Evening Scripture

Matthew, Chapter 16

One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times! Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again, I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Evening Reflection

I like to think I trust God with my life. But if I’m honest, there have been plenty of times when I’ve trusted Him with some parts while desperately trying to control others. I’ll pray the words of God, let your will be done, while actually hoping His will looks exactly like mine. I’ll surrender something to Him and then pick it right back up when fear creeps in.

I’ve especially struggled with this in seasons of waiting. When I desperately wanted God to answer a prayer, I didn’t just want an answer — I wanted to tell Him how and when it should happen. And often, when it didn’t happen the way I thought it was “supposed” to happen, I would once again try to control the situation the best way I knew how.

Maybe you’ve been there too.

In Matthew 16, Peter declares:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Yet shortly afterward, when Jesus explains what is going to happen to Him, Peter struggles to accept it. I can relate to that. Sometimes we can believe completely in who Jesus is while also struggle to trust what Jesus is doing.

Jesus later tells His disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Following Jesus means more than asking Him to bless the life we’ve already planned out for ourselves. Sometimes it means surrendering everything – our plans, our control, and even the idea of how we think things should go. It means truly releasing our thoughts around our plans and letting God’s plan be what leads us.

I’ve learned that surrender doesn’t mean I stop wanting something or praying boldly for it. Surrender simply means telling Jesus the desire of your heart. He wants to know your desires, but then you must say, God – I trust you more than my own desire.

Maybe there’s something you’re gripping tightly tonight: your family, future, health, a relationship, dream, or an unanswered prayer. You don’t have to understand what Jesus is doing to trust who He is. Tonight, open your hands and give Him that part too.

Evening Prayer

Father,

You know the parts of my life I struggle to surrender. You know my plans, fears, dreams, and deepest prayers. Forgive me for the times I say I trust You while still trying to control the outcome. Help me remember Your faithfulness when Your plan looks different from mine.

Tonight, I surrender what I’ve been gripping so tightly. I come to you tonight with open hands and an open heart to hear and do your will. I can pray boldly and still share with you the desires of my heart, but also still trust Your will. That even if you don’t answer my prayers the way I think best, that’s okay, because Your will be done. I don’t have to know what comes next because I know Who holds my life. Jesus, I trust You with every part — even this.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Want More?

Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ 

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Evening Scripture
Matthew, Chapter 16
One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. He replied, &ldquo;You know the saying, &lsquo;Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.&rsquo; You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don&rsquo;t know how to interpret the signs of the times! Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.&rdquo; Then Jesus left them and went away.
Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. &ldquo;Watch out!&rdquo; Jesus warned them. &ldquo;Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&rdquo;
At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn&rsquo;t brought any bread.&nbsp;Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, &ldquo;You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don&rsquo;t you understand even yet? Don&rsquo;t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? Why can&rsquo;t you understand that I&rsquo;m not talking about bread? So again, I say, &lsquo;Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&rsquo;&rdquo; Then at last they understood that he wasn&rsquo;t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,&nbsp;&ldquo;Who do people say that the Son of Man is?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; they replied, &ldquo;some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.&rdquo;
Then he asked them,&nbsp;&ldquo;But who do you say I am?&rdquo;
Simon Peter answered, &ldquo;You are the Messiah,&nbsp;the Son of the living God.&rdquo;
Jesus replied,&nbsp;&ldquo;You are blessed, Simon son of John,&nbsp;because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means &lsquo;rock&rsquo;), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell&nbsp;will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit&nbsp;on earth will be permitted in heaven.&rdquo;
Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From then on Jesus&nbsp;began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him&nbsp;for saying such things. &ldquo;Heaven forbid, Lord,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This will never happen to you!&rdquo; Jesus turned to Peter and said,&nbsp;&ldquo;Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God&rsquo;s.&rdquo;
Then Jesus said to his disciples,&nbsp;&ldquo;If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?&nbsp;Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.&rdquo;
Evening Reflection
I like to think I trust God with my life. But if I&rsquo;m honest, there have been plenty of times when I&rsquo;ve trusted Him with some parts while desperately trying to control others. I&rsquo;ll pray the words of God, let your will be done, while actually hoping His will looks exactly like mine. I&rsquo;ll surrender something to Him and then pick it right back up when fear creeps in.
I&rsquo;ve especially struggled with this in seasons of waiting. When I desperately wanted God to answer a prayer, I didn&rsquo;t just want an answer &mdash; I wanted to tell Him how and when it should happen. And often, when it didn&rsquo;t happen the way I thought it was &ldquo;supposed&rdquo; to happen, I would once again try to control the situation the best way I knew how.
Maybe you&rsquo;ve been there too.
In <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/16.html">Matthew 16</a>, Peter declares:
&ldquo;You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.&rdquo; Yet shortly afterward, when Jesus explains what is going to happen to Him, Peter struggles to accept it. I can relate to that. Sometimes we can believe completely in who Jesus is while also struggle to trust what Jesus is doing.
Jesus later tells His disciples, &ldquo;If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.&rdquo; Following Jesus means more than asking Him to bless the life we&rsquo;ve already planned out for ourselves. Sometimes it means surrendering everything &ndash; our plans, our control, and even the idea of how we think things should go. It means truly releasing our thoughts around our plans and letting God&rsquo;s plan be what leads us.
I&rsquo;ve learned that surrender doesn&rsquo;t mean I stop wanting something or praying boldly for it. Surrender simply means telling Jesus the desire of your heart. He wants to know your desires, but then you must say, God &ndash; I trust you more than my own desire.
Maybe there&rsquo;s something you&rsquo;re gripping tightly tonight: your family, future, health, a relationship, dream, or an unanswered prayer. You don&rsquo;t have to understand what Jesus is doing to trust who He is. Tonight, open your hands and give Him that part too.
Evening Prayer
Father,
You know the parts of my life I struggle to surrender. You know my plans, fears, dreams, and deepest prayers. Forgive me for the times I say I trust You while still trying to control the outcome. Help me remember Your faithfulness when Your plan looks different from mine.
Tonight, I surrender what I&rsquo;ve been gripping so tightly. I come to you tonight with open hands and an open heart to hear and do your will. I can pray boldly and still share with you the desires of my heart, but also still trust Your will. That even if you don&rsquo;t answer my prayers the way I think best, that&rsquo;s okay, because Your will be done. I don&rsquo;t have to know what comes next because I know Who holds my life. Jesus, I trust You with every part &mdash; even this.
In Jesus&rsquo; name,
Amen.
Want More?
Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.
Click to Listen to Signs of Life: <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>

Your Nightly Scripture — 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ 

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.
Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;

Your Nightly Scripture

Trusting Jesus with Every Part of My Life (Matthew 16)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/e72621e5-709e-4c96-9ff9-b4e200f0c048/transcript