Mindfully Meditating in Matthew, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 35, Feb 4)

Passage

Matthew Chapter Four

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Homan Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

• Matthew 4
  • Mt 4:1-11 The Temptation of Christ
    • ⁴ But He answered, “It is written:
    • ⁷ Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”^[
    • ¹⁰ Then Jesus told him, “Go away,^[f] Satan! For it is written:
      • The basis for spiritual warfare – knowing the Word of God
  • Mt 4:12-17 Ministry Begins
    • ¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
  • Mt 4:18-22 Calling Peter, Andrew, James and John
    •  ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
    • ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
  • Mt 4:23- 25 Teaching and ministry
    • ²⁴ Then the news about Him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And He healed them.

Mindful Meditating

1. choose a verse,
2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
3.  example: Matt 4:7
4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

• ⁷ Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
• JESUS told him, it is also written…
• Jesus TOLD him, it is also written…
• Jesus told HIM, it is also written…

…and so on.  This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Temptation of Christ- digital or print it out (right click, choose save image and put it in your pictures folder to print out)

Quick Questions – if  you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

1. What do you think the three temptations stand for?
   1. Biblical Christianity says this, which I agree with, but my answer relates to 1 John 2:16
2. Who else preached “repent”, and why do you think this is what Jesus was preaching?
   1. your answer
3. What does the calling of the four disciples tell us about how we should respond?
   1. your answer

~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

• Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
• Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
• Obed’s House Ministries
• The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.