How far would you go to touch Jesus? In Matthew 9, a desperate woman crawled through crowds despite bleeding for 12 years, while a grieving father defied his religious training to seek a miracle. Their desperate faith led to extraordinary encounters. The truth? You can have as much Jesus as you want, but never more than you pursue. Are you content being a spectator, or are you reaching for the hem of His garment?

Are you mourning what God is celebrating? Jesus compared His presence to a wedding feast—a time for joy, not fasting! When God shows up, everything changes. The old wineskins of religion can't contain the new wine of His Spirit. What old patterns are keeping you from experiencing the fullness of His kingdom?

When Jesus said 'Follow me,' Matthew left everything behind without hesitation. What would you leave behind to follow Jesus today? At the kingdom table, Jesus honors those society rejects. Are you creating barriers or building bridges to His presence? Discover what it truly means to choose mercy over sacrifice and find your place at the table where everyone belongs.

In Matthew 9:1-8, Jesus returns to Capernaum and heals a paralyzed man, but not before addressing his sins. This story highlights the importance of true friendship, as the man's friends brought him to Jesus. It also shows that Jesus prioritizes spiritual healing over physical symptoms, challenging religious systems that limit God's mercy. The crowd reacts with awe, while religious leaders resist. The passage encourages us to seek both spiritual and physical healing and to bring others to Jesus for true transformation.

What if the scariest thing God could do isn't punish you, but simply leave? The Gadarenes asked Jesus to depart after He disrupted their economy, and He did—without argument. Are there areas in your life where you're subtly asking Jesus to leave? Do you want His healing without His lordship? His blessings without His presence? There is no freedom without surrender.

Our brains naturally cling to negative words, but what if we could rewire them with something more powerful? The same voice that healed lepers, calmed storms, and drove out demons with just a word is still speaking today. What word do you need from Jesus right now? Healing? Direction? Peace? His authority hasn't diminished - but are we positioned to hear it?