Matthew 14:3-4

Life is uncertain, but it’s not a complete mystery. God has allowed us to know who he is, what he thinks of us, and what he will do for us. Begin to discover this in just five minutes a day—and as you do, we pray your faith, hope, and love for him will grow.

Scripture frequently calls us to hold couplets of seemingly opposing truths in tension. For example, plan for tomorrow AND don't worry about it, enjoy restful “self-care” AND embrace self-sacrifice, desire good things AND be content. Join me as we explore five pieces of “double-sided wisdom,” mining seemingly minor nuances for major truths to apply to our work today!

Matthew writes to God’s people and walks them on a journey that will take them from where they are to be Disciple Makers. This is 15 of 27 devotional plans walking us through the book of Matthew. Jesus finishes the section on the parables—lots of key Kingdom truths. Then we see Jesus' response to being misunderstood and to having spiritual strength in such times. 

He lived in the wild, wore weird clothes, had an appetite for bugs, and an aptitude for berating people. But, despite John the Baptist’s eccentric appearance and lifestyle, Jesus claimed “there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matt. 11:11). Who was John the Baptist? What made him so great? Perhaps, most importantly, what can we learn from him about true greatness in God’s kingdom?