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(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\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 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 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. 14 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\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 Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (vv.1-12)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>story for the\u00a0<\/span>life and mission of John\u00a0<\/span>the Baptist ends\u00a0<\/span>in today’s\u00a0<\/span>passage. John the Baptist had\u00a0<\/span>accused\u00a0<\/span>Herald (the tetrarch<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0of being unlawful<\/span>\u00a0and unhol<\/span>y\u00a0<\/span>in marriage<\/span>. Therefore,\u00a0<\/span>Herold wanted to kill John<\/span>, but was\u00a0<\/span>afraid of the people.\u00a0<\/span>Yet, i<\/span>n the end,\u00a0<\/span>Herald, due to his oaths and pride,\u00a0<\/span>Herald\u00a0<\/span>ordered to have John beheaded.\u00a0<\/span>Herod’s actions illustrate the sins and filth of human nature<\/span>. I<\/span>f not dealt with in a timely manner,\u00a0<\/span>the consequences of th<\/span>e<\/span>se\u00a0<\/span>may be\u00a0<\/span>inconceivable<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n John<\/span>\u00a0the Baptist<\/span>\u00a0came to prepare\u00a0<\/span>the way\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>the Lord\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>. John\u00a0<\/span>was filled with the Holy\u00a0<\/span>Spirit\u00a0<\/span>in his mother’s\u00a0<\/span>womb. The\u00a0<\/span>Bible did not specifically record what miracles he had done<\/span>. But John\u00a0<\/span>was one of the few who was named before he was born<\/span>. John\u00a0<\/span>did not steal the glory of the Lord and was extremely humble before Jesus<\/span>. He called people to repent<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>witnessed Christ<\/span>. He\u00a0<\/span>said:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand<\/span><\/b>!\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>(Mt. 3:2)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201ceven he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(Jn 1:27)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd John bore witness: \u201cI saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, \u2018He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.\u2019\u00a0 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(Jn 1:32-34)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe must increase, but I must decrease.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(Jn 3:30)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do you remember all these words? What’s your impression of John<\/span>\u00a0the Baptist<\/span>? What else have you learned from him?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (vv.13-21)<\/span>\u00a0When\u00a0<\/span>Jesus heard\u00a0<\/span>what had happened to John<\/span>\u00a0the Baptist<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Jesus retreated to\u00a0<\/span>a solitary place. Unanticipatedly, the crowd found\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>followed him<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Jesus could have sent the<\/span>\u00a0crowd\u00a0<\/span>away<\/span>. I<\/span>nstead<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>performed<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>renowned<\/span>\u00a0miracle\u00a0<\/span>of feeding five thousand people\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>the five<\/span>\u00a0loaves and the two fish<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0written\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>the beginning of this passage, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Jesus,\u00a0<\/span>our Lord, is a\u00a0<\/span>merciful God who cares about the needs of his people<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0(Ps. 103:8)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (v<\/span>v.22-36)<\/span>\u00a0It was\u00a0<\/span>the second time<\/span>\u00a0the Bible described a story of Jesus and his\u00a0<\/span>disciples<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0wind and waves! This time\u00a0<\/span>his\u00a0<\/span>disciples<\/span>\u00a0were on a boat by themselves\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>ir<\/span>\u00a0boat was against the wind and strongly beaten\u00a0<\/span>by the waves. Notice that Jesus\u00a0<\/span>had went up to the mountain to pray<\/span>\u00a0beforehand<\/span>. Knowing\u00a0<\/span>that his disciples needed him,\u00a0<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>came down walking\u00a0<\/span>over the sea to find his disciples!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The following passage<\/span>\u00a0(vv.25-32)<\/span>\u00a0is very\u00a0<\/span>interesting.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>It was noted that in the\u00a0<\/span>face of the wind and waves, even\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u2019\u00a0<\/span>disciples\u00a0<\/span>were not able to\u00a0<\/span>recognize Jesus and\u00a0<\/span>called him a\u00a0<\/span>ghost. Fortunately, they were not\u00a0<\/span>rebuked\u00a0<\/span>by Jesus for\u00a0<\/span>their\u00a0<\/span>blasphemy!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>After being sure\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>\u00a0was Jesus, Peter\u00a0<\/span>asked\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>come to Jesus on the water.\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>answered<\/span>, “Come!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Peter couldn’t help but look<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0into the wind and waves<\/span>\u00a0and as\u00a0<\/span>he was beginning to sink, he cried out\u00a0<\/span>“Lord, save me!”\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Does this sound familiar to our\u00a0<\/span>personal\u00a0<\/span>experience<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>walking\u00a0<\/span>with the Lord<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>There\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0times when\u00a0<\/span>our eyes\u00a0<\/span>were so<\/span>\u00a0overwhelmed\u00a0<\/span>by the environment<\/span>\u00a0that we did not\u00a0<\/span>remember\u00a0<\/span>who Jesus is<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Even if we have acknowledged\u00a0<\/span>the Lord<\/span>\u2019s presence<\/span>, we\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>still\u00a0<\/span>looking around<\/span>, feeling\u00a0<\/span>terrified by the environment<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>losing our\u00a0<\/span>faith<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cTake heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.\u201d<\/span><\/b>Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n