Daily Scripture

6/29/2024 (Sat.) His Presence At The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10)

This month we have been focusing on the presence of God theme in the Gospel of Matthew. But in an ironic twist the theme of the Lord’s presence in this passage is highlighted by His absence (v. 26)! The absence of Jesus’ body from the grave is not only a powerful demonstration of the Lord’s victory over sin and death but is also a valuable lesson about His presence.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary visited Jesus’ tomb at dawn (v. 1). To their shock, an angel of the Lord was present, having rolled back the stone (v. 2). It was such a shocking site that all those present, including not just the women but also trained Roman guards, quivered in fear (vv. 4–5).

Next, the angel gave the women a message that changed everything: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (v. 6). We can be sure that emotions collided in these women’s hearts. Jesus, whom they loved and thought they had lost, was alive! Overwhelmed with both fear and great joy, they ran to deliver the good news to the disciples (v. 8). As they were running away from the tomb it was then that the Lord personally appeared to them, and they clasped His feet and worshiped Him (v. 9).

The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful reminder of God’s presence. The Lord is with us, and His presence is our ultimate source of hope, joy, and life!

What did the women expect to find during their visit to the tomb? What did they discover instead? How does this scene bolster your own faith?

6/28/2024 (Fri.) God's Presence At The Cross (Matthew 27:45-55)

Imagine the profound reaction of those present at the crucifixion of Jesus. Witnessing this event no doubt shook onlookers to the core, leaving them both numb and awestruck. Matthew records one such reaction of the Roman centurion. In the face of Jesus’ death, the man was struck by God’s presence, leading him and others present to declare, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (v. 54).

At the cross, God’s presence was both obscured and powerfully revealed. It was obscured in the darkness and in Jesus’ cry of abandonment. Verse 45 says that “darkness came over all the land.” At the same time, it was revealed in the earth-shaking events that followed Jesus’ last breath when “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open” (v. 51). It was also seen in the transformative impact of Jesus’ death on those who witnessed it (v. 54).

The crucifixion narrative in Matthew 27:45–55 isn’t easy to process, but it bears a potent truth about God’s presence. God is there even during the deepest darkness and the most excruciating pain. As we contemplate the cross today and the powerful events surrounding Jesus’ death, let us be awestruck by God’s profound love and presence. May this reverence move us to declare, like the centurion did, our faith in God.

What did the Roman centurion declare about Jesus? Why did he say what he did? What things led you to declare that Jesus is the Son of God?

6/27/2024 (Thurs.) Sharing His Presence (Matthew 26:17-30)

In our passage Jesus has such a farewell dinner. What is usually called the “Last Supper” was part of a Passover celebration (v. 17). During the meal Jesus breaks the bread (v. 26), representing His body which was to be sacrificed on the cross, and pours out a cup of wine (v. 27), symbolizing His blood to be shed. He then shares these elements with His disciples, inviting them to partake in this ritual meal as object lessons of His sacrifice, His love, His presence. The whole meal provided a remembrance of His presence among them, but at this point Jesus states that He will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until they are all physically reunited again in the Father’s kingdom (v. 29).

When we participate in communion, not only is the Lord the original host of this ordinance, but He also directs our attention to a future time of observance when we will all be together with Him and He will once again partake of the fruit of the vine in celebration of our physical unification with Him in the “Father’s kingdom” (v. 29).

The Last Supper serves as a powerful symbol of God’s love and presence. Jesus, on the eve of His crucifixion, chooses to dine with His disciples, sharing with them not only the Passover meal but ultimately Himself. In His words and actions, He reveals God’s intimate, sacrificial love for humanity and the reality of the Lord’s presence in our midst.

What do the elements of the Lord’s Supper represent? What does it mean when we participate in a communion service?

6/26/2024 (Wed.) God's Presence in Watchfulness (Matthew 24:42-51)

In Matthew 24:42–51, Jesus calls us to a state of constant watchfulness in the light of His coming physical presence. Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of being prepared. Like a homeowner who doesn’t know when a thief might strike, we must stay alert (v. 43). We are encouraged to keep our spiritual house in order and stay alert for the signs of His coming.

In addition, the parable of the two servants urges us to use our God- given gifts wisely and responsibly (vv. 45–51). The faithful and wise servant, who is ready when his master returns, is contrasted with the wicked servant, who lets his guard down. Jesus states that the master “will come on a day when he does not expect him” (v. 50).

The Lord’s presence is not just a comforting past experience or simply a future hope. Rather, it’s an everyday reality that calls us to a higher standard of living in the present. In the busyness of our lives, we may be tempted to become like the unwise servant, complacent, and negligent of our duties. But the Lord calls us to live differently—to stay awake, keep watch, and act responsibly.

Living with anticipation transforms us. It turns our waiting into watchfulness, our complacency into alertness, and our responsibilities into acts of faithfulness, not rituals. Ask yourself today how eagerly you are looking for the return of Jesus. Seek tangible ways that the Lord’s presence can empower you to stay awake, live wisely, and remain faithful.

What changes would you make if you knew the Lord would return today? What would shift? What would you stop? What would you begin?

6/25/2024 (Tues.) God's Presence in Serving Others (Matthew 25:31-46)

Here, in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats (vv. 31–40), Jesus surveys all the people from all nations, separating them into two groups: sheep and goats (v. 31). One is given “eternal punishment” the other “eternal life” (v. 46). Jesus uses a unique method to tell one group from the other; and He identified with “the least of these”—the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner (vv. 35–39). When we act in love to them, we encounter the living Lord Himself. By neglecting them, we turn our backs on Jesus and risk incurring future punishment.

Jesus calls us to be people of compassion. God’s presence is not only found in expected places, for example where we regularly meet to worship with other believers, but also through our humble acts of kindness toward others. We are to cultivate a heart of compassion toward “the least of these” (v. 40) because when we do reach out to those in need around us, we are doing it as if the recipient was Jesus Himself. The words of Jesus are both sobering and enlightening: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (v. 40). Jesus’ presence, then, is intricately intertwined with our actions and interactions with others, especially those on society’s margins.

What was your reaction to the parable of the Sheep and the Goats? Which group better reflects your actions toward others? How can you cultivate a heart of compassion?

6/23/2024 (Lord's) Eternity in His Presence (Matthew 22:23-33)

In Matthew 22:23–33, Jesus confronts those who were misunderstanding something important. The Sadducees were a wealthy and powerful religious group. They believed in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and emphasized individual free will. They also did not believe in life after death, so their question to Jesus was dishonest. They questioned Jesus about marriage, hoping to trap Him (v. 23). Their question revealed that they did not fully comprehend what happened after death and what it would be like to be in God’s presence for eternity. Jesus responded by affirming the reality of the resurrection and the eternality of God’s presence. He corrected their misunderstanding: “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (v. 32). The apostle Paul tackled this issue in 1 Corinthians: “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (20:15).

The Sadducees needed guidance and clarity. God’s presence is not limited to our earthly existence; it’s eternal, encompassing both the now and the everlasting. His presence spans beyond our temporal understanding into an eternal reality. This knowledge should inspire awe, devotion, and joy in us and motivate us to dig deeper into His Word and seek to live more fully in His presence.

Jesus was critical of those who “do not know the scriptures or the power of God” (v. 29). It reminds us not to take lightly the privilege we have been given of reading and learning from God’s Word.

What did the Sadducees believe? Why were they wrong? What are some popular ideas about God and eternity in our culture that are antibiblical?