Author: Ben Bourland

“And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].” Matthew 10:38-39 [AMPL] ->me: The content of these 2 verses is repeated in the New Testament 6 times. You have to remember that Jesus has not yet shared His coming death with the disciples. ‘Cross-bearing’ was a common site in Roman controlled Palestine so the disciples would have gotten the picture Jesus was trying to draw but little did they know how true it would become for them. Can I call myself a true disciple and follower of Jesus? Have I internalized the message in these 2 verses for myself? I believe that ‘cross-bearing’ and saying no to the flesh are the invitation one needs to Jesus. It will be how people respond to this that will separate them out when Jesus says those scary words at the judgement “away from Me, I never knew you”. When I look at how I live my life today, I have the full intention to pick up the cross and bear it; I believe in the hope that it leads to -> Life Eternal…but, I always seem to get distracted by work, life, family, and things. I wake up hours later only to realize I haven’t thought about the Lord at all since that morning. So, this week I spent time in the prayer closet asking (inviting) the Lord to fill my whole heart, to consume my whole mind. The Lord is answering that request by showing me that I need Him in this way. I could swear that not 15 minutes goes by that I am reminded of how broken I am; how little control I am able to muster on my own to live in a consistent upright way. Prayer is the key <-> the key is prayer.

“Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s leave (consent) and notice. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows. Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess [that I am abiding in] him.” Matthew 10:29-32 ->me: Today was my first day back in my prayer closet in over a week. I have been praying but not in that wonderful place that is void of light and there is so little sound. I cannot stress how impactful this type of prayer is in front of the God of the universe; where He has all of your attention and there is no one there but you and Him. This brings me to my verses this afternoon – EVERYTHING that is allowed to happen is a deliberate action by God and these verses tell us that God has an order of importance to the things He touches. He created the sparrows and not one of them falls to the ground without God allowing it and noticing. FEAR NOT! I am more valuable to Him than MANY sparrows. Praying before God in His presence with no one else to hear is the precursor to acknowledging and confessing Jesus before men. This prayer life is the gasoline that lights the influence of Jesus IN us and we IN Him. Therefore, as I listen to the Holy Spirit within me and react obediently in my witness, THEN Jesus will acknowledge and confess before God the Father that HE (JESUS) IS (LIVING) IN ME! This LIVING IN me is what gives me the strength to manage temptation, turn away from sin, turn toward God and not pursue the fleeting pleasures of this world. This LIVING IN HIM is what helps me to stay on the path of His will and purposes.

Ben’s QTVOTD – “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.” Matthew 10:27 ->me: This verse is why I think it is good for us to share what God is teaching us. Notice Jesus does not say “proclaim on the house tops…and ensure everyone who hears changes their ways”. The instruction here is to pass on the goodness God is sharing with us. Let Him do the work in the hearts of others if it is His will. This verse is one of the reasons I share these with you and post them on www.bourlandweb.com everyday (everyday that I do my QT). It is also why I have given each of you the caveat that these are convictions and learnings God has given me in my reading and time with Him. What He may have for you might be different and applicable to your situation or position on the course to heaven He has set before you. Additionally, I think Jesus told His disciples this because He knew that recounting what they had been taught by Him would be reinforced in their hearts and minds through proclaiming what they had learned. I have so far to go and even this morning as I prayed before my time here before the Word of God, I found myself inadequate for His presence and undeserving of His grace and mercy…but that is the beauty of our God. God requires nothing from me but belief, to receive an inheritance in the Kingdom – it cannot be earned. In grace is the power to fight against temptation and the strength to persevere in this foreign place called earth until He comes; seeking Him and His will for my life.

“You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to bear testimony before them and to the Gentiles (the nations), but when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment, For it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:18-20->me: As Bella and I prepare to go to Mexico at the end of the month to join Yugo Ministries to build a home for a young family and help with Vacation Bible School for the surrounding Ensenada community, I am reminded that neither I or Bella are our own…we belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What a frightening and awesome feeling the Disciples must have had when they heard these words from Jesus. I need to ask myself, “Am I prepared to go evangelize and spread the gospel knowing that I might come into situations where I might need to rely on the Lord for exactly what He is saying here?” “Do I have a faith and trust in Him that gives me the confidence to boldly exalt and proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God and gave Himself for us that we might be reconciled to the Father?” What I takeaway from this passage is that I must be ready to not only give everything but to also wait on God for His instruction and word; to not take hold of the reins myself. Loving God means allowing the Spirit of God to flow through me and keeping my body, mind, and heart focused on His glory so that He is unencumbered when it comes time to use me as a vessel of His strength and wisdom.

“Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves. Be on guard against men [whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God]; for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues” Matthew 10:16-17 ->me: This message from Jesus to His disciples is just as relevant today. Jesus knows what we will come up against in our walks and witness before men. The world is like a sea of wolves and we are like sheep rummaging through it. I must walk out into my garden (which I am positioned to tend) ready to be pounced on…to expect it. In fact, if I am living a safe uncontentious life, then I am not doing enough (very much goes with yesterday’s QT). Interesting that Jesus uses wise (Greek -> Phronimos: prudent, shrewd, or sensible) as serpents and innocent (Greek -> Akeraios: pure, transparent, or unmixed) as doves. So, I am not to be a gullible simpleton, but neither am I to be rogue; it demands not naivety, but an irreproachable honesty of who I live my life to glorify. The balance of prudence and purity will enable me both to survive and to fulfil my mission, through Jesus, to the world.

“And do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food).” Matthew 10:10 ->me: Here in this passage of Matthew 10:1-10 is the commissioning of the disciples by Jesus to go into the land of Israel to win the lost by preaching to the people of Israel to repent and to let them know that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. The verse talking about the instruction to go without preparation and provision is so important for me today. Our call by God to witness to those around us or abroad through ministry should be done in full reliance on Him Who sends. Pride, my biggest stumbling block, is what creeps in to take control and provision away from God in work for Him. What I am taking from this verse today is that when I am presented with the opportunity to witness, I am to leave the provision with God in my testimony. Simply point to the Almighty God as the source of my Salvation, peace, and comfort and God will provide the rest. I can water but I cannot make someone grow…only God can do that. What is awesome is that this root message went sent to me in another dear friend’s quiet time this week. TAKEAWAY – don’t let the feeling of inadequacy or preparation keep me from sharing my faith when opportunities abound.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38 ->me: These final verses to chapter 9 are the big lead in to Matthew 10 where Jesus discusses what will come as He sends His disciples out into the fields to harvest. The verse leading into Jesus’ statement about the ‘harvest being plentiful, but laborers few’ is referring to sheep without a shepherd who are ‘harassed and helpless’. Strong’s says that the Greek words used here are more like ‘distressed’ and ‘cast down’. And then for Jesus to add ‘like sheep without a shepherd’ add the rest of the sentiment. As a worker for the Chief Harvester, the sheep I am looking for are the one’s who are confused, dejected, lost, and without direction. When Jesus says ‘pray earnestly’ it can also mean ‘beg’. One thing that strikes me today is that this was said by Jesus over 2000 years ago, so if the earnestness was as high as it was for Jesus at that time, then how much more imperative is it that we heed this call today. I believe that time is short and there are so many souls to harvest for the Kingdom. Sure, I am doing my best glorify God by living an upright and pure life…but what can I look back on each day and see where I have heeded this call by Jesus? I am not doing nearly as much as I could do. One thing I have learned on my road to sanctification is – the closer I get to the Lord and the more I am obedient toward Him, the more I see that I am further away from where I need to be.

“As Jesus passed on from there [the house of the Ruler and daughter Jesus healed], two blind men followed Him, shouting loudly, Have pity and mercy on us, Son of David! When He reached the house and went in, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord. Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith and trust and reliance be it done to you;” Matthew 9:27-29 ->me: The main thing that stood out to me this morning in this passage was that it appears that the blind men had been following Jesus for some time before He addressed them. They had shouted out at Him, likely the whole walk back to the house in Capernaum. In Matthew 15:23 there is a similar situation where it appears that Jesus did not react to the first cries of the person seeking His help and healing power. However, after persistence, in both occasions, Jesus tenderly addresses these troubled and desperate people. Just as with Saturday’s quiet time, faith is shown to be a practical and persistent confidence in the power of Jesus. There are people in my life right now who are suffering from illness or cancer and we are crying out together, following Jesus down the street, asking Him for His intervention. God’s purposes are perfect and His will is true to what is best for us. My first prayer for these dear loved ones is that God’s will is done, but that suffering is limited to only what is necessary for God’s plan to be executed. Jesus, please have mercy on these beloved loved ones. Hear my cries as I, and they, follow you; I have faith that you can heal all disease and cancers…most of all I am thankful for the ultimate healing you have already accomplished on the cross for our sin. Hear my petitions for mercy and healing today!

“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment; For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health. Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, Take courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And at once the woman was restored to health.” Matthew 9:20-22 ->me: There are a couple of questions that stand out to me in today’s full quiet time passage (Matthew 9:18-26). I asked myself these 2 things: “What does it mean to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment today? What can I take away in application from this passage?”. 1) The woman had faith that should would be healed if she just touched Jesus’ cloak. 2) She was not deterred by many years of unsuccessful help in earthly healing or the throngs of people in her way. 3) She followed through by going all the way to physically touching his garment. Learning -> Faith and Intent are not enough for God’s hand in my life, He wants to see me follow-through. God did not intervene until Abraham was starting his downward thrust of the knife into Issac. The Lord is ready and willing, even when He is not looking (Jesus didn’t see her touch the hem of His cloak, but He did know that healing power had left Him) to miraculously act in my life but I must follow through; even when the act of faith is scary, embarrassing, or hard. Thank goodness I have the Holy Spirit to tell me what those actions are but I must be the one who does the work and completes the task He has shown me. I have several of these situations in my life right now! Thank you God for this encouragement to take my faith and intent forward into action; may the glory be entirely yours as I see your work in my life and in others as I apply this learning today.

“Then the disciples of John [the Baptist…who is currently in jail] came to Jesus, inquiring, Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, [that is, abstain from food and drink as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast? And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew 9:14-15 ->me: I have spent considerable time on this passage today and have even spent time in the prayer closet asking the Lord to give me wisdom and understanding through His Holy Spirit to take away application. What Jesus is saying here is that Fasting is an act of mourning; the disciples of Jesus need not mourn because Jesus is right there with them. Additionally, Jesus is bringing a new economy of relationship with Himself. It is no longer necessary to perform the ceremonial acts of fasting for atonement or anything like that as the new life in Christ will come upon His death and resurrection. What I am led to believe, through reading other passages like Acts 13:2-3, is that fasting is now an act of mourning/distress OR can be used to acknowledge our weakness before our Almighty King to petition the Holy Spirit for His wisdom and guidance in the face of a big decision (like the elders in Acts 13). Jesus went on to say in verse 16 that trying to attach a new piece of unshrunken cloth to a tattered and worn garment will only cause the tear you are trying to mend, to only get worse…meaning don’t try to intermix the new relationship through Jesus with the Jewish traditions and rituals of the Mosaic/Levitical Law. Just make a new full garment out of the new cloth God provides us through His Son Jesus…so, I carry on in my desire to glorify and reflect Christ and in so doing, I receive the sanctification God gives as a new garment to enter heaven with.