“He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus” (Matthew 14:10-12).

The wicked delight in wickedness. They carry out their schemes and like all of us, meet death and leave everything behind. The righteous, like John, may receive dishonor in this life, but Jesus said there was no one born of women greater than John. John’s disciples told Jesus, for the lesser goes to the greater. This sinful world may perplex us, but the Good News has conquered death.

Oh death, where is thy victory? Oh death, where is thy sting? Through the Gospel we are called to know that because Jesus lives, we too shall live. What kind of life should you live knowing these things? The world spends a few decades gathering, only to have it all quickly dispersed amongst those who take up the call to gather. We are called to give away and watch as the Lord gathers His own.

Lord Jesus, there are many sad things that happen. Yet, You are weaving together the bride, Your church, as the righteous ones. No matter the indignities this world may heap upon us, Your presence and promise in us is greater. Lead me to see things as they are and trust You above all things. Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be compassionate even to those who do such wickedness. Amen.

“And after being prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and his dinner guests” Matthew 14:8-9).

One never knows what prompts are in the background. You need not fear them; but be aware of them. There are often the wicked who have another thing in mind than what You might anticipate. Live in such a way that you avoid being cornered by wickedness. If it happens, turn back to the place where You are not trapped by those who seek things that are not pleasing to the Lord.

Guide me, Lord, by Your word so that I understand the circumstances around me. Help me to be aware and intentional in all that I do. Help me to understand fully what it means to love my neighbor. When I am confronted with a sinful choice, help me to live in love such that I would graciously refuse that which is evil. Grant me strength but, I pray, first awareness, to avoid such circumstances.

Lead me, Holy Spirit, in the way I need to go so that I stay on the narrow path of salvation. Guide me in Your goodness to live in that goodness all the moments of my day. Show me the pits that are before me so that I do not fall into them. Help me to help others when they have fallen into a pit so that I may live out the command of loving my neighbor as myself. Teach me to be gracious and kind as You are gracious and kind. Amen

“But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked” (Matthew 14:6-7).

Herod loved his hedonistic ways. Watching another dance stirred his feelings. How much of our culture stirs us to non-thinking feelings? Be on guard to not be led by the things of the world, but to be led by the Holy Spirit which is in you. Our reactions to such leading are equally important. Herod was willing to give whatever she asked. Be on guard with what you say to others. Make no promises you are unwilling to keep.

Lord, teach me to be on guard with what I promise. Guide me to live according to Your goodness and mercy. Lead me into the life You have promised so that I am always aware that I serve for One, namely You who knows all that I say and do. Guide me to live in such a way that I reflect Christ in all that I do. Lead me, Lord, according to Your goodness and mercy to love others as You love me.

Holy Spirit, I need Your help constantly. Help me to be on guard not only with what I say, but where and when I say things. Guide me to understand that in You alone is there all hope. Lead me this day to choose the better portion and to be thankful for what I am given. Through all that will happen this day, be the One who is leading me in all things. Thank You for Your presence and the direction You will give me. Amen.

“For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet” (Matthew 14:3-4).

Hatred and vengeance are often driving motivators. The wicked, caught in their wickedness, want to eliminate both the accuser and the accusation. The accusation is from the law and God, who knows all things, and has established what is right for all times and places. Herod wanted to be rid of John, but that would not rid him of the truth that he was a sinner. Ultimately, Jesus was killed in attempt to be rid of Him. But His death was God’s plan all along.

Lord, I am often confused by the constant defensiveness of people in this age. Help me to be quick to confess, slow to self-defend, and always willing to repent. I too fall into the trap of sin. The only way out is by Your grace and mercy. Help me to receive Your grace, make amends for my actions, and move into a right relationship with You. Guide me in Your goodness so that I walk the path of one who follows You always.

Holy Spirit, lead me in my inner life. You know where I play the games like Herod of wanting to be rid of the accusation the law makes. Guide me to repent, receive Your grace, make amends, and move on by following Your lead. Help me to be gracious with others as You have been gracious with me. Guide me to live the life to which You have called me in order that I may become more like Christ each day that You give me in this life. Amen.

“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him” (Matthew 14:1-2).

The authorities seem to marvel at God’s work showing up in their backyard. “Who is this?” Those in power in our world keep an eye on others while attempting to keep their power. They will die and what they thought was their power goes to another. Do not seek power, but the One in whom is all power and authority. Look beyond the temptations of this world to see that You have been created for an eternal purpose.

Lord, so many seem to scramble for power and authority. That belongs to You alone, “for thine is the power and the glory.” Guide me away from the pursuit of things that will never be mine to receive the righteousness You give by grace. Help me to stay focused upon Your goodness and mercy so that I may walk the life of faith that You have given me. In the end, it does not matter what others think of me. It does matter what You are doing in my life.

Be the One who leads me always, Lord Jesus. Let me not be stopped by those who are constantly questioning me but led by Your Holy Spirit in and through all things. Guide me this day to not be anxious, but to be diligent in all that You give me to do. By Your mercy, lead me through this day as I look to You alone so that I may do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.

“And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and in his own household.” And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:57-58).

We begin with familiarity and then justify dismissing what we have seen. “They could not have done that.” With the Lord, all things are possible. Jesus is teaching us to honor whom God sends. Whether it is a farmer like Amos, a fisherman like Peter, or someone like you or me, it is what the Lord is saying and not the servant who is speaking the Lord’s word that matters.

Lord, teach me to honor others no matter what they appear to be. Guide me so that I may see others through Your eyes. Wisdom can come from You any time and in any place. Help me to understand that. You showed up amidst an ordinary family. You are the Good News in the flesh, and many are unable to move beyond the mystery of the Incarnation. Let me humbly see things as they are, mystery included, and follow You.

Lord Jesus, it cannot be just about the miracles. Of course You can do all things, for You are God. Help me to understand more profoundly that You have come to take me by the hand and lead me into all truth. Take my eyes away from circumstances to see Your hand in all things. Rest Your hand upon me that I may be in Your Spirit and move by Your direction. Guide me this day and every day according to the Father’s will. Amen.

“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man acquire all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56)

Jesus grew up to manhood. Fully God, but this verse affirms Him to also be fully human. Behind this statement are those who cannot believe that God could become a mere human. But He is God and that is the mystery. It reminds us that what we can see is not the whole picture. Be led by the revelation that God has shown up and done for us what we could not do for ourselves. Do not be skeptical but believing.

Things are what they are. Was Mary a perpetual virgin and these mentioned, Jesus’ cousins? Did Mary have other children? Does it change the Gospel? We have brothers and sisters who may believe one or the other of these. Respect them and honor that Mary was the mother of our Lord. Beyond this, love your brothers and sisters in faith, just as they are commanded to love you. Our eyes should be on the Lord and not our particular understanding of what we think about these things.

Lord Jesus, in the mystery of the incarnation, You have shown up to save us. Help me to keep my eyes upon You so that I may be guided by the Gospel which You have given me. Take away from me any desire for contention and lead me according to Your will. I have many questions Lord, but You have already given the only answers I truly need. You have come so that I may have a renewed life, and live into becoming what You are creating of me. Clear the path before me so that it will be You alone who guides me. Amen.

“When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.  And He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, with the result that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” (Matthew 13:53-54)

The Holy Spirit opens our minds to understand Scripture.  No longer do we need to be taught to know the Lord, for we understand that He has written the law upon our hearts and from the least to the greatest, there are those who know the Lord.  Regardless of our beginning in this life, the Lord raises us up with His wisdom.  The One, who is all wisdom, stood in their midst.  Is it any wonder that they marveled at what He said?

We often are so judgmental that we do not realize that we are always filtering things through our own ideas of things.  But, when You realize that wisdom is given as it is given, you learn to rejoice when you hear wisdom.  The Lord can and does often speak through the lips of a small child.  Rejoice in wisdom no matter where or from whom it comes.  All wisdom is given by the Lord.

Lord, increase wisdom in me so that I may speak Your word of truth wherever I go.  Guard my lips so that I speak what is fitting as one of Your redeemed.  Take hold of my mind lest the distractions of this world lead me astray.  In all that I do this day, may it be by Your direction.  Thank You for guiding me in the way of righteousness.  Thank You for making this possible through Your grace.  In all things, may I speak Your praise to all whom I encounter.  Amen.

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.”  And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old” (Matthew 13:51-52).

Do you or I really understand these things?  When our minds think of these things, we become confused.  The simple truth is that we can only say “yes” to going into the world and sharing the Good News with others.  What will become of it belongs to the Lord.  We are to do our part. Those who understand this know that they have influence with others, not just for their sake, but for the sake of the kingdom.

Lord, in conformance to Your will, let my “yes” be “yes” and do what You have instructed me to do.  I know that confusion is the “weeds” of the enemy.  Keep me from speculating about results so that I stay on the tasks You give me.  You are the author and finisher of our faith; so, although I care deeply about others, both with hope and with accusation, still, it all remains in Your hands.  Teach me to do what You give me to do.

Holy Spirit, direct me as a head of the household to care for those who are around me.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to know that in You alone am I able to do what You would have me do.  Clear my mind and instruct me in living out the Gospel. Through all that You give, help me to understand more fully the role You would have me play.  Thank You for guiding me in living out this life of faith which You have given me.  Amen.

“So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:47-48).

The call of Jesus is to become those who are righteous through faith.  The righteous look to the Lord for all things.  They know that life comes from Him.  The righteous seek to do what is pleasing to the Lord always.  The ones who reject the Lord will never be happy and blessed, for apart from the Lord, and curved in on ourselves, it is only isolation and loneliness.  How can one be content amongst those who only care for themselves?

Lord, You have created us to be social beings. Help me to see that people are important to You and therefore, need to be to me as well.  You are the one who separates, so help me live with others in the hope that they too will come to possess the life You offer.  Guide me away from judging others to see in them the same hope some saw in me when I was a prodigal.  Guide me into Your grace always.

Come, Holy Spirit, and clear my mind to do the tasks You give me to do.  I am among those whom You have placed around me so that I may live into the life of being one of Your righteous ones whom You have redeemed.  Teach me to give grace as I have received grace so that I may grant grace and mercy to others as I have received grace and mercy.  May I always submit to Your will for me and others.  Amen.