“Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets” (Matthew 16:13-14).

This is the most important questions anyone can ask.  We all have religion.  We often follow the religion we were taught, or else, by rejecting the religion of our parents, follow some other religion.  All of these are following the beliefs of other people.  But, if you ask the question and learn the answer, your religion can blossom into faith in the One true God who saves.

Lord, help me to dare to ask the question when I have doubts.  Then, help me to hear and understand the answer.  No longer in the realm of religion, but in the realm of reality, Help me to know in my heart and spirit that You are the One through whom I exist.  By the Holy Spirit, make the connection so that I may live by faith and not just with religion.  Take me deeper into You and in so doing, come and deepen faith in me.

Thank You, Lord, for all that You are doing.  In the mystery of the faith which You have given me, guide me ever deeper into the new life You have given me by grace.  Help me to understand more and more each day so that I become more and more like You with each step of faith.  In Your goodness and mercy, teach me all that I need to know to remain faithful to the good confession that You are the Christ.  Amen.

“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11-12).

Beware of the teaching of those who are not pointing to the truth of salvation through Christ alone.  Our part is to willingly join with Christ.  Never mistake that for the act of salvation.  Our salvation belongs to the Lord Who died for us in the Cross.  There is a dependency.  We are dependent upon what the Lord does.  Do not lean on your own understanding but lean upon the One who knows all things.  He alone must lead.

Lord, there are many ways in which the leaven of this world has taken root in me.  My attitudes and thoughts are not as pure nor as original as I think.  You alone must cleanse me of the leaven of this world.  You know where it is and what it is.  For my part, help me to be aware that it exists and discover where it is still a part of me.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is there hope and a future.

Lord Jesus, let me take in Your word of truth and be guided by Your goodness.  Help me to understand that I need You.  Only You can save me from sin, death, and the devil.  There is so much pollution in me, and by Your grace, You lead me on the path of salvation.  Help me to always depend upon Your leading for all that I do so that I may humbly walk in the counsel of Your goodness.  Amen.

“Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up?  Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets you picked up?” (Matthew 16:9-10)  

How easy is it to come to the place where we do not understand what our Lord is telling us.  We look to the physical and do not understand that we are also spiritual.  Our Lord wants us to know not only who we are, but whose we are.  Five loaves and seven loaves.  Twelve in all.  The complete number.  Our Lord is bringing all things together for the kingdom.  Trust in the One who will complete us.

Lord, I do get distracted by life in this world.  I read Your word, but I do not always understand what You are saying.  You know these things and now You call for me to come to a deeper understanding of Your will in my life.  Guide me to take the necessary steps in faith, as You lead me, so that I willingly come to the place where I hear what You are saying and see what You are doing.  Help me to remember and understand the things that You have taught me.

Holy Spirit, minister to me and open my ears to hear and my mind to understand the things my Savior is teaching me.  Help me to not be carried away with enthusiasm but live soberly in the wisdom You give by grace.  Take me deeper into this faith You have given me so that I may humbly walk with Your guidance today and each day that You give me on earth.  By Your grace, through the faith You grant, help me to be a faithful disciple.  Amen.

“They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.”  But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?”  (Matthew 16:7-8)

Our earthly thinking often will not take us to what our Lord is saying.  We often think in physical earthly ways.  Don’t pay attention to the propaganda that is all around us.  Even deeply religious people are filled with it.  Do not focus upon your belly, but upon the life our Lord gives you.  He will make you pure even as He is pure.  He will raise your faith to be in Him above all things. Lord, increase our faith!

Lord, You know where I am and how I think.  You know those things which enter my mind and influence the decisions I make.  Guide me out of the morass of worldliness to be willing to listen to Your word above all the other words that fly around me.  You are truth and You have given me the words of eternal life.  Continue to lift me up so that I may be guided by Your word always.

Word of God made flesh, You know that I need saving.  I often do not know how to think.  You have lifted me up into the hope of eternal life.  Help me to move beyond what my heart feels to live into the hope You have given me.  In all things that come my way, help me to understand Your word more fully and then apply Your word in my life.  Lead me to follow You in and for all things, for You alone are my Savior.  Amen.

“And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread.  And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:5-6).

Leaven raises the dough and permeates the whole.  This world is filled with the leaven of sin.  Jesus warns us to watch out for that which raises your feelings of anger or self-righteousness.  It can be a small thing that grows in you.  The life Jesus offers depends upon Him.  Though the gift of faith He will rid the wicked thinking of this world from your mind to see things as they are and not as those around you or you want to see them.

Lord, our minds are polluted with many kinds of things.  Help us to move through the leaven of this world to see things as You would have us see them.  Guide us in Your goodness and mercy to know that only in You is there hope and true life.  You have given us the sign to look at.  Because He lives, He offers a way for all to live. All the other things in this world are secondary.  Lead us into You to live life as You created it to be lived.

Lord Jesus, by the power of Your Spirit, guide me through the pollution which has ravaged my thinking.  Guide me into the life for which I have been created.  In Your goodness and mercy, by grace, continue to lift me out of the pit of the wickedness that has permeated my thinking to come to the place where I learn to love You above all things and love my neighbor as You love them.  Amen.

“And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times?  An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign; and so a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away” (Matthew 16:3-4).

We know of the earthly signs that tell us the conditions of the weather.  We act and react accordingly.  Jesus gave the powerful sign of Jonah by being dead and on the third day, rising again.  That is the sign.  If people will not respond to that, they will not respond to the Lord.  Jesus took on a human life and died to give us His life so that we can live.  He leaves those behind who do not follow Him.

Will you follow Jesus as He takes you away from the way of this world to learn how to live in the way of eternity?  Jesus forces none but offers to everyone the way of salvation.  Many get stuck in the way they think and do things the way they believe they ought to do them.  We do not know how to think clearly, which is why Jesus needed to come to save us.  Follow the Lord and live.

Lord Jesus, I am more like the Pharisees than I want to admit.  Sometimes I am a Sadducee and do not believe there is life eternal.  Move me farther and farther away from this limited sinful thinking to realize and know that You are the One through whom all things have their being.  Guide me through all the pitfalls of this life to see the signs that You have given me by Your word.  Guide me in the faith You have given me.  Amen.

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.  But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’” (Matthew 16:1-2).

The scoffers in this world will never be satisfied.  “Yes, You did this, now do more.”  The wicked want sign after sign.  Their hearts are hard, and they do not want to trust the One who made all things.  That is the rebellion of this age.  Learn to trust the Lord above all things.  Be guided by His grace to move through those times when you doubt or want something other than what the Lord is giving you.

Lord, where we are skeptical, help us to be thankful.  Where we are demanding, teach us to be content.  Where we do not believe, help our unbelief.  Guide us away from the wickedness of this world to understand that all things have always been in Your hands.  You are the author of life, and You know where our lives are going.  Guide us, Lord, so that we live into the new lives You are giving the faithful.

Holy Spirit, You know me outside and within.  In the example of Christ my Savior, lead me out of the sinful places where my heart resides to accept and love all that You are doing in and through my life.  Help me live into the upward call You give and be content in all situations.  Minister to me that I may be enabled to minister to others.  Create in me a pure heart that prays for the Father’s will to be done at all times and in all places.  Amen.

“And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full.  And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children” (Matthew 15:37-38).

Our Lord provides for all living things every day.  Rather than being surprised at feeding so many with this miracle, wonder at the Lord’s provision every single day for all living things.  Be thankful always for all that the Lord does.  He knows our needs.  We may have desires beyond this, but He knows what we need.  And yes, from time to time, He does do things that we call miraculous.  See the miracle of life that is all around you.

Lord, we often see things with a very limited point of view.  You have provided for us all.  Help us to see the provision and be thankful for all that You provide.  Let our gratitude go beyond each of us to go to the place where we live with a heart that is content and thankful for all that You do.  Help us to let the evidence of this show clearly to all whom we meet.  In Your goodness and mercy, guide us in the way to live the new life You give.

Lord Jesus, You have patiently led me in the life of faith You have given me.  Continue to guide me, as You alone can do, so that I may learn how to be thankful in every circumstance.  Whether in deprivation or in plenty, let me be thankful for all that You give.  Help me to live this outwardly so that others may have the opportunity to learn to be thankful through what I do in this life as one more example of faithfulness.  Amen.

“And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matthew 15:35-36).

Our Lord is a Lord of order.  In this world, when free things are handed out there is often a mob.  Jesus has us sit down and be orderly.  Sin confuses, and righteousness calms and clarifies.  With thanksgiving, what is needed is provided.  Why do you worry?  Why are you anxious?  Does God not know what we need?  Will He not provide all that is needed?  Yes!  With good order, mercy, plenty of grace, and love, our Lord provides.

Lord, many fall into a way of acting such that they become excited, push their way in, and want to be first.  You teach us to sit down with You and to be anxious for nothing.  Lead us, Lord, in the way You know we need to go.  Grant understanding so that we see things simply and the way they truly are.  When You do something, help us to accept the order of how You do things.  Guide us  in the way You know we need to move.

Lord Jesus, You do so many things at the same time.  I look at the miracle, but often forget the lessons You are teaching.  Help me to come fully into Your will so that I do all that You command.  Guide me today in the upward way and lead me to be patient and kind with all others.  You are first, and I will be where You place me.  Like the disciples, teach me to walk amongst the crowd doing what You direct me to do.  Amen.

“The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?”  And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish” (Matthew 15:33-34).

We often think in what we call practical terms, limited by our understanding of how things work.  From nothing, the Lord created all things.  If He commands something to be done, it will be done.  Do not be limited by Your understanding, rather come into the reality that our Lord is more than able to do all things according to His will.  Be led by the Lord and not by the limitations of what you know.

Lord, without thinking it is a power You will give me, guide me to understand that You can do all things.  You can move mountains, heal any infirmity, and save us from eternal damnation.  In faith, guide me to live understanding that all things are in Your hands.  Help me to answer all questions that You give me, such as when You asked the disciples what they had, so that I see Your hand in all things.

Lord Jesus, help my unbelief.  I often stop short because I do not believe that You will do what You can do.  Help me to go forward even when I am doubting, so that I may see that You are the One who is acting.  Guide me in Your goodness to live out the Father’s will for my life.  Through all things help me to learn true obedience and humbly do all that You command.  Lead me today to live faithfully in the Father’s will.  Amen.