“Then some children were brought to Him so that He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  After laying His hands on them, He departed from there” (Matthew 19:13-15).

In this world we have expectations of how people ought to behave.  Children are children and they will behave as they behave.  There is a beneficial conformity, and then there is peer pressure.  Adults sometimes are very dismissive of children, forgetting that as children they were hurt by being dismissed by adults.  Everyone is precious in the sight of the Lord. So treat all others as you want to be treated.

Heavenly Father, You have created us to experience life as we should.  We are filled with expectations, but You have placed in us wonder and joy.  Where there is loss in what You have created, replace it.  Where there has been sinful hiding from who we are in Your eyes, give us faith to repent it.  You know what needs to happen for us to be Your child.  Do allow anything to hinder us from being Your children.

Lord Jesus, with great love you speak the truth to us.  Help me to receive what You give me not as I see through my eyes, but by Your grace through faith.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Restore what has been lost and remove what needs to be removed from my life so that I become more and more like You.  Help me to see others the way You do and learn to love them with Your love.  Amen.

For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by people; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this, let him accept it” (Matthew 19:12).

We are what we are, whether from birth, by circumstances, or by choice.  Learn to accept who you are, most especially the truth that, in faith, it really is a matter of whose you are.  You were redeemed at a price.  Jesus shed His blood to eternally redeem you, that where He is You will one day be.  Too often, we fret over our circumstance.  You are where the Lord knows you need to be.

Lord, I look around and compare myself to others.  You are making of me that which You will make me.  Help me to not resist what You are doing in my life.  Guide me away from looking to others, or even myself, but look to You.  You are the author and finisher of my faith.  Guide me in the goodness of the Father to accept what I cannot change as You change me into what You know I will become.

Lord Jesus, You are our leader, the King.  You have come so that I may live into the true life for which You have redeemed me.  You have taken away things that need to be taken away.  You have created in me things that make me uncomfortable.  And You are taking me to new places.  Keep me from any resistance and place in my heart joy that You are conforming me to Your image.  Help me to faithfully accept all that You are doing in my life.  Amen.

“The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.”  But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given” (Matthew 19:10-11).

There is a difference between living with what we think is right and the reality in which we find ourselves.  We can go to the place where we make such sweeping statements.  Notice what the Lord says.  He is filled with compassion for our sinful state.  Do not make broad declarations which apply to only a few.  Our Lord will take us from where we are and move us to where we need to be.

Lord, You have given us the gift of marriage.  Beyond the reality of bringing forth the generations, there are many things we learn through marriage which teach us how it was meant to be from the beginning.  Lead me, Lord, so that I do not just think of myself, but others, and willingly see them through Your eyes.  Through faith, help me live the message You have given me that they may come to know You.

Lord Jesus, all things have been put into place for Your own purposes.  I only know in part.  Help me to live the portion You have shown me.  In this world filled with broken people, guide me to live graciously with kindness and mercy.  Except for Your grace, I would be like the worst of them.  Continue to be the One Who leads me in all circumstances and guides me to be compassionate and loving. Amen.

“He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.  And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery” (Matthew 19:8-9).

Because of the hardness of our hearts, we are permitted divorce, but it has not been this way from the beginning.  God has told us the order of things, but we twist things around to do what is right in our own mind.  This perverts what God has intended.  The righteous do not live this way.  The Lord is creating in us clean and pure hearts that love as He loves.  Be led by how the Lord intends things to be.

Lord, help me to not stray from the narrow path by looking for excuses to do what I want.  But also, let me not go down the wide road of self-righteousness.  Many things happen in this age in which our world is filled with broken people and relationships.  Each has its own story which tells the truth that this is not what You have intended.  Keep me away from immorality and lead me in the way of purity.

Lord, I too have the sin-sickness of having a hard heart.  Raise in me compassion, mercy, and grace for others and keep me from living as though I understand these things.  I do not.  Help me to look to You and lead me through all the pride, hardness of heart, and other difficulties that come my way.  May I not take the wide road of what is allowed in this age but live in the way that You have intended from the beginning.  Amen.

“They said to Him, “Why, then, did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (Matthew 19:7)

Never satisfied with an answer, there are those who will keep pressing.  Why?  They are an authority in their own mind.  Pride is what brought down the devil and pride is what brings evil upon this world.  Be wary of pride and what it can and will do.  Why did Moses command?  Notice they are not asking this about God, but about His servant.  Beware of those who with deceit keep driving their point.

Lord, pride is in me and loves to strut around in my mind.  A haughty spirit goes before a fall.  There are all kinds of things that let us off the hook in this age but help me to see through these traps and live into the life of righteousness to which You are calling me.  Worldly certificates and honors that feed our pride mean nothing spiritually.  You have told me it is my immortal soul, which You are grooming to be in a love relationship with You forever, that is more important.

Lord Jesus, I have asked You these kinds of questions as well.  Help me to move away from the constant questions to focus upon the relationships You have established for me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to hear when You speak and to truly listen.  Help me avoid things that seem to let me do what I want in order that I may do what is pleasing to the Father.  Guide me in the everlasting way of life, Lord.  Amen.

“And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate” (Matthew 19:4-6).

God intends that we stay in those relationships He has formed.  There is more than the earthly circumstances here.  Our Lord is teaching us how to live.  From the beginning, the Lord has established order for family and society.  We are to treat relationships as a uniting together.  When we harm a relationship, we harm ourselves.  No one is to separate what God has joined together.

These simple words go beyond the marriage relationship.  We are to seek unity in every relationship, marriage, family or friendship.  We have heard that our Lord asked the Father to make us one even as the Son and the Father are One.  We are called to live in relationships.  Our Lord will guide us, if we are willing, into understanding more fully what this means.  Do not be led by this world, but by the Creator of all worlds.

Lord Jesus, You know that we know how to play games, pretending to be obedient, when really, we are being selfish.  Lead me out of myself to recognize that every relationship that You create is sacred.  Sin does happen and things do become impossible, but never let the impossibility be because of my actions.  Guide me to learn how to bear all things bearable for the sake of Your kingdom.  Lead me in the upward call of righteousness.  Amen.

“Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” (Matthew 19:3)

How often is the Lord put to the test?  With unbelief, we sometimes do not understand the very simple truth that with God, all things are possible.  The Lord has given us His commandments and He has told us the order of His creation.  When it doesn’t please us, we look for excuses to be rid of what hinders us.  Is it lawful?  That is the wrong question.  Lord, what would you have me do?  That is the question we should ask.

Lord, You know that I sometimes look for a way out of a situation.  I want to know what I can do to rid myself of a difficulty.  Help me to shift my thinking so that I am looking to You as the One who guides me.  Even when I do not understand, help me to not rely upon my own power or thinking, but come to the place where I am willing to do things the way You direct me to do them.  Teach me how to be guided by You in all things.

Lord Jesus, keep me from putting You to the test.  Help me not go to the place where I am looking for a legal way out.  Instead, guide me ever deeper in living the righteousness that You give.  You know the person You are making of me.  Help me to not be a hindrance to what You are doing, but in every circumstance, grant that I would be a willing participant of Your leading and guidance.  Amen.

“When Jesus had finished these words, He left Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there” (Matthew 19:1-2).

Crowds were always following Jesus, but we are invited not to just be a part of a crowd looking for something, but in fellowship with Him.  If we will walk as His disciples, we will learn from Him how life was created to be lived.  Jesus does heal us, but it is not just for this life.  He calls for us to seek the greater life that He gives which leads to life eternal.  Do not be content with just being a part of the crowd but seek His righteousness.

Lord, I am often lost in my own world where I am content with just enough.  Let me never be content in this world but press on in faith to seek Your righteousness.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to understand that in You alone is there new life which leads to life eternal.  Help me to take the extra steps each day, doing what You give me to do, listening and obeying as Your Holy Spirit guides me.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, out of the rush of the crowds of this age to abide with You, wherever You may lead and walk in Your counsel.  You know all that I need.  You know the direction I need to go.  Help me to not settle for worldly ways, but continue on the path You have set before me as I become more and more what You are making of me.  Thank You Lord for reaching out and taking my hand.  May I always hold onto You as You lead me.  Amen.  

“And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him.  My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:34-35)

True judgement includes true justice.  Heaven will not allow wickedness through its doors.  Relationship is what we are called into.  Relationship is what the Lord is teaching us to have.  We do not trample over each other as those in the world do but work together side by side for the sake of the kingdom.  Do not let wickedness reside in your heart but learn how to forgive others as you have been forgiven.

Lord, this is often a difficult thing to do.  There are those who have hurt me deeply.  I do understand that when I harbor resentment at the hurt imposed by another, I allow them to continue to hurt me, and my effort to forgive often fails.  Guide me out of the pit so that I learn for my sake how to be truly forgiving.  Lead me up and out of the way of this world so that I see in others a glimpse of You.

Lord Jesus, I know everyone around me is a precious one for whom You died.  You love each one of us.  When I reach the end of myself and cannot forgive, come and lead me on to forgive others through faith in You.  Take me through the obstacles that get in the way and never let me stop searching the Father’s will for my life.  Through Your Holy Spirit, take me through the barrier of an unforgiving attitude so that I may forgive others as I have been forgiven.  Amen.

“Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’” (Matthew 18:33)

Will you not treat others as you are treated?  Are others beneath your dignity?  How we treat others reflects whether we have love within us.  Our salvation is based upon coming into the loving relationship of Trinity and then reflecting that love from deep within us to those around us.  If we do not have love, we are just so much “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”  We do need to learn how to have mercy upon others as the Lord has had mercy upon us.

Lord, You know where my heart has those secret places where I am nowhere near being like Jesus.  Continue to work deep within me to remove my selfish desires where I do not love others as You love me.  In my heart, I know it does no good to win prizes or gain advantages, for You have called me into a life that loves You above all things.  Teach me how to love my neighbor as I love myself.

Lord Jesus, I hear these words and I may understand them with my mind, but my heart is often far away.  Bring all of me into Your presence and lead me in Your goodness to realize that You will not stop helping me until I am filled with love as You are.  Take me from where I am to where I need to be.  Keep me on the way You know I need to go.  Guide me always on the narrow way of everlasting life, dear Savior.  Amen.