THE WEDDING GARMENT
Matthew 22:8–14
So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Matthew 22:12
In today’s lesson, the king invites everyone from the streets to the wedding feast after the first guests turn them down. One guest fails to arrive in appropriate wedding attire. Having failed to provide the king with an answer, the guest was banished into the night. This verse is a picture of God welcoming all people into His kingdom, regardless of their background. However, it also emphasizes the significance of responding to the call of God with reverence and preparedness, emphasizing the necessity of genuine faith and commitment to God. The man who was not dressed appropriately symbolizes the need for genuine repentance and changed life as a requirement to enter God’s kingdom.
God’s arms are open to receive you no matter how far or deep you are in sin, but to be admitted, you must come with a humble and repentant heart, ready to turn away from your old ways and embrace a new life in Christ. Righteousness and holiness are attained by faith in Christ. So, you must also be more than willing to strive to “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12 NIV) Constantly seek to align your life with God’s will and purpose. Remember, true faith is not just a one-time decision but a daily commitment to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to walk in righteousness and holiness, striving daily to live out my faith in Christ. Amen.
BE HUMBLE
Matthew 23:1-12
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12
In today’s passage, Jesus condemns the Pharisees and scribes for their arrogance and hypocrisy. He gives the masses and disciples instructions to heed the teachings of these religious authorities but cautions against copying their behaviour. Jesus criticizes their extravagant shows of religiosity while ignoring justice, mercy, and loyalty, highlighting their thirst for power and recognition. He emphasizes the importance of humility and genuine faith in God, reminding us that true greatness comes from serving others with a humble heart. As believers, we are urged to serve others instead of pursuing titles and positions of power. Making a comparison between the arrogance of the Pharisees and the virtue of humility, Jesus emphasizes that true spiritual leadership originates from a humble heart.
People who put themselves above others will be humbled, while those who are humble will be exalted. This message discourages self-promotion and haughty outbursts, instead encouraging meekness. It inspires us to put serving others and demonstrating genuine humility above obtaining positions of power. It is a reflection of Jesus’s teachings and calls for a shift from a self-centred position to a humble position. Humility is a transformative virtue that strengthens character and fosters compassion for others. Can you say for sure that you have truly embraced humility, or is there still room for growth in this area? Let Jesus’s teachings on humility guide you on your journey toward becoming a more humble person.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to stay humble and take away any form of pride from my life. Amen.
THE WOES OF HYPOCRISY
Matthew 23:16-28
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:28
Hypocrisy is pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not have. It is the insincerity of the expression of an agreement that is not backed by conviction. It is showmanship that is intended to mislead. It is the performance of an act or character to impress or deceive people. It is the contradiction between a person and a scripted personality. It is the disagreement between what is said by the mouth and what is believed in the heart.
Hypocrisy can make a person spend so much to give a false impression. The Lord Jesus saw through the showmanship of the Pharisees and Scribes who were the religious leaders of His time. As we ponder on these words of the Lord against the hypocritical religious leaders, we must look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s word to check if we are not just playing a role to fit a described expectation. Are you fixated on creating an outward appearance to be righteous or are you righteous? Are you busy with the work in the church without a genuine relationship with Jesus? There is a curse attached to all hypocrisy. The grace of the Lord changes a man from the inside out. This is how one becomes righteous on the inside and exudes righteousness on the outside.
Prayer
Lord, help me to repent from every hypocrisy and to worship You sincerely in spirit and truth. Amen.
STAY VIGILANT
Matthew 24:1–8
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. Matthew 24:4
Here, Jesus warns that the temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. He cautions His disciples of impending calamities, wars, famines, earthquakes, and false messiahs. Jesus warns us not to be fooled by these signs, which indicate a time of great hardship and signify the start of labour pangs. Jesus’ prophetic insight is shown in this chapter, which lists the warning signals of the end times. It emphasizes the necessity for discernment and solid faith in the face of problems and societal disruptions, serving as a reminder to be watchful and spiritually prepared during turbulent occurrences.
Being vigilant means keeping a close eye out for any threats or challenges. It exhorts continual vigilance against false teachings, mirroring Jesus’ warning against deception. It emphasizes the need for a discernible mind in these chaotic times and exhorts us believers to continue being wise and spiritually aware. Do you find yourself questioning your salvation or the stated facts and truths in the Bible because of your present situation? Have false teachings from false prophets or anti-scriptural ideas from unbelieving friends overtaken you? Take heed and stay vigilant!
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to be vigilant. Help me not to fall prey to false doctrines and teachings. Amen.
ASK!
2 Chronicles 1: 6-10
“On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” 2 Chronicles1:7
Through the death of Jesus Christ, we now have access to God’s throne. We must come to God, as children to the Father in Heaven, with reverence and confidence. God is all-knowing, aware of all our struggles, challenges, defeats, problems and needs yet He enjoins us to ask. Seeking God’s face through prayers does not mean He isn’t aware of our needs rather it proves that we trust God and acknowledge Him. The reason many believers don’t receive is because they don’t ask. How often do you seek the face of the Lord regarding your challenges? Many people resort first to human help and make the Lord their last option. Seeking God’s face shows that we rely on Him to help us.
God’s response to Solomon was to “Ask,” therefore He expects us to ask Him as our source of support and supply. He promises an answer to anyone who diligently seeks Him. God values persistence and perseverance in prayers. No matter how little or big the need is, ask. He is capable and willing to attend to His children who put their trust in Him. May the Lord renew our minds and help us to effectively seek His face in our times of need.
Prayer
Heavenly Father I thank You for the grace to make my requests known to You, I pray that You meet my every need today and help me to continually seek Your face. Amen.
THE QUEST FOR WISDOM
2 Chronicles 1:6-5
Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; Proverbs 24:3
Wisdom is essential in every sphere of life. The application of wisdom is inevitable to our existence on earth. The decision of how to relate to people, choose careers, decide on a life partner, etc. can be done effectively when wisdom is available. From our memory verse today, it is worthy to note that wisdom is very important to any person. The furnishings, structuring, and development of a house can only be achieved by wisdom. On the contrary, without wisdom, a house is doomed to be destroyed. King Solomon realized that what he needed in that phase was beyond material resources, he requested something that would stand the test of time. He asked God for wisdom to lead his people. He did not ask for wealth. Wealth without wisdom can destroy a man.
Beloved let us utilize every opportunity to connect to God’s wisdom and receive from Him. God was pleased with Solomon’s request because he asked for what was important. He was blessed with riches and wealth because God knew that he could handle it. Wisdom is a bountiful blessing that is available through faith. Do you desire wisdom today? Ask God and you shall receive it (James 1:5-6).
Prayer
Dear Lord, fill me with Your divine wisdom. Help me to make the right decisions and right choices. Amen.
GETTING THE JOB DONE
2 Chronicles 2:1-2, 7-18
“And he made seventy thousand of them bearers of burdens, eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountain, and three thousand six hundred overseers to make the people work.” 2 Chronicles 2:18.
People who ensure that others do the required jobs and assignments are seen as leaders. This is done by delegating and assigning specific jobs to specific people. No leader is expected to do all the work. The challenge of leadership is selling the vision for people to buy into it and inspiring people to work towards the goal. You may force people to do a particular thing but this is unsustainable. People will go all out to fulfil a goal if they feel that they are important components or players in it.
King Solomon understood delegation and oversight functions. He knew the value of assigning the right people for the right jobs. He understood the virtue of asking for help when necessary. No leader should assume omniscience. Leaders must be humble and have the good sense to ask for help when needed or learn new ways of getting a job done. He sought for highly skilled individuals to perform highly skilled jobs. Do not assign tasks out of sentiments or to compensate for long-term service. You will bear the frustration of sloppy work at the end. King Solomon also appreciated the importance of having overseers and inspectors “to make the people work.” According to Louis V. Gerstner, “People don’t do what you expect but what you inspect.” It should be noted that these overseers may not necessarily understand the technicalities of the job but they are people who know how to inspire and make others work. Leaders sometimes make the mistake of giving people jobs they aren’t suited for and complain when the job is not done. The first thing is to study the people and understand their strengths and weaknesses. No matter how strong a lion is, it cannot fly. Proper positioning is key.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I receive Your wisdom today to lead in such a way to get the job done well, and in time. Amen.
French 
English