys. Pray for a man who is having trouble with his shoulder.

Journal Entry #13210

Matthew 13:55
   Jesus had several family members that we do not hear much about. Evidently, Joseph was fairly well known as a carpenter, though he was possibly dead by this time. The townspeople were familiar with Jesus’ siblings, and his mother, because of the occupation of Joseph. Two of the brothers listed here are seen again. James, the brother of the Lord, became very influential in the church. He then wrote the epistle bearing his name. Judas, or Jude, also wrote the epistle bearing his name, and was a pillar in the early church. These two brothers of Christ, however, are not involved in the faith until after Jesus’ death and ascension. Simon and Joses, mentioned here, either were never converted, or were simply not mentioned.

Bible Reading: 1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Scripture Memory: 1 Kings 6:1-7:51

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this day to worship You. Although we can do this any day of the week, it is wonderful to have the freedom and ability to set aside a day for You. You deserve every minute of every day from us. Thank You for all that You do in our lives. Your blessings upon our church services are a great comfort to our hearts. Thank You for being so gracious to us! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man with cancer on his face.

Journal Entry #13209

Matthew 13:54
   The people in Jesus’ hometown were amazed by his wisdom in teaching and his power to perform miracles. The did not understand how he became like this. He had seemed normal enough to them before. There was apparently nothing in his years in Nazareth caused anyone to think of him as exceptional. Although this seems strange to us, it is likely exactly the case. Jesus would not have attracted much attention as a boy or even as a young man. Certain expectations would have been fulfilled by him, and only those very close to him would notice his righteousness. Again, this seems strange to us, but it should not. Just because a person does not draw much attention to himself or herself does not rule out the possibility of an exceptional nature.
   Indeed, Jesus was not an overly impressive person if one was not familiar with his teachings and powers. He was not somehow better looking than every other person, at least not noticeably. He was not one to make his intelligence known in such a way as to draw attention to himself in a self-serving way. He was not necessarily taller, or stronger, or faster, than his childhood playmates. It was his message, rather than his mannerisms or bodily presence, that made the difference. This is not to minimize him in any way. But, what we must realize is that Jesus is human and divine. It is his divinity, not his physical makeup, that makes him who he is. Only seeing him now, in his full glory, in his glorified body, can one see the difference between what he is, and what we are. Of course, we cannot at present see him like this.
   The wisdom and powers of Christ were amazing not because he was an exceptional human being, but because he was ‘God with us.’ Jesus is great because Jesus is God, not because he is the best of all humans. These people, living in his hometown, failed to understand that they were not simply seeing a grand and glorious human being. Instead, they were seeing and hearing the very Son of Almighty God.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3:1-5:18

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the message of the gospel. Sending Your Son to this world was, of course, the most wonderful thing You could have possibly done. Your wisdom is perfect. You always know the right thing to do. Even though I do not understand it sometimes, I know that Your choice to use us as Your messengers to get the gospel to this world is also a good one. May we carry out Your will as we should! In the long run, I know that we will come to see why You have chosen to do things the way You have. You are always right. It is really reassuring to know someone who knows what is going on in this world. Thank You for helping us to understand our lives! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for A young lady seeking the Lord’s direction in her life. Pray for a man having trouble with his kidneys. Pray for a man with cancer.

Journal Entry #13208

Matthew 13:53
   The parables of Christ were stories told to illustrate a point. As in this passage, Jesus uses the word ‘like’ as he begins the story. He says the kingdom of heaven is ‘like’ the story. Two words, then, are important to understand in connection with his parables. The first is this word ‘like’ and how it explains what his parables do. The second is the word ‘parable’ itself.
   In many languages, such as English, French, Spanish, and Latin, the word ‘parable’ is simply a carry-over from the Greek. The Greek word for parable, ‘παραβολή’ is simply transliterated into these other languages. Transliteration differs from translation in that the word has had such a profound effect upon the other language that it has simply transferred completely from the one language to the other. Thus, our word ‘parable’ is borrowed directly from the Greek. Indeed, the word is so influential in its context of Jesus’ parables that it can hardly be thought of without bringing his ‘like’ stories to mind.
   The Germans have actually translated the word ‘parable,’ but their translation is based on the word ‘like’ in Jesus’ parables. In the Greek, ‘like’ is ‘ὅμοιος,’ which is where we get the prefix ‘homo,’ meaning ‘the same.’ So, Jesus is saying ‘this is the same as this’ when he presents one of his parables. The Germans, then, use their word for ‘simile’ to translate the word ‘parable.’ A simile is, of course, a figure of speech that we use to compare two things. And that is just what Jesus is doing here. He compares two things. By comparing an easier-to-understand story with a harder-to-understand concept, he seeks to promote understanding in those who truly wish to learn. For those who have no desire to learn, and want it all handed to them on a sliver platter, it frustrates their ability to grasp anything of substance.

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1:1-2:46

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.“

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for encouraging us to have a desire for Your Truth. Your wisdom in putting Your Truth into a book is quite amazing. It is the best way You could have done it, even though it is not the way we might have done it. We would probably send somebody a DVD video of the whole thing. You, on the other hand, chose to give us a book. It stands alongside millions of other volumes in the libraries of the world. And yet, it stands above all the rest. Thank You for giving us something so distinctive and alive. It changes us from the inside out. You always know the best way to do things. Thank You! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for the last night of Vacation Bible School.

Journal Entry #13207

Matthew 13:52
   The wisdom of the Lord is a great storehouse of riches. Usually, if we think we can find hidden treasure, we will search carefully for it. Old treasure can be worth very much, and new finds can sometimes be worth even more. Those, then, who know God’s Truth are the possessors of valuable treasure. To understand God’s Word is to have a vast trove of delights at your fingertips. Almighty God gives his wisdom freely to those who will take it. Very few, it seems, want it.

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 23:1-24:25

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us today to love Your law. Give us a yearning to know Your Truth. Your words are like gold with jewel insets. Your Truth is precious. It is worth more than all that we might ever hope to attain to. You are so wonderful, and Your Word is the truest reflection of You on this earth! May we spend hours in it! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a family that just lost a loved one.

Journal Entry #13206

Matthew 13:51
   Jesus now asks the disciples if they understood all of the parables. Some of these parables were told to the multitude, but some of the latter ones were likely shared only with the disciples. Their answer causes us to wonder. Did they really get it? Do we really get it? Having the benefit of years of history since Christ, it is easier for us to understand the truths being described here. so, we wonder if the disciples truly understood what we now know from these parables.

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 20:1-22:51

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being concerned with our understanding. Many times authorities will move on with things regardless of the common person’s understanding of the issues. You at least make the Truth available and attainable. You don’t make it too hard for us to ever hope to grasp. Thank You for being so considerate! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for two families that just recently lost loved ones.

Journal Entry #13205

Matthew 13:50
   Jesus’ love for his hearers is made evident by his warnings. No one else in all of scripture warned of hell more than Jesus. He wanted people to be aware of the Truth. He could not see any purpose in avoiding the subject. No one who accepts the words of Christ can say they have not been warned.

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 17:1-19:43

Scripture Memory: 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love for us. You are so very kind to us. You want us to know Your Truth. You want us to have happy lives. You want us to have a bright future. You are the best Parent we could ask for. Thank You for sending Your Son to us to save us from hell. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Requests: Pray for a man who is discouraged.

Journal Entry #13204