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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You said to Moses from the burning bush, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Mark 12:26). I praise you today as the God who proudly proclaims Himself to be the God of men like me. What an honor, what a privilege, to be claimed by the Supreme Ruler of the universe! I gladly own you as my King, and I rejoice to say, ‘I’m a child of God!’ All glory and honor to you, my Savior! Today in Your Word Today you told me about the plot by the Pharisees and Sadducees to entangle Jesus in his words. They had the privilege of talking face-to-face with the incarnate Son of God, yet they had no desire to learn from him. Instead, they asked difficult questions, hoping to catch him in something he said. What a foolish and wicked thing to do! It challenges me to examine my own attitude toward your Word. I need to come to the truth with humility and sincerely seek to understand and do your will. Jesus, through the insight of the Holy Spirit, realized what they were up to, yet he did not remain silent or refuse to engage them. Indeed, his response shows me how to handle such situations. First, he wasn’t afraid to expose their true motive (“Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?”). Second, he confronted them with their lack of insight into your Word and power (“You know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God”). Third, he demonstrated how to draw proper inferences from the clear statements of Scripture (“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living”). Fourth, he showed how to reason correctly about the implications of your power (“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven”). Fifth, he reminded them that the Law is all about love, and if they didn’t think of love when they thought about the Law, then they didn’t understand it (“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets”). Finally, he asked a pointed question of his own, for often the best way to handle a skeptic is to confront them with the inconsistencies in their worldview (‘How is it that David, in the Spirit, calls his son, the Messiah, Lord?’). I love how Jesus not only answered all their questions flawlessly, but ended by asking them the most important question of all: “What do you think about the Christ?” Even as he rebuked them for their unbiblical thinking and ungodly attitude, he was reaching out to them with the truth! Hallelujah, what a Savior! Reflection When those who were invited to the king’s wedding banquet refused to come, the king sent his servants out into the roads to gather everyone they could find. One man came without a wedding garment. This showed that he didn’t take the invitation seriously, and his lack of preparation dishonored both the king and the king’s son. Am I taking your invitation seriously? Am I working diligently to be found without spot or blemish? (2 Pet 3:14). Request Father, give me a heart that will welcome your truth and work hard to honor your invitation. May I always come to your Word with humility and a desire to learn from you! Thanksgiving Thank you for inviting me to the wedding feast of your Son! What a privilege to attend, not merely as a guest, but as the bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb (2 Cor 11:2). Praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “More Love to Thee” – Elizabeth P. Prentiss. Meditation Verse: Matthew 22:14.