A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

JESUS MINISTERED TO BODY AND SOUL   

Matthew 4:24-25 “News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan followed Him.”   

Matthew wrote in chapter 9:35 that Jesus, as He walked from place to place, when He saw the tremendous physical and spiritual needs of the people, “. . . had compassion on them.” Jesus’ compassion for the disabled, hurting, lonely, disenfranchised, hungry, and spiritually destitute had no limits. He demonstrated His deep care and concern to these people performing countless healing miracles, feeding those who were without food and forgiving sins of the penitent.   

Jesus says to you, “even as I have loved you love one another.” True, you are not capable of performing healing miracles as Jesus did. But, you know the love of God for all people. You can tell them the good news that Christ Jesus died for them on Calvary’s cross. You can feed the hungry or provide food/money to food banks who in turn will feed them on your behalf.   

God is full of love and mercy for all people. It is His desire that the followers of His Son emulate the ministry of His Son by feeding the hungry, providing clothing for those without, giving appropriate financial assistance where needed. You are the mouth, hands, and feet of God here on this earth taking His love to the lost, poor, hurting in this world.   

Matthew 25 tells what it will be like at the time when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead. Matthew quotes what Jesus will say to those who lived and died believing in Him and doing His will, “Whatever you did to the least . . . you did it unto Me.”   

Prayer: Holy Spirit, create in me a heart filled with compassion for people like that with which Jesus ministered to the people when He walked this earth that through my actions toward them and the Good News of God’s love for them I proclaim they will come to know and believe in Jesus as their personal Savior. In His holy name. Amen. 

O Son of God in Galilee You made the deaf to hear,
The mute to speak, the blind to see; O blessed Lord, be near. 

O listen to the silent prayer Of Your afflicted ones.
O bid them cast on You their care; our grace to them make known. 

The speechless tongue, the lifeless ear You can restore, O Lord;
Your “Ephphatha,” O Savior dear, Can instant help afford. 

Meanwhile to them the list’ning ear Of steadfast faith impart,
And let Your Word bring light and cheer To ev’ry troubled heart. 

Then in Your promised happy land Each loss will prove again;
All mystr’ries we shall understand, For You will make them plain.  (LSB 841)