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Read: Matthew 8-9
Listen: Matthew 8

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” Matthew 8:16

Jesus’s miracles provide a window into the kingdom of God. In his kingdom, people are made whole, and lives are changed. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God had come near (Matthew 4:17). He then teaches (Matthew 5-7) and heals (Matthew 8-9) as a demonstration of this reality. Reading Matthew’s gospel leads us to ask: is Jesus worth following?

Following Jesus is an ongoing decision. We make the initial decision to trust Jesus for salvation, but this decision is not just a one-and-done choice. Every day, we face opportunities to trust Jesus further, walk in his way or go in our own direction (which is the way of sin and rebellion). We have the opportunity in our jobs, relationships, and discretionary time to faithfully follow Jesus or go our own way. The choice we make to follow Jesus impacts our everyday life.

TODAY: Begin the week with a prayer of openness to what God desires to reveal to you in this series. Jesus is worthy. But we may not always live like it. Ask for a heart that is open to how God wants you to grow this season. If you need a helpful prompt consider praying the words of Psalm 139:23-24.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Ezekiel 10-11. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Focus on the departure of God’s glory from the temple. Reflect on how Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3).