Matthew 8:18-22 Fox Dens and Bird Nests
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 22, 2019, Matthew 8:18-22
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
(Understanding the Text) I guess this is the other side of the lake. The crowd had gathered around Peter’s house for healing, so Jesus decided that it was best if he took his crowds out of the town. Also, He was trying to keep the crowds to a minimum at this point because it was not yet time to be the focus of the attention of the rulers of the Jews and the Romans. I think verse 18 should have been grouped with 17, and verses 19-22 separated from it.
Matthew is now focusing on a lesson, so the incidents that he describes might not have taken place together chronologically. Matthew is just trying to tell his readers that Jesus expected His followers to place Him first in their lives and that following Jesus would not be easy. The scribe was used to an easy life of economic security, shelter, and regular food. Jesus was warning the scribe that following Him would take all of those conveniences and necessities away. It would be interesting to know if the scribe actually followed Jesus or not. Jesus was telling the man who wanted to go bury his father that if he delayed, he would not follow. Jesus was saying that the man was just giving an excuse to delay a decision to follow Jesus rather than having a legitimate excuse. Did Jesus ask the man to follow Him, or did the man approach Jesus?
(Revelation of God / Application) Why did Jesus speak so negatively? Guzik’s commentary says “3. Why did Jesus discourage these potential disciples? a. Unlike most modern evangelists, He was interested more in quality than in quantity. ‘Nothing has done more harm to Christianity than the practice of filling the ranks of Christ’s army with every volunteer who is willing to make a little profession, and to talk fluently of experience.’ (Bishop Ryle) b. In addition, Jesus was merely being honest. This is what it meant to follow Him, and He wanted people to know it at the outset.” I think the latter reason is more realistic. Honesty is an integral part of who God is. Satan is the liar. Unfortunately, too many Christians think that a little dishonesty in the cause is good. One of the problems that I had with being a literature evangelist many years ago was that they were not 100% up front about who they were. They made me think that I needed to hide that I was SDA when I went into someone’s home. I knew it was wrong, and the few times I followed that guidance, I was disgusted with myself. It led to sin. It’s better to be up front and let the Spirit worry about how to achieve success. Honesty is the best policy.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I need to follow You all the way with every aspect of my life. I need to discount my own physical comfort to follow You. I can’t do that very well, so I need Your strength to do these things. I am easily distracted and easily injured. I pray for healing and to serve You as You wish me to.