Matthew - By Mark Boyd
When I’m looking up an organisation online – whether a restaurant, business or church – I’m always drawn to the Our Story page. There’s something about knowing the history, the people and the heart behind a product or place. And this goes a step further – when you buy from their menu, or join their organisation, you are stepping into that story. Their story becomes my story too.
This is how I’ve journeyed through Matthew with the Dwell Reading Plan (or DRP – apparently that’s what the cool kids say) these last two months. One of the great things about the plan has been engaging with that narrative each day – reading about Jesus, knowing that this is the Word that speaks and invites me in. The framework of the DRP is really helpful in facilitating this: leaning in, dwelling, and living out. As we often hear, the story we live in is the story we live out.
Now before you say, that’s nice for you, Mark, but it’s been a real challenge for me/I can’t face starting/what’s the Dwell Reading Plan?, I will be the first to say that by no means am I getting it right. I often fall at the first hurdle – dedicated time is often distracted time at the end of a busy day. Waiting on Holy Spirit looks more like rushing Holy Spirit. I fall into rhythms of complacency.
Despite this, God has been gracious in revealing Himself to me. Through the pages of Matthew, I’ve found two threads consistently appearing – the sovereignty of Jesus (as God), and the humility of Jesus (as servant man). Each parable, each story, embellishes this picture of His uniqueness – almost like a glimpse through the eyes of the disciples as the Son of God was revealed before them.
I particularly struggled with understanding chapter 20, The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (vv. 1-16). Jesus’ narrative almost seems harsh and I was confused how this fit with His compassionate ministry in the preceding chapters. But with the help of some commentaries (I’d really recommend the Blue Letter Bible app – it has some great commentaries, translation comparisons and even links to the original language), I saw how God’s grace operates so differently to my expectations, of what “the law” would say. Maybe this should turn our hearts to repentance and praise – this unexpected grace is even for someone like me!
I think this one of the Dwell practices I’ve found a little easier – live it out. Let me just explain – not the living out itself, but more absorbing how this message speaks into my life (part of working out our salvation that Paul speaks about in Philippians 2). I don’t have a good memory, so writing this out often helps (grab a DRP book – it has some very handy gaps to fill in!).
While we’re on memory, perhaps I can challenge you? One of the spiritual practices I’ve found so helpful in recent years is Scripture memorisation. This isn’t so I can wear my Pharisaic hat and cloak of false holiness, but it really helps me dwell in God’s words. Having these verses in my head, calling them to mind in moments of trouble and temptation, as well as in praise and thankfulness. Of everything culture throws at us, I don’t think the Bible is the worst thing to stick (read: I think it’s probably the best…). Maybe pick a verse from Matthew (e.g., Matt. 5:16) and just read it out each morning or evening. (If you are a tick-box kind of person like me, I’m very happy to share a format I’ve found useful!).
If you’re hesitant to dive in (to say again – I don’t get this right and often rush through!), can I encourage you to try it out this week? We’ll be reading through Galatians for one week from March 1st. Why not try it out? The encouragement is that there’s a bunch of people doing this together – none of us doing it perfectly but wondering how God could use our efforts (usually very weak efforts on my part!) to bring His Kingdom.
Psychology says that life is full of rhythms [1]. May our dwelling build this rhythm – not as a repetitive process, but asking every day, how might Jesus change me today? And may the steps we take together into God’s Word this year open the door for Him to come in and dwell with us (Rev. 3:20).
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[1] The internet.