Welcome to the Bible in a Year for 2025. Intro to this series and resource links available here, plus here’s how I’m approaching this year.
Scriptures for Today:
Reflection:
“Listen to Him” (17:5) - The transfiguration is an odd story. It reveals Jesus’ glory in a fantastic and dramatic way. For the second time (the other being Jesus’ baptism), the Father speaks. The words are mostly the same, with a noteworthy exhortation added, important for disciples then and now: “Listen to Him!”
“Whoever takes the lowly position” (18:1-5) - Asked to identify the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus makes use of a ready object lesson—children. First, they must become like little children as a basic requirement for entry. That is, lowly and aware of their vulnerability and need. Second, one who takes the lowly position of a child is greatest. This recalls to my mind the great reversal of Jesus in Philippians 2, in which Paul marvels at Jesus’ “descent to greatness.” Disciples should expect to do the same. Since Jesus Himself has taken a lowly position, whoever welcomes a child welcomes Him, for He identifies with the lowly not those in high positions.
Treasure in heaven (19:16-24) - Elsewhere, this young man is identified as rich. Here in Matthew, he is simply identified as a man who approaches Jesus wanting to know what more is needed to gain eternal life beyond following the commandments. Jesus gets to the heart of the issue—treasure. He must be treasured above all. Therefore whatever we treasure here must be laid down and put in His service.
Questions:
What distracts you from listening to Jesus?
What do you need to lay down and place in Jesus’ service in order to treasure Him?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, help me meet you in your lowliness, that I may treasure the greatness of your kingdom over the kingdoms of earth. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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