St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 15; The Abomination of Desolation.

 Our paragraph topic is:  (The destruction of Jerusalem) Part 1.  

He wept for the city he cared for deeply.  He wanted to protect it as a mother wants to protect her children and provide for them.  But Jerusalem would not have it.  Jerusalem was a city of its own.  It had come to power and fame to be known throughout the region for its glory.  And that image made it believe that it did not need help from the maker and provider who gave it the ground it was built upon.  How arrogant it had become in its years of progress, fame, and glory to think that it did not need its founding father. 

Christ came to the city with his disciples.  He saw their pride and their joy in being a part of the peoples that had built such a magnificent place.  He saw also the future of the city and what lay ahead, the destruction and desolation that was coming as a result of the pride and the arrogance of the city.  It became necessary for him to let his disciples know what was coming so that they would be prepared.  He told them:  "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place -let him who reads understand. "  

He wanted them to understand the need to survive the destruction that was coming.  When the temple was desecrated by the placement of idols, it was time for the disciples to leave.  It would be time for the church to move to a new location, to take as many worshippers with them.  To stay would have meant death and destruction.  

What does this mean for followers of Christ today, for those who read?  What knowledge can we obtain from these words to help us prepare for the future that may come?  Will we have a desecration of our places of worship?  Will our churches and altars be replaced with idols of false images to worship as though they are gods?  Will we be forced to acknowledge a worldly power as our god or suffer death and destruction?  Is this a warning for us too? 

Today we live in a different world than what it was two thousand years ago.  We have modern conveniences that were not available then.  Our lives are less cumbersome, we live longer, we are healthier, have more freedom, life all around is better.  Death is not so imminent as it was then.  Christ came to open the doors of heaven to all mankind past, present, and future so that all would have the opportunity for eternal life.  And yet it is this opportunity for eternal life that we loose sight of ,today, in comparison to what modern life has to offer.  

We live as though we are given tomorrow.  And yet tomorrow is not given to us.  Death could come at an instant when we are not prepared for it.  We pray: Father, let the end not come when we are not prepared.  Have mercy on our souls.  

 Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 38; A Desolate House.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Lamentation over Jerusalem) Part 5.  

God sent his messengers to warn them, but they would not listen.  He sent prophets to prophesy but they would not hear.  They were stubborn.  They were arrogant.  They were full of their own beliefs.  They could not see the changing of the tides, the coming storm.  God wanted to protect them.  They refused to believe in the God of their fathers.  It was so long ago that it was a distant memory and no one cared.  The people had forgotten.

The signs were there for everyone to see.  Some saw and believed.  The faithful knew what was coming.  They heard the messages and believed.  They heard the warnings.  They prepared themselves for the coming storm.  But the leaders failed to warn the people.  They failed to carry the message to the general public.  They failed their responsibility to the people because they were to busy partying in their palaces.  So:  "Behold, your house is left to you desolate."

Torn down, destroyed, burned, years of architectural wonder desiccated for all eternity.  They were warned but would not listen.  They given signs but could not see.  Over and over again opportunity was given them to heed the message but they refused to do so and now the house is gone, the beauty is destroyed, the joy of yesteryear is no more.

It is said that you don't miss your water until the well runs dry.  All the signs are there telling you that the water is drying up but you do not see.  The water is getting lower and lower but you believe that it will always be the same, today, tomorrow and forever.  We are only as old as we think but our bodies say otherwise.  This is the fact of life that we must recognize no matter how much science breakthroughs may want to change our minds about our health.  Death is our inevitable end.

And yet death is only a transition from the physical to the spiritual.  Christ came to demonstrate that fact to us.  He overcame death.  He rose from the grave.  He ascended into heaven and he awaits for each and every one of us who chooses to receive him as our Lord and Savior.  For he paid the price for each of us to have a new life.  And that price is simply asking for forgiveness of our sins and accepting and believing in him.  He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly.  Thank you Christ Jesus for your great gift.  Thank you for opening my heart and showing me the way to you.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 33b; Judgment of Hell.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their persecution of religion) Part 8.  

Here they were the religious leaders of the people standing before the Word of the Living God, still not knowing, not believing, not understanding their fate.  So bold were they.  So arrogant were they.  So caught up in their own importance of honor and prestige that they could not see or hear the truth of the Son of Man.  He call them a brood of vipers.  And that still did not shock them enough to make them think of who this Christ was.

They had seen the miracles, heard of the demons that were cast out, knew of the people that were cured of illnesses, seen those who they knew were lame or blind or cripple or diseased.  Yet in their minds it was all a hoax, all unreal.  They were lost, the Scribes and the Pharisees, unable to change their behavior.  Evil had fully taken over.  They had become the persecutors of their own religion.  Christ knew they were lost, yet he offered opportunity for redemption.  Yet he questioned:  "How are you to escape the judgment of hell?"

They were lost, completely engulfed in the prison of their evil spirits.  Darkness had taken over in their souls and there was no escape.  Where are we today?  Are we in the same boat?  Are we following the same path?  Do we have the opportunity for redemption?  Can we be saved from the evil that may be within us or around us or in our society?  What must we do to remove ourselves from the bonds of evil?

Everyday we are faced with opportunity to do wrong.  We are tempted to do just the little thing that wont hurt anyone.  Daily those little wrongs add up until we become immune to wrong and we can rationalize doing something a little bigger something a little more daring, something a little more evil.  And it is that path that we allow ourselves to travel that leads us down the road to more and more wrong until we do not recognize the difference.

Our God gave us a conscience that tells us when we do right and when we do wrong.  He gave us commandments to guide us in our daily lives.  It is those commandments that help us as children to stay safe from evil.  We do not know the many ways of evil.  We are not of the same spirit as evil but of a human nature, far less than those who seek to turn us against the will of our Father.  It is the love of our Father in heaven and Christ Jesus that keeps us in his grace.  It is his loving mercy and forgiveness that opens the door to bring us back into his love when we commit wrong.  It is the spirit of his love that guides us daily when we seek to know his will in our daily lives that helps us stay in the grace of our Father.  

We are blessed to have this opportunity to know who we are and to know the truth of the love of God for us.  It is that truth and that love that we can carry with us in our daily affairs to show others what God has to offer and what he gives to those who know him.  Spread the word.  Show the love.  Let the spirit of his love shine in you.


Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 25a; Hypocrites.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their hypocritical purity) Part 1.  

Once again Christ called the Scribes and the Pharisees out in the public eye.  He wanted the people to know who they were.  They acted as though they were pious religious leaders, but instead they were wolves in sheep's clothing.  To the public they were revered.  They were honored by the people.  But to Christ they were masquerading as something else. 

They talked the talk and walked the walk some of the time but behind closed doors the masks came off and the talk was completely different.  They looked down on the people.  They were arrogant and unbelieving in what they preached to the people.  They thought the people were fools, unlearned, and could not discern the truth.  They were deceitful and this is why Christ called them out: "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"   

Is this a warning to our religious leaders today?  Are they the same as the Pharisees of old who were hypocrites?  We see from time to time where preachers have transgressed the line and committed sin, had some affair with another woman while married, molested children, robbed from the church, even committed murder and attempted to cover it up.  

These are just a few of some of the stories that have come to the public's attention.  Christ was telling the Scribes and Pharisees back then they had a greater responsibility to the people as do the preachers of today.  We are all human and subject to failure, but those who take up the calling to become messengers and preachers are governed by a higher standard.  They are given a special blessing from God to carry his message to the people.  

I pray each time that I write that the words that come from me are not mine but come from the spirit through me.  I seek not glory in these words but only to complete a commitment made upon become a new person, a new me.  My awareness was so strong that I wanted to do something to let anyone know that they too could experience what was given to me, a new life, a new beginning, an awakening.  I know forgiveness.  I know love.  I know eternal life within.  I know the light of life that Christ has awaken within me.  I know God's love. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 22, verse: 16a; The Herodian scholars.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Tribute to Caesar) Part 2.  

They were determined in their views to trap Christ with their tricks.  They had done this before with other prophets.  So they figured that they could do the same with Christ.  They were arrogant in their beliefs.  They were certain in their knowledge of who they were dealing with.  They were blind to the influence of the evil that motivated their actions and blind to the influence of their own needs.

They believed that they were dealing with an ordinary man.  They believed that they were far superior than this ordinary man even though he seemed to be a prophet.  So they thought that they could outwit him.  They even brought along their best minds to help with the task.  And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians.  

They were dealing with the Son of God.  Yet they did not consider this a possibility.  They did not think that he would know them, that he would know their thought, their feelings, their wants, and their desires.  Or maybe they were so blinded by the influence of evil that they could not see the truth that was before them.

It is said that some people are so set in their ways that they are unable to see what is plainly before them.  When the truth is unveiled before their eyes the brain is unable to accept what has been revealed, so it denies in order to remain in what has been the accepted way of thinking.  Or even it creates some alternate reason to rationalize maintaining the thought process that it holds without considering the possibility of change.  The truth shatters the old thought process and allows change to take place.  And with that change comes freedom and joy and peace. 

Christ came into this world that the veil of darkness might be lifted and the light of truth would come that we might be able to see again and not be blinded in darkness.  He lit a candle and that candle is the light that is within.  We can choose to see or continue to live in darkness.  We can choose to be free or live enslaved.  We can choose to be at peace in the knowledge that we are rich in him or we can continue to believe that we are poor and must do anything and everything to obtain the riches of this world.  There is nothing in this world that is more precious than the life that Christ has freely given.  Choose freely and keep that which is yours from eternity.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.