Gospel of Matthew | Craig T. Owens

May 2026
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

Thursdays With Oswald— Publicly Holy

November 3, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.

Publicly Holy

Try and develop a holy life in private, and you find it cannot be done. Individuals can only live the true life when they are dependent on one another. …

In the early Middle Ages people had the idea that Christianity meant living a holy life apart from the world and its sociability, apart from its work and citizenship. That type of holiness is foreign to the New Testament; it cannot be reconciled with the records of the life of Jesus. The people of His day called Him “the Friend of publicans and sinners” because He spent so much time with them.

From Biblical Ethics

Jesus never told us to stay, but to go.

He didn’t tell us to separate, but to season and shine.

We cannot influence people from a distance. We must live and work and interact where they are.

Jesus taught us: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Jesus prayed for us: “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. … As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (John 17:15, 18)

I must be around people who need to see The Light.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Christianity, community involvement, friendship, Gospel of John, Gospel of Matthew, holiness, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—Not To Tell Us, But To Make Us

October 27, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Not To Tell Us, But To Make Us

Our righteousness has to be in excess of the righteousness of the man whose external conduct is blameless according to the law—what does that produce? despair straightaway. When we hear Jesus say “Blessed are the pure in heart,” our answer, if we are awake is, “My God, how am I going to be pure in heart? If ever I am to be blameless down to the deepest recesses of my intentions, You must do something mighty in me.” That is exactly what Jesus Christ came to do. He did not come to tell us to be holy, but to make us holy.

From Biblical Ethics

Does it ever bother you that Jesus tells us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”? It bothers me, because it sounds too hard, even unrealistic. Okay, let’s be honest: It sounds impossible!

It is impossible if I try to be perfectly righteous on my own. But the death and resurrection of Jesus paid for my atonement—my “at one-ment” with God. And Jesus has also asked the Father to send me the Holy Spirit. He is sanctifying me — making me into a holy, perfectly righteous saint in the eyes of my Heavenly Father.

I can’t do it.

But I can surrender and let Him do it.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: atonement, Gospel of Matthew, holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, sanctification. 2 Comments »

Crumbs

October 19, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

When you’re starving, a crumb doesn’t seem to satisfy you.

When you’d like a special dessert, a crumb seems so unfulfilling.

What about when you are asking God for something big? Will a crumb satisfy you?

A Canaanite woman came to Jesus with a pressing need. Her daughter was possessed by a demon and was absolutely miserable. It looked as though nothing short of a major outpouring from Jesus could help this woman.

But she said, “Just a crumb from the Master’s table is enough for me.”

A crumb?!? The smallest of pieces, yet this woman knew that Christ’s power was so sufficient, that just a crumb would be more than enough!

How many times do I wait around for a feast? I say, “God, do something huge!” How small is my faith that I think God has to do something earth-shaking to answer me.

I want to be at the point where I know that just a crumb is more than enough. Just one word—one crumb—from His mouth can meet my every need.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: faith, God's power, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ, video, YouTube. 1 Comment »

Exhaustion Relief

October 3, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

I was reading and meditating on Matthew 11:28-30. These are the notes just as a jotted them down in my journal. I pray they will be as helpful for you as they were for me.

Come—without delay

to Me—Jesus is my only Source

all—no one is ever excluded from Christ’s call

you who are weary—I feel like I have been working hard, but gaining little ground

and burdened—and my conscience is bugging me because I feel I’m falling short of what God requires

and I will—only Jesus can do this

give you rest—a quiet, calm, patient expectation of a better future

Take—I need to apply what Jesus says to my life right now

My yoke upon you—Christ’s power to fulfill God’s requirements

and learn from Me—I must get in the habit of doing things His way

for I am gentle—strong enough to help me, but in a way that doesn’t overwhelm me

and humble in heart—He has the perfect attitude toward our Heavenly Father, and He can show me how to live this way too

and you will find rest—an intermission from my struggles

for your souls—the real me

For My yoke is easy—virtuous and pleasant

and my burden is light—relieving my conscience from worry and guilt

Why do I wait until I am wearied and burdened before I come to Christ? Why don’t I just take His yoke upon me daily? It’s my self-imposed burdens, from trying to do things my own way, that wear me out and beat me up! O stubborn pride! that keeps me toiling away, trying to do life my way. Submit and be free, O my soul!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: conscience, Gospel of Matthew, humility, Jesus Christ, peace, pride, quiet, rest, restoration. Leave a Comment »

Reach Out

September 28, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Lepers were the most shunned of all Israelites in the Bible. It didn’t matter how much you used to love them, once they were diagnosed with leprosy, they were the untouchable. The unapproachable. The unlovable.

So here is an absolutely remarkable verse: Jesus reached out His hand and TOUCHED the leper.

There is such a power in the human touch! This unclean, despised, outcast, friendless leper simply asked Jesus to heal him. But Jesus went farther.

Jesus replied, “I am willing,” and then He touched him.

The Greek word for reached out implies that the leper remained a good distance away. Even though he longed for the restoration that the touch of Jesus could bring him, he kept a barrier between them. Jesus transcended his barrier.

Then the Greek word for touched is an intense word. It means to cling to someone. Jesus didn’t just lightly touch this hurting man, He threw His arms around him and CLUNG to him!!

He didn’t just heal this man physically, but restored him emotionally as well.

Who are the outcasts around you?

Who seems to be unlovable, untouchable, or even unapproachable?

Friend, you just might be the touch of Jesus for them that brings healing, wholeness, and restoration. Will you let Jesus CLING to them—and heal them—through you? Will you reach out like Jesus reached out?

Oh to be His hand extended

Reaching out to the oppressed

Let me touch Him

Let me touch Jesus

So that others may know

And be blessed

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Gospel of Matthew, healing, hymn, Jesus Christ, touch. Leave a Comment »

Get Moving

September 27, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

I noticed the other day how Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew responded when Jesus called them to follow Him. With all of these guys, Jesus simply said, “Follow Me.” Here’s how they responded:

At once
Immediately
Got up and followed

They were all busy with their own lives, working on their agendas for their day. But when they heard Jesus say, “Follow Me,” they got moving.

They didn’t delay.

Make other plans.

Ask someone to take over for them.

They simply got up, left what they were doing, and followed Jesus.

They didn’t explain to their family.

Check in with their friends.

Ask Jesus for clarification.

They just followed. At once. Immediately.

Do I follow Jesus like this?

Do I get moving at once when He calls me?

Do I start immediately when He directs me?

Do I follow without explanation when He prompts me?

I’m working on it!

How about you?

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: faith in action, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ, obedience. Leave a Comment »

Inventive Faith

September 12, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

I love the story of the four friends who wanted to get their sick companion in to see Jesus. They had heard about Jesus healing others, and they believed that He would heal their friend too. But when they arrived at the house where Jesus was, they found it packed with people, and the doors and windows blocked by crowds who also wanted to see and hear Jesus. So these four friends made an appointment with one of Jesus’ disciples to come back at a more convenient time.

Ummm, not so much!

These guys were so convinced that Jesus could heal their friend, that they didn’t let crowds stop them. They climbed up on top of the house, ripped off some of the roof tiles, and lowered their friend down to Jesus. I love their inventive faith!

How many times do circumstances stop me?

there were too many people
or not enough people
they seemed busy
they seemed uninterested
it was raining

Oh, so many flimsy excuses that seem to derail my faith!

I love this thought from Charles Spurgeon:

“Faith is full of inventions. The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us?

“…Through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labor to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.”

How much more inventive can your faith be?

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Charles Spurgeon, creative thinking, creativity, faith, faith in action, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, intercession, quote. Leave a Comment »

Servant

August 15, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Someone said to me, “Great job!” and then not too much later I heard someone else say, “Umm, not so much!” What’s a guy to do?

Here’s what I refocus on: I’m living for the approval of only One.

The only comment that matters to me is God saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Well done = done with excellence.

Well done = finished well, not just well begun.

Good = pleasantly done.

Faithful = trustworthy, reliable.

Servant = not my will, but Yours be done.

And when it comes to praise and criticism from men, I like this:

“Every man needs a blind eye and a deaf ear, so when people applaud, you’ll only hear half of it, and when people salute, you’ll only see part of it. Believe only half the praise and half the criticism.” —C.H. Spurgeon

UPDATE: This idea of servant leadership is a key component of my book Shepherd Leadership: The Metrics That Really Matter.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Charles Spurgeon, faithfulness, Gospel of Matthew, quote, servant, servant-leadership, servanthood. Leave a Comment »

Marriage Math

July 25, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

Martin Luther said:

“There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.”

Unfortunately our culture has watered-down and diminished the value of marriage. Far too often marriage is seen as something which diminishes life, instead of enhancing it.

Perhaps this is because we have been viewing marriage with the wrong math.

Marriage is NOT ½ + ½ = 1

That makes sense mathematically, but it’s inaccurate. God didn’t create us a half-people. God created us whole and complete. So our spouse is not our better half, he/she is our better whole.

Marriage is NOT 1 + 1 = 2

Again, this makes sense mathematically, but it is not biblical. Why? Because 2 is divisible, and the Bible makes it clear that a man and woman who are married are one flesh.

Marriage IS 1 X 1 = 1

Not only does this work mathematically, but biblically too. God sees marriage as one whole man and one whole woman coming together to make one whole marriage.

Not coincidentally, X (chi) is the first Greek letter of the name Christ. When Christ is at the center of a marriage, and when the husband and wife are more in love with Him than they are with their spouse, then a wholeness exists in the marriage.

1 X 1 = 1 is the type of marriage that glorifies God.

1 X 1 =1 is the type of marriage that is so lovely, friendly, and charming.

If you are single, keep yourself pure so you can bring your “oneness” as a gift to your future spouse. If you are married, keep the X—Jesus Christ—at the center of your marriage.

►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? ◀︎◀︎

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Creator, Ephesians, Genesis, Gospel of Matthew, husband, Jesus Christ, marriage, Martin Luther, mathematics, quote, video, wife. 5 Comments »

Thursdays With Oswald—No Spiritual Experts

May 19, 2011 — Craig T. Owens

No Spiritual Experts

There are no experts in spiritual matters. The spiritual expert is never so consciously because the very nature of spiritual instruction is that it is unconscious of itself; it is the life of a child…. Our Lord describes the expert in Matthew 18:4—“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

From Baffled To Fight Better

Your spiritual journey is unique to all other humans.

Your relationship and experience with God is unique to all other humans.

The Holy Spirit will make you an expert in your relationship with the Heavenly Father, if you will just listen to Him. So let God be as original with you as He is with everyone else.