Faith vs. Sight

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105

Author: coachdkeith

  • Jesus Heals the Sick

    Teaching. Proclaiming. Healing. Jesus was moving and getting closer to us. All of us. Meeting is where we are daily!

    Matthew 4:23-25

    23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[g]Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

    Followed by large crowds. He knew what he was doing and exactly where to do it. The moves he was making were calculated. Moves designed to open doors that were meant for us, and close doors that were not.

    I love the show The Chosen. It’s so cool to see these verses come to life. If you have not seen it I highly recommend it.

    Shalom

    DK

  • Jesus Calls His First Disciples

    The picture this gives is very clear. As Jesus walked, he sees his disciples. He knew who they were. He called them. They followed immediately.

    Matthew 4:18-22

    18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

    21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

    I wonder if I would have done the same. I know Jesus now, but would I have done the same at that moment. Jesus knew them, but did they know Jesus?

    We have all been called. Get to know him if you have not yet. How? Read. Pray. Talk to him. Ask him all the questions you have. He is listening. He will answer. It may not be what you want to hear when you want to hear it, but He has NEVER failed. He never will.

    Shalom

    DK

  • Jesus Begins to Preach

    We have just come out of the amazing test in the wilderness. Leaning on Gods word. The word of the father. He knew it well.

    Matthew 4:12-17

    12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee.13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

    15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
        the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
        Galilee of the Gentiles—
    16 the people living in darkness
        have seen a great light;
    on those living in the land of the shadow of death
        a light has dawned.”[f]

    17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

    Knowing where to go. Knowing the Word of God. Knowing prophecy. Fulfilling his calling. I felt lost when reading this, knowing that’s what I would feel walking in his shoes. He knew what to do and how. This feels like he has no idea what’s coming for him, yet trusted the word and followed it.

    Repent he says. Leaning on Gods word. The end is near.

    Amen.

    Thank you JESUS!

  • A Morning Prayer of Gratitude, Guidance, and Protection

    Heavenly Father,

    I come before you this morning with a grateful heart. Thank you for the gift of life, for the breath in my lungs, and for the opportunity to rise again.

    Under your mercy I acknowledge that it is by your grace that I am awake, sustained, and given another chance to walk in purpose.

    As this day begins, I surrender every thought, plan, and desire into your hands. Go before me and prepare the way. Order my steps, align my decisions with your will, and guide me with wisdom that is higher than my understanding. Lord, I ask for your presence to fill this day. Let your peace rule my heart and silence every voice of fear, doubt, and confusion.

    Where my mind feels heavy bring clarity. Where my spirit feels tired bring renewal. Where my faith feels small strengthen it. Cover me with your divine protection. Shield me from harm seen and unseen. Guard my heart from negativity, my mind from distraction, and my body from weakness. Let no weapon formed against me prosper, and let every plan not aligned with your will lose its power.

    Father, I ask for strength to face every challenge today. Give me patience in moments of frustration, humility in moments of success, and courage in moments of difficulty. Help me to respond with grace, speak with kindness, and act with integrity.

    Bless the work of my hands today. Let my efforts be productive and meaningful. Open doors that no one can shut, and close doors that are not meant for me. Place me in the right places at the right time with the right people. Lord fill me with gratitude. Let me notice your blessings both big and small. Teach me to trust you even when I do not understand the path ahead. Remind me that you are working all things together for good.

    I pray for those connected to me. Cover my family, friends, and loved ones with peace and protection. Provide for their needs, heal their hurts, and draw them closer to you. As I step into this day, I choose faith over fear, hope over worry, and love over anger. I walk more confidently knowing that you are with me, within me, and surrounding me.

    Thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for your faithfulness. I commit this entire day into your hands and trust you completely.

    Amen

  • Jesus Tested in the Wilderness

    It was The Spirit that led Jesus directly to this test in the wilderness. It was not random chance. The Spirit led him to these tests and trials.

    Matthew 4:1-11

    4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

    4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

    5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

    “‘He will command his angels concerning you,
        and they will lift you up in their hands,
        so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

    7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

    8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

    10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

    11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

    Jesus knew exactly how to answer the temptations with the Word of God. The same word that is available to us. God never fails and he never will. We are with him and he is with us.

    Amen

    DK

  • The Baptism of Jesus

    Jesus was keenly aware of what was needed to fulfill prophecy and to be publicly seen doing what is right and acceptable. John’s reaction was on point, but the response was epic.


    Matthew 3:13-17

    13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

    15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”Then John consented.

    16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

    It is “proper” for us to do this in order to fulfill righteousness. Jesus was covering all areas as he knew what was to come. He knew the other rabbis and teachers of time and area. This was part of his plan to begin to tear down the vail so that all could know God. What a team John the Baptist and Jesus were together at the right time.

    I pray we find ourselves with the right people.”, at the right time, and in the right place.

    Shalom

    DK

  • John the Baptist Prepares the Way

    What a great image this passage gives us of a man who knew exactly what his calling was. No pride or ego. Just a man on a mission, and he spoke strongly of what is coming.


    Matthew 3:1-12

    3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

    “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
    ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
        make straight paths for him.’”[a]

    4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

    11 “I baptize you with[b]water for repentance.But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spiritand fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

    John the Baptist was cousin to Jesus. He knew he was coming and what that would mean for us. His message, packaged in garments that were not royal. As a matter of fact, the detail that he ate “locusts and honey” is something very revealing of his humility. He openly professed of the coming of Jesus and knew his job was to prepare the way. God was lining things up for his sone Jesus to come with the gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation for us all.

    Amen

    DK

  • The Return to Nazareth

    Something I had missed previously. So much emphasis had always been placed on Mary’s role in the birth of Jesus, but Joseph was an amazing and faithful man. It is on display again in this passage.

    Matthew 2:19-23

    19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

    21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

    Joseph was so connected to God and obeyed. Prophecy was fulfilled as Joseph’s faithfulness was on display. I don’t recall recognizing this from Joseph previously. He deserved so much credit for his steadfast commitment and belief. Thank you Joseph.

    Amen

    DK

  • The Escape to Egypt

    Matthew 2:13-18

    God is always with us. In this case directly spoke to Joseph to instruct him on what to do next. This says so much of the faithfulness of Joseph.

    13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

    14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[c]

    16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

    18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
        weeping and great mourning,
    Rachel weeping for her children
        and refusing to be comforted,
        because they are no more.”[d]

    Imagine the pain and torment and fear of those parents that had to witness the death of so many infants at the hands of Herod. My first question was “How could God let this happen?” The death of so many babies all at once due to Herod’s fear.
    The answers will come one day. Learning not only our own understanding is certainly necessary. Thank you God for all that you do for us daily. Thank you for the gift of your son and our salvation.

    Shalom

    DK

  • The Magi Visit the Messiah

    This amazing story of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Christmas story, heard since we were little. The millions of manger scenes all over the world this is it…

    Matthew 2:1-12

    2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

    3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

    6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
    for out of you will come a ruler
        who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

    7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

    9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

    The complexity of this truth, that Jesus was born and visited by royalty and presented wonderful gifts as just a newborn infant, is awesome. What I take from this is the confirmation by the magi through prophecy, and following the star they knew to be the Messiah’s location is so incredibly confirming. Jesus had arrived. The Savior of the World was now on Earth. It was honored and celebrated, but most importantly its was protected from Herod.

    Thank you God, for always providing for us, as you did for Jesus. I love this scene.

    Shalom

    DK