Highlighted New Testament Bible

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

St Matthew, Chapter 14, vers: 36, The Test of the Heart: the desire of the people

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Our paragraph topic is:  (Other miracles) Part 2.  

The word went out, the healer was in the land.  The holy one was in Genesar.  We saw him.  We walked with him.  We heard him speak.  Tell all.  Bring the sick.  Bring the lame.  Bring the possessed that they may be healed.  For he is the great one.  He is the one who performs miracles.  He is here.  Let the word spread to those who would hear.  And so the word spread by mouth, from person to person, from mother to daughter, from neighbor to neighbor, from traveler to traveler, to all the villages and towns in the district.  All were told about Christ who healed all.

They did not know.  They did not understand.  They only wanted to be healed.  They only wanted to see miracles.  They only wanted to know that there was one in their midst who cared for them and could make a difference in their lives.  Christ came and he taught.  Christ came and he demonstrated the power of God amongst the people.  Christ came and he loved.  For no one had shown love or compassion to the people.  In all his power and in all his majesty Christ showed love for mankind through his actions.  For he came to earth and became man that he may demonstrate God's love for man.  And the people responded to his love for  "They entreated him to let them touch."

To only touch but his cloak.  To only touch but his hand.  To only touch but his garment.  To only be in his presence.  These were the wishes and desires of the people.  They only wanted to be with him, near him, beside him, to touch him, to feel his presence.  Just to touch but the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched it were saved.

The people of Genesar only wanted to touch his cloak.  And all who did were saved.  All who touched him were delivered from damnation.  All who touched his tassel were washed clean and transformed by the healing power of Christ.  Oh, that we could be in the presence of Christ today.  Oh, that we could know the reality of his presence.  For many are caught up in this present world and do not know that he lives.  Many are caught up and do not believe that he exists.  For they travel down the wide path of destruction following the lead of the world.  And the desire of the world is death to the soul.

Christ came to give life.  Christ came to transform.  Christ came to show the love of God to mankind that they may know that they do not exist alone.  To those who will believe and to those who know, God provides, God protects, and God directs their footsteps.  To those who know but do not believe, in their hearts, God provides a way out, God provides an open door, God gives the opportunity to know the truth, here on earth, of his presence. 

Christ came that we may have life and have it more abundantly, here and now.  Do you believe?  Do you know?  Seek and you will find!  Knock and it will be opened!  Ask and it shall be given unto you!  But you must seek with your heart, knock with true belief, and ask with the desire to know the truth.  For we have a loving God and father.  We have a just provider.  And we have the creator of all things to watch over us.  In due time all things will be revealed to those who trust.  Miracles will happen for those who have patience.  And the light of the Holy Spirit will console those who believe. 

We celebrate the coming Christmas holiday for the coming of our savior.  Christ gave up his heavenly kingdom to become man.  Christ took off his kingly crown to accept a lowly position and birth in a manger.  Christ, the Son of God, became man that justice might be served and that the union between man and God could be restored.  The price had to be paid.  The injustice had to be corrected.  The scales of justice had to be balanced.  And Christ came, as a lowly infant to bring mankind back to God.  The door is open.  Seek the way from darkness with a true heart and the light of Christ will come and abide within you.  Faith is the belief in the desire to be one in Christ.  How strong is your desire?