November 21
Today’s Reading: Matthew 8–10
Scripture Focus
“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness.”
— Matthew 9:35 NLT
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Reflection
Matthew 7 ends with Jesus teaching us about prayer — ask, seek, knock — and how our Father responds when His children come to Him. Then Matthew chapters 8 and 9 immediately show us people doing exactly that. Every person who comes to Jesus becomes a living example of prayer: the leper who asks to be cleansed, the Roman centurion who believes in Jesus’ authority, the friends who carry the paralyzed man, the disciples crying “Lord, save us,” the woman reaching for His robe, the blind men calling out for mercy, and Jairus kneeling before Him for his daughter. Each one brings their need, their pain, their fear, or their desperation — and Jesus moves with compassion and authority. Some had great faith that recognized who He truly was, and others praised God without yet understanding that Jesus is God. But in every case, their coming to Him stirred His heart. These chapters show us that prayer is simply bringing ourselves to Jesus, just like they did — believing that the same King who stepped off the mountain still responds today.
Tie-In to Chapter 10
And after all of this, Matthew 10 shows the next step: the same Jesus who answered every cry for help now sends His disciples out to do the very things they watched Him do. Everything they saw in chapters 8 and 9 — the compassion, the authority, the healing, the faith — becomes the mission He gives them. It’s like Jesus is saying, “You’ve seen My heart. Now go carry it into the world.” The work is still His, but He chooses to share it with those who follow Him.
Faith
And we can’t miss this — “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Every person who came to Jesus in Matthew 8 and 9 came with a measure of faith, and Jesus honored it. But God desires even more faith from us — faith that not only brings our needs to Him, but faith that lives out His example. Faith that believes His Word, trusts His heart, obeys His voice, and lets Him live through us. The same faith that moved Jesus to respond to their prayers is the faith that empowers us to follow Him into the world.
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Lesson for Me
Faith is not just for asking — it’s for living.
Jesus wants me to bring Him my needs, yes, but also to trust Him deeply enough to live like He lived, love like He loved, and obey like He obeyed. He is still moved by faith today. And the same compassion He showed in these chapters is the compassion He wants to show through me.
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Application Questions
1.Where do I need to bring my hurt, need, or fear to Jesus today — like the people in Matthew 8 and 9?
2.Where is Jesus inviting me to trust His authority — instead of trying to fix everything myself?
3.Who is Jesus sending me to, the way He sent His disciples in Matthew 10?
4.What step of faith is the Holy Spirit asking me to take today?
5.How can I reflect the compassion of Jesus to someone who is hurting?
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Prayer 🙏
Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the same compassionate and powerful King who moved with authority in every village You entered. Teach me to come to You with faith — real, honest, humble faith. Grow the faith in me that pleases You. Help me live out the example You set, and let Your compassion flow through me to the people You place in my path. Make me bold to obey You, tender to love others, and willing to be sent wherever You desire. In Your name, Amen.
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Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly with Jesus.
Ask Him:
“Lord, what step of faith do You want me to take today? Who do You want me to love, help, or pray for?”
Write down what He shows you — what to trust Him with, what to release, or what to obey.
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Takeaway
Faith moves the heart of Jesus — and faith empowers us to live out His mission.