{"id":2144,"date":"2021-02-17T18:30:25","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T02:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2144"},"modified":"2021-02-09T21:40:27","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T05:40:27","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-matthew-ch-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-matthew-ch-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Matthew Ch. 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Matthew Ch. 9 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv. 1-<\/span>38<\/span>) This chapter continues to illustrate\u00a0<\/span>what Jesus\u00a0<\/span>did\u00a0<\/span>during his time\u00a0<\/span>on Earth,\u00a0<\/span>how\u00a0<\/span>Jesus c<\/span>a<\/span>me into contact with people<\/span>, performing\u00a0<\/span>miracles<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>again and\u00a0<\/span>again. At the end of this chapter, there is\u00a0<\/span>one of the best annotations…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/b>And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>(M<\/span>t.\u00a0<\/span>9:35-36)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Love is one of God’s attributes<\/span>. So\u00a0<\/span>is His\u00a0<\/span>mercy<\/span>\u00a0that was\u00a0<\/span>shown\u00a0<\/span>for the people<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u201c<\/span><\/b>\u2026<\/span><\/b>The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children\u2019s children, to the third and the fourth generation<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(E<\/span>x<\/span>.<\/span>34:6-7)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.\u201d\u00a0 (<\/span><\/b>La<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>3:22). Jesus also said\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026I desire mercy, and not sacrifice<\/span><\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0(M<\/span>t.\u00a0<\/span>12:7)<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of God’s mercy,\u00a0<\/span>He\u00a0<\/span>is willing to bless us with\u00a0<\/span>many things<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>we are not qualified nor deserved<\/span>\u00a0to receive<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>nd through Jesus, who is the Son of God,\u00a0<\/span>he naturally\u00a0<\/span>revealed\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s character<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>his interactions\u00a0<\/span>with people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>written\u00a0<\/span>in the scriptures<\/span>\u00a0(M<\/span>t.\u00a0<\/span>9:3, 11, 14), the Pharisee<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0question<\/span>ed\u00a0<\/span>words of Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and regarded his words\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>audacious<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0they knew that only God could forgive the sins of man.\u00a0<\/span>When t<\/span>hey heard that Jesus\u00a0<\/span>was able to\u00a0<\/span>heal the paraplegics\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>forg<\/span>i<\/span>ve sins<\/span>\u00a0of those people<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the Pharisees\u00a0<\/span>were completely puzzled<\/span>\u00a0in their minds<\/span>. To t<\/span>he Israeli<\/span>tes<\/span>\u00a0of all generations<\/span>, forgiveness of sins\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>always required\u00a0<\/span>sin\u00a0<\/span>offerings\u00a0<\/span>through\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>ir<\/span>\u00a0priests,\u00a0<\/span>slaughter<\/span>ing of<\/span>\u00a0livestock,\u00a0<\/span>shedding of\u00a0<\/span>bl<\/span>ood, etc<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and that n<\/span>o one\u00a0<\/span>had been\u00a0<\/span>forgiven\u00a0<\/span>by just one\u00a0<\/span>sentence.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0To them, this (Jesus) is just too ridiculous!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>Pharisee<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>questioned Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>about\u00a0<\/span>his\u00a0<\/span>eating<\/span>\u00a0next to\u00a0<\/span>the sinners<\/span>. They\u00a0<\/span>watched\u00a0<\/span>Jesus teach<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0the people like their rabbi and\u00a0<\/span>yet\u00a0<\/span>sat down for dinner with the sinners\u00a0<\/span>that others\u00a0<\/span>would want to\u00a0<\/span>avoid?\u00a0<\/span>How did this\u00a0<\/span>act\u00a0<\/span>fit into the<\/span>ir\u00a0<\/span>tradition?\u00a0<\/span>Even\u00a0<\/span>the disciples of\u00a0<\/span>John<\/span>\u00a0the Baptist\u00a0<\/span>ran to ask Jesus why he\u00a0<\/span>wasn\u2019t fasting.\u00a0<\/span>In that era, chaste<\/span>ning<\/span>\u00a0oneself<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>fasting<\/span>\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pray<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0have\u00a0<\/span>long been\u00a0<\/span>signs\u00a0<\/span>of religiousness<\/span>. Why\u00a0<\/span>weren\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>Jesus’ disciples\u00a0<\/span>fasting<\/span>? Wh<\/span>at<\/span>\u00a0on earth is this<\/span>\u00a0about<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apparently, the\u00a0<\/span>presence\u00a0<\/span>of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>challenged<\/span>\u00a0the traditions and<\/span>\u00a0mindsets\u00a0<\/span>of the Jews! Do I have\u00a0<\/span>any\u00a0<\/span>old<\/span>\u00a0mindset\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>hinders me from\u00a0<\/span>following Jesus’ footsteps?\u00a0<\/span>Now try to reflect upon your\u00a0<\/span>struggling moments\u00a0<\/span>of conflicts through the lens of t<\/span>he grace\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>Jesus’ Salvation and then\u00a0<\/span>throw away those old\u00a0<\/span>ideas<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>one by one!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To\u00a0<\/span>you, who is Jesus?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hose who\u00a0<\/span>have experienced\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>healing and salvation<\/span>\u00a0of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>were motivated to\u00a0<\/span>immediately\u00a0<\/span>spread\u00a0<\/span>the name of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>all over the place<\/span>s. Those who were\u00a0<\/span>prejudiced,\u00a0<\/span>self-righteous<\/span>\u00a0or<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hypocrites<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>said, “<\/span>It is by the prince of demons that this man casts out demons<\/span><\/b>.”\u00a0<\/span>(M<\/span>t.\u00a0<\/span>9<\/span>:<\/span>3<\/span>4)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How\u00a0<\/span>did you\u00a0<\/span>respond\u00a0<\/span>to the salvation of Jesus<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing that many people were like sheep without shepherds, Jesus said to his disciples, “<\/span>The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;\u00a0<\/span><\/b>therefore<\/span><\/b>\u00a0pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest<\/span><\/b>.”<\/span>\u00a0(Mt. 9:37-38<\/span>)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once<\/span>\u00a0we\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>understood<\/span>\u00a0the Lord’s compassion for\u00a0<\/span>the people and heard\u00a0<\/span>his pressing words\u00a0<\/span>that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few<\/span>, let us\u00a0<\/span>together\u00a0<\/span>ask the\u00a0<\/span>Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Here I am, Lord! Please send me!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2144"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2148,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions\/2148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}