Our paragraph topic is: (Lamentation over Jerusalem) Part 2.
Christ cried out for the city on the hill, Jerusalem, Oh Jerusalem! He loved the city and the people within it. His passion for them was deeply held within him for he knew what was to happen. Yet with all the effort to stop the trials and tribulations nothing happened. Messengers were sent, prophets were delivered so that the people would hear the message but the city would not have it.
Christ knew. He saw the past and the future of the city. He knew what would happen and his heart wept for the people and especially for the children. He cried: "How often would I have gathered thy children together." The children that he so loved and cared for that he wanted to protect but could not. The little ones that were so precious to him who's hearts were so full of love who's lives were cut short. These were the ones that he wanted to protect, to provide for but could not because the city would not.
Jerusalem, Oh Jerusalem, why did it have to be this way. Sin City, Sin City, why do you call us to do the things that we do? Why do you corrupt? Why do you create greed? Why do you cause us to slander? Why do you cause us to loose all our morals just to seek the false glitze and glamour of the bright lights of your city? Sin City, even the children are brought here to be influenced at an early age.
We cry and we weep for we must have the life that is flashed before us daily, in our lives and in our dreams. These are our goals. This is what we live for and what we die for, to live the golden life. And yet we do not realize that we already have the golden life. It has already been given us. Christ came that we would have it and have it more abundantly. But we do not understand that it is already there for us. We are blinded by the glitz and glamour of the bright lights of the world and what it has to offer.
What thing of value can a man offer for his own soul? There is nothing more valuable in this world than a man's soul. Lose not your own!
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Application of the parable) Part 3.
The leaders, the priest, and the elders are being told by Christ their fate. Those who would corrupt the fruit for their own desires are being given a warning. They are the ones who were put in charge of the vineyard. They are the ones who were supposed to till the soil and trim the weeds so that the fruit would grow uninhibited. But they saw the fruit as their own. They saw the fruit as an opportunity to fulfill their own dreams of wealth and power. So they cultivated and prepared the fruit so that it would provide them with the desires of their heart, all in the name of the Lord.
Israel was a chosen people. They were special in the eyes of the Lord. He came down from heaven to provide for them, to care for them, as a mother hen would care for her chicks. Yet they rebelled. They decided their own rules and laws contrary to the laws given them by the Lord. Their leaders became filled with power and pride and considered themselves above the Law of the common man. So Christ told them: "Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you."
Our religious leaders have a special place in the heart of God. They are the ones we look up to. They are the ones that we turn to for guidance. They provide us with our daily lessons that instruct us how to live. We follow their example in all that we do. We are the sheep and they are the shepherds. We hear their voice and we follow. God has called them to lead us and to guide us along the way. He has given them special training and leadership skills. And they are the vine-dressers that bring forth the fruit from the vineyard.
Do we know who we are? Do we know that we are the sheep? Do we believe that our leaders are the shepherds that we are to follow? Or are there doubts as to who leads us and the example that they give? Pray that you may know the truth of who you are. Pray that your eyes may be opened as to who leads you and how you follow. Pray that you may see the light that is within you and know that you are the beloved of God. Then you will know the truth of who you are and where you belong.
God will send you the Advocate. The Advocate will lead you and guide you to find the place where you belong. He will show you that place where you can grow and become the fruit that your Father has planted within you. You are a child of God and his love is within you. He will provide. He will protect. He will show you the way to a new path in life that you may live according to the abundance that he has given you. Look around you and see. Is this the place that you want to be? Do you yearn for something more? Pray that he will guide you! Pray that he will show you the way! Pray and listen for his guidance for he will hear 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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Anger of the Jewish leaders) Part 1.
He cast out the money changers. He overturned the tables used for the buying and selling. He proclaimed the iniquity that was being practiced in the house of the Lord and told the people that it is written that the temple is a place of worship and prayer, not a den for thieves.
The Jewish leaders were astonished at his actions. They had allowed the buying and selling in the temple. They were the ones who didn't think that it was wrong for thieves to practice their skills in the temple. They were the ones who were embarrassed by the actions of Christ Jesus, the man they saw as a threat. He came to pray. He came to give worship in the temple. He came to give honor to his heavenly Father and he saw all this taking place in this holy place. So he cleaned house that he could be at peace in this place of worship. And the people came to hear the word and be set free. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
Come one, come all and be healed. Come to the church, the place of worship, the place of healing, the place of forgiveness and find your new self in the Lord. Christ has paid the price for our transgressions. Christ has passed the test and bought a new life for all those who believe. Come one, come all and be healed.
The world is the place where we live. The world is the place where we work. The world is the place where we eat and breathe and love and hate and seek and die. The world will deceive you. The world will corrupt you. The world will turn you away from that which was freely given you at birth. Life is ours to have. Life eternal is ours to hold. Physical life of the body is not ours for eternity but only that for a fleeting moment. It is that which is within which is eternal and the world wants to take that away from us. The worlds wants death.
Christ can heal us. He can forgive us our transgressions. He can give us a new life, a new purpose, a new beginning. There are pleasures in the world, and riches, and desires to fulfill but none can truly satisfy like that which Christ offers. In him there is completion, fulfillment, peace. For he provides all that the heart desires and fills, with over running capacity, the hole that worldly life leaves. We are children of the creator, the Father in heaven. And he loves all that he has created. He is the judge and jury, and all injustices will be dealt with. Today we learn of his words given us through the Holy Spirit. Tomorrow we see and hear the completion of those written words brought to fruition. For it is written.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Avoiding scandal) Part 2.
Christ treasured the little ones. They were newly born, fresh from the tree of life, given new life by God. Theirs was the innocence. Theirs was the beginning. Theirs was the start of a life in eternity. For they knew not life. For they knew not existence. They were conceived in the being of God who brought forth the tree of life that it may bring forth fruit.
Precious are the little ones. Happy and joyous are their lives. Full of questions and curiosity is their life. Happy in the learning and the experience of all that life has to offer. And Christ said to his disciples: "He who receives one such little one for my sake, receives me. Yet there are those who do not receive them. There are those who would corrupt them. There are those who would use them for their own means, to serve their own purposes. The little ones are the gems of heaven. They are the newborn life of God. They are the ones to be protected and guarded against the evil of the world. And for this reason Christ told his disciples:
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him
to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
How precious are the little ones. Look into their eyes and see the light of life that comes through them. Feel the joy and love that comes through their hearts as they experience the physical life that is theirs. Through them we become alive and experience the newness of life. Through their lives we are reborn. For with them and through them we shape the future of their lives and provide the protection and have the opportunity to set them on a path that they may follow for the rest of their lives here on earth. We are their foundation. We are their light in the darkness. We are their protection as God protects us.
Yet there are those who would destroy. There are those who would corrupt. There are those who would lead astray the new life sent to earth by God. There are those who would turn these little ones away from their true nature and send them into darkness. Beware, you who corrupt, you who destroy, you who tear down and turn the light to darkness. Grave is your sin. And great is your punishment. Far greater will be your suffering in hell for the sin that you commit hear on earth. Christ tells you that it would be far better for you to commit the sin of death than to face the sin of corruption of a little one. For the sin of death is far less a punishment than the sin of corruption.
Turn away from these acts of evil against the Lord your God. Seek forgiveness and repent. Open the door to the light of Christ who forgives the sins we commit. God loves you. He created you in his image and not in the image of darkness. You are life and you are light. See the goodness within you and know the truth of who you are in Christ. He has provided the way and the path awaits you to follow. Come! Receive the light of the Holy Spirit and you will know the truth of who you are in Christ.
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 and 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.
