February 6 (Shevat 12) ~ Matthew 20

A MOTHER'S WISH

S - Scripture: Matthew 20:1-34

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of him. v.20

O - Observations:

The first observation I see today in reading this passage is that our God is a JUST Judge. Fair and righteous and true. (vs.1-16)

Before the second observation I want to make a quick note that I did not know before today: Salome (Hebrew, "shalom", "peace"), is said to be the younger sister of Mary (mother of Jesus). She was a follower of Jesus, who appears briefly in the canonical gospels, and who appears in more detail in apocryphal writings. She was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John, two of the Apostles of Jesus. Knowing this and the close relation she was to Jesus (his aunt) may help us understand more why she asked what she did ...

The second observation I see today is in the statement about the mother who came worshipping, and desiring a certain thing. I do not know if this was the case with Salome, and it probably was not, it is probably just the way our English translation sounds, but nonetheless it is true that many come to Christ "worshipping" Him in order to gain what they desire. We must worship in Spirit and in TRUTH! In all fairness to Salome; however, in the v.21 her request was no different than any other mother which is for Christ to make our children great in the Kingdom of Heaven. What was Christ's response? "... Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of ..." We want good things for our children, but here Christ is saying sometimes the good cometh a hard way.

I remember a prayer I prayed about 17 years ago for someone I loved and what followed were some hard things and I remember wondering if those things were a means to an answer to the prayer I prayed.

To be great must mean we become last, we become ministers to those around us, servants. Christ did not come the first time to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28), to wash His disciples feet and to lay down His life for you and me. What mother prays that their children go through all that Christ went through? To be poor and lowly and to serve others and die a harsh death? I'm not suggesting we pray or wish these kind of things for our children, but at the same time when we are praying for our children to grow up in to a personal relationship with Christ and for godliness and righteousness to come forth from their lives we must not be short sighted. No, we as mothers certainly do not want our children or our children's children to suffer or perhaps face some of the hardships we have faced, but at the same time let's remember the truth of the word ...

" ... despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4

Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33

"Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." James 1:2-4 NLT

It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. II Timothy 3:17


A - Application for me today:

II Peter 1:3-11
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self‑control; and to self‑control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

P - Prayer in response:

Father, as a daughter of yours and a mother of my two beautiful girls, gifts from you, I understand that your Kingdom is different than the kingdoms of this world. In your Kingdom the last shall be first and the first shall be last, those who serve are elevated to higher places, those who are humble are lifted up. Produce in me and my children character suited for Your Kingdom so we can receive a rich welcome into eternal life. Bring us to repentance and pour your love into our hearts.

In the character producing name of Yeshua, our LORD I pray, Amen & Amen.

Let Him pour His love into your heart today!