“They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”  Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him” (Matthew 20:33-34).

Lord, we want to see.  The Lord has compassion, and He will open the eyes of those who do not see.  It is the same now.  Many who see with human eyes only are blind.  There are those who are physically blind who see.  The Lord has compassion for us and desires that we not perish.  He wants us to turn to His salvation, see, and begin the journey of living into eternal life.  Come to the Lord and He will give you insight to see things as they are.

Lord, I am blind.  I am blind to compassion, mercy, and grace.  I am blind to the suffering around me.  I shield myself in my little world and seek the things I think will make me happy.  Lead me out of living just for this body, which will perish, so that I live for You and live this life unto the eternal life for which You created me.  Guide me out of this mess to see things as they are and live the way You created me to live.

Lord Jesus, heal my sight.  Seeing, let me see things as You would have me see.  Guide me up and out of worldly thinking to come to the place where I have compassion, grace, and mercy for others.  Through all that comes my way, guide me to become more and more like You, doing what the Father gives me to do.  Give me insight so that I see more clearly and live more faithfully.  Amen.

“But the crowd sternly warned them to be quiet; yet they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:31-32)

Crowds are always speaking an opinion that runs contrary to what the Lord is going to do.  Pay attention to what is said, not to follow, but to understand that we are often led by the crowd and not by our Lord.  Listen and learn.  Our Lord asks, “What do you want me to do?”  Ask Him and see what He will do.  Asking is not telling, so be bold and ask.  Has not our Lord said that we do not receive because we do not ask?

Lord, teach me to ask with the right motive.  Lead me in the direction of hearing what the crowd is saying so that I understand when it is You who is giving me the right answer.  There are people all around me who are in need of mercy.  Guide me to have discernment so that I humbly walk in the way of obedience to Your word amidst the cacophony of this world’s shouts.  Teach me how to be faithful to You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead all who believe in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me this day to humbly walk in the way of faith.  Shut my mind to the calls of the crowds of this age and open my mind to Your word of truth.  Guide me in the faith You have given me and help me to be bold in the call to serve others so that I am faithful to Your call.  Guide me, Jesus, in the way You would have me live today.  Amen.

“As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.  And two people who were blind, sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 20:29-30)

Lord, grant me this which I do not deserve; but that simple attitude seems to be rare in our day.  What we deserve and what we desire are most often two different things.  Come to the Lord asking for mercy.  Asking with the right attitude and motive makes a difference. The Lord is merciful to us.  It is not what we deserve, but what He gives.  You have been saved because of His mercy and grace.

Lord, I have been healed of the blindness of this age through Your mercy.  Why me?  I do not know, but You have given me mercy and grace.  Guide me to give others what You have given me.  Lead me to see with new eyes to see things as I have not seen them before.  Lead me out of the mire of this age to see things through Your love, being merciful to others as You have been merciful to me.

Guide me Lord Jesus in the way life is meant to be lived.  You are the author of this faith You have given me.  Teach me to see things as You see them.  Lead me so that I am merciful to others.  Teach me what mercy means.  Throughout the things that will come my way this day, help me to live into the life You have given me knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Amen.

“It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-27).

The kingdom of God is built upon relationship.  It is not a matter of greater of lesser, for God is above all, but about relating one to the other.  We are to care for our neighbor as we need to be cared for.  All others are to be seen with compassion.  Serve others knowing that You are serving the Lord.  Treat others as you would treat the Lord.  Be led by the Holy Spirit to be one who does what is asked by the Lord.

Lord, this is such a different way of thinking.  This world seeks to get ahead.  But there is no real purpose in that.  The kingdom is built upon us relating to one another in love.  One does not think of getting ahead when being in godly relationship, but in terms of serving others.  Learn how to serve others as you need and sometimes even want to be served.    Love others as you love yourself, for this is the instruction of  law and the prophets.

Lord Jesus, I understand the principle of this, but the world has such a hold on me that I often am not able to overcome the pull of this world.  Lead me out of myself and into You.  Guide me to understand more fully what this truly means.  Lead me into a life that serves others.  Lead me to be like You who sees that every encounter is an opportunity to serve others as You would have me serve them.  Teach me how to be faithful to You.  Amen.

“And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers.  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them” (Matthew 20:24-25).

This world is filled with those who believe that scrambling to the top (whatever that is) is what makes or breaks a person.  This world is filled with those who seem to do very little that is meaningful.  You have been called by the Lord of all to humbly walk with Him.  The call before you is to go where He leads you and become whom He is making you to be.  Be guided by our Lord and not by the insanity of this world.

Lord, You know the struggle that goes on inside of me.  All around me is the pressure to succeed.  Inside of me is the desire to give up.  The rat race of this world is tiring.  Grant me Your peace and lead me in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You in the way of everlasting life.  Help me now and always to look to You as the only source of life.

Lord Jesus, teach me to be in but not of this world.  Help me to understand that the self-centered way of this world will not be the way of Your Kingdom.  Guide me in the life You have in store for me and help me to keep my eyes upon You always.  You know all that I need.  Grant that I would live in the peace You give and walk in the way You would have me walk.  Let me be one who serves You by serving others.  Amen.

“But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.”  He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit at My right and at My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father” (Matthew 20:22-23).

The cup which Jesus drank is the cup all faithful followers will drink.  It is the cup of suffering.  The world would push us to make it the cup of bitterness but remember that our Lord has placed us where we are, and all things have their reason.  Do not strive for what you might think is right, but for what the Lord tells you.  Be prepared in season and out of season to share the hope with others that you have in Christ.

Lord, teach me.  This world is often a confusing place.  You have placed in me Your Holy Spirit to be guided by You.  I do not always know how to deal with so many of the things You have placed before me.  Guide me so that I may humbly walk in Your presence and live the life You have given me.  Let me not taste bitterness, but taste and see that You are always good.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, for You know the struggle of what it means to be human.  You know the daily disappointments, but also the simple joys that are present each day.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You, doing what You give me to do.  Lead me on the upward path so that I may humbly learn from You in all circumstances how to be faithful to the call You have given me.  Amen.

“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him.  And He said to her, “What do you desire?” She said to Him, “Say that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine shall sit, one at Your right, and one at Your left” (Matthew 20:20-21).

This world teaches us to get ahead, look for the highest position and seek greater status.  God needs none of these things.  We need none of these things.  God has made you to be humble.  Be whom the Lord has made you to be.  Pride is what took down the devil and pride is what rules this age.  Be content with your circumstances and seek to do what is pleasing to the Lord.  In all things, serve Him.

Holy Spirit, You know the struggle that is within me.  I seek to get ahead and be someone others look up to.  I want positions that others look at and think me better than I am.  Take this away from me so that I may learn humility and be guided to become what You are making of me.  Guide me in the way of becoming like Jesus so that I seek the righteousness You give and live the life You have given me to live.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your patience and guidance.  You have taught all of us how life is to be lived.  Let me accept what You would have me do and be content with where I am in this world.  Lead me to love You above all things and not fall for the temptation of being someone that is neither fruitful, nor helpful to Your kingdom or to me.  Guide me in living the life You have given me and teach me to be faithful.  Amen.

“As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the road He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and flog and crucify, and on the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 20:17-19).

How would you receive this news?  We like happy, exciting news of glory and the coming kingdom.  We do not like hearing the cost of it.  Jesus has come to redeem those who will come into His presence.  He paid the price for our sake none of us could even begin to imagine.  He does what needs to be done.  Never forget that you were purchased for a great price.  Jesus died for our sin, for our salvation.

Almighty God, Your goodness and mercy are unsurpassed.  It is hard to fathom the price You willingly paid for our sake.  We like to focus upon the good things and often forget that You have redeemed us from a world that is bent upon hell.  Help Your faithful to never forget the price You have paid so that we, steeped in sin, but saved by Your grace,  may be presented before You without spot or blemish.

Lord Jesus, You speak to us words that are hard to bear.  You have born our iniquity that we might be freed from the recompense of sin.  So lead all who call upon Your name to humbly submit to You as the One who saves.  Guide me this day to humbly go where You send me and do what You give me to do.  Amen.

“Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’  So the last shall be first, and the first, last” (Matthew 20:15-16).

Is not God just when He does what He does with what is His?  The world cries, “Not fair.”  But what is fairness?  Is that not a way of segregating people according to our view of things?  We each receive what we receive.  There are always complexities behind everything.  Be led by the One who created all things.  Trust in His leadership and be thankful for all that He has given you.

Lord, whether I receive much or little, it is all in Your hands.  You have given me the hope of eternal life with You.  This world is difficult and hard to figure out.  Help me to live into the life You have given me and do what You give me to do.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk in the way of salvation and trust that You are perfectly just.  In Your kindness, lift me up to give grace as I have received grace.

Thank You Lord Jesus for telling us beforehand the way things are.  In Your goodness, lead me to have a thankful heart and remove any covetousness that is in me.  Help me to live each day rejoicing in the goodness You give.  Teach me to reach out beyond myself so that I may humbly walk in Your presence and learn from You how to live life as I prepare for eternity with You.  Amen.

“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what is yours and go; but I want to give to this last person the same as to you” (Matthew 20:13-14).

Some will receive more and some less.  All who believe are given the right to become children of God, but we are not all the same.  Our world yells for equity, but that is a worldly lie.  We deserve death but are given life through Christ.  That is not equity.  But we are all equal in the Lord’s eyes.  He loves each one of us.  Do not look at things the way the world does but see things the way our Lord has created them to be.

Lord, I am filled with the pollution of this age.  Help me to move away from how the world thinks and put on Your mind.  Open my eyes to see and, to the ability You give me, understand things as they truly are.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live into the life You have given me.  Guide me always in Your way so that I may live according to Your word and not according to this world’s ideas.

Lord Jesus, You have laid out principles that are easy to understand, but hard to grasp.  Moment by moment, guide me so that I do not slip into the way of the world.  Lead me to be thankful for all that You have given me and for the position You have granted for me to live.  Help me to be obedient for love’s sake so that I willingly do the things You give me to do.  Guide me always in Your love by the abundance of Your grace which I need.  Amen.