Our paragraph topic is: (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 1.
So they wanted to know. Their hearts and minds were curious as to the how and the wherefore of the coming doom. It was burning inside of them to know. But they could not know. They were not ready to know. It was not the time or the place for them to know. The panic would have taken hold and led them astray.
They were like little children who had to be protected if they were told of the boogie man without no one to keep them from harm, no father or mother, or sister or brother. They were not ready to hear the truth of what was coming. Christ had to prepare them for the truth. He had to first fill their minds and hearts and spirits with the truth of who they were in him so that nothing could harm them before they could receive the message. And in answer Jesus said to them, "Take care that no one leads you astray."
Our message today also is to take care not to be led astray. It is easy in this world of hype, glamour, and glitz to be led astray, to be hypnotized, to be mesmerize by all that we see, hear and come to believe. We are raised in a protected environment that our parents and guardians try to give us to put us on the right path to life. But as we grow older we examine that path and want to change it believing that it needs to be changed to fit what we see as our wants, needs and desires. And as we enter the world on our own we have to make our own decisions as to what is right and wrong for us, as a path to take in life which will lead us in the direction that we want to go.
Many times we find ourselves, later on in life, along a path that we want to change or that we wish we had not taken, a path that led us astray. And in every attempt we make an effort to turn our lives around to go in a different direction. Christ directed his disciples not to be led astray. He wanted them to stay on the path that he had given them, the path that makes them his disciples, his preachers and teachers of the gospel. The church must be built and must spread throughout the land after he leaves. It will be up to the disciples to complete his work. They must not be led astray.
We have a purpose also, not to be led astray. Our purpose is to choose to live or to die in Christ, to accept him as our savior, to be born again into a new life or to die into the darkness of death. And with that choice comes the joy of living a life that he has shown us how to live, sharing the love of the new life he has given us with others that they too may know the truth of new life in Christ. It is a joyous life, a happy life, a life of peace and love, a life of fulfillment in him who fulfills all. Come! Know the truth of who you are in him!
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: (Power of faith) Part 4.
It is amazing what Christ did for the disciples. He taught them about the things that come from the kingdom of God. He demonstrated for them the power of words, his words. And he told them that they could do the same if they did not waver in their belief. This was the lesson that they had to learn. This was the lesson that they had to remember after he had ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of his Father.
They were amazed and astonished at the miracles he performed. They believed that he was the Messiah, the Son of God, and that he had the power to do many things. They did not know or believe that they would be able to do the same. Yet he gave them the instructions that they could follow. "And all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you shall receive."
What do we pray for? Is it money? Is it to pay our bills? Is it to feed our families? Is it to keep our home and not be set out in the street? What is it that we pray to God our Father and ask for? After we pray do we believe that he will hear us and answer? Do we believe that he will provide? If we want it now do we believe that he will provide now? If he does not provide for us now do we continue to believe or do we waver and give up our hope and belief in him?
We are humans in nature and do not know how to ask for that which will provide for our future. We are humans and do not know what will truly make us happy. We are humans and do not know what will bring us true peace. If we ask for a snake, do you think that our father would give us a snake? If we ask for something that he knows will not bring us peace do you think that he would give to us that thing that will create chaos in our lives?
Yet we ask for those things that we know not how they will affect our lives in the future. We pray not for humility. We pray not for patience. We pray not for forgiveness, love, mercy, hope, faith, piety, etc, those things that will help us to be more like him. We know not. We only know what is in this world and what we believe, by what has been given us, will satisfy and help us. He know the truth. He knows the way. He knows the love and the peace that we need. He is our father and he gave us and continues to give us life. His lesson is seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you. Ask, in prayer, believing, and it shall be given to you. Do not give up five minutes before the miracle happens. Patience is the key. Belief is the door that will open your heart.
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: (Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem) Part 4.
What was his purpose? What was his goal that he sent the two disciples into Jerusalem? They didn't ask. They didn't know. They only followed the instructions they were given. They were even given words to say if they were questioned as to what they were doing with the ass and the colt. And all went as they were told without any changes.
Many times throughout the Bible we find instructions that were given by God. Those instructions were meant to be followed without question. Yet we as humans have to make meaning of what we do. We have to try and understand, to rationalize, to make things fit into our world. Where it pertains to God we cannot understand his ways. Only in retrospect do we come to understanding. The disciples were given instructions and they followed them. They only understood later the purpose of what they were doing. Now this was done that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled.
The whys and wherefores of his actions had already been foretold. The words of what he would do were already written so that all would know and have knowledge of what would happen. Even to the ends of the world the words are written for those who seek to know, for those who look to see, for those who want to understand. The word was fulfilled and will be fulfilled. Christ came as it was written. He spoke to us. He walked with us. He led us to his sacrifice and redemption that we would know who we are. He gave us new life.
All this is being done so that what was spoken will be fulfilled. The God of mercy, the God of love calls us to his name. He calls us to come home to him where we belong. We are not of this world. We are not of this realm. We are not physical beings even though we live and breathe in a physical realm. We are his children. We are created in his image and his likeness, waiting for the day that we will be transformed and become new beings. We are like the caterpillar that lives as a worm crawling the earth. And then one day it crawls into its cocoon and is transformed into a beautiful butterfly.
Happy are those who know. Peaceful are those who understand. Fulfilled are those who see that which they are. Knowledgeable are those who know and trust in him. Wise are they who worry not the trials and tribulations of their daily lives. They are the ones who have been given purpose, who have been touched by his love, who know the reality of his presences in their lives.
He awaits your calling. He awaits your belief. He awaits your needs that he might come and sit with you and show you his love. The words have been spoken through the prophets. They await fulfillment. They await your awakening from darkness into the light.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (The mother of James and John) Part 3.
James and John, sons of Zebedee, were followers of Christ. They rejoiced in him. They believed in him, for he was the Messiah. John the Baptist told them that he was the one that they should follow even when they were his disciples. They believed in John the Baptist and knew that he was a prophet but when he told them that they should follow Christ they rejoiced.
It was a special time for them. They knew of their history as Jews. They knew of their tradition. They knew that God had guided Israel and protected them throughout history for they were a chosen people. And they knew of the prophesy that the Messiah would come and walk among them. So they were ecstatic that they had found him and they had the opportunity to live in his presence.
They told their relatives. They told their friends. They told their brothers and sisters and their parents. They told everyone that they knew about the Christ they followed. And because of their zeal, and their belief and their hopes, their mother saw the change in them. She was their mother. She provided for them. She raised them, cared for them, protected them and loved them from birth. And she, more than anyone else, wanted to make sure that they were taken care of. So she went to Christ. She desired to know herself that her children would be provided for, taken care of, and that they would have some place in the new kingdom with Christ. When she came to him, He said to her, "What dost thou want?"
What do you want? This is a question that we can ask ourselves, "What do we want?" What is it that we want. What is it that we want today? What is it that we want tomorrow? As though we had a genie that would grant us our every wish, what is it that we want. There are many things that come to mind that would answer this question. We could say money. We could say power. We could say fame, or fortune, or riches, or health, or any number of things. But the real question is what do we really want in our lives.
We live day to day, going about our daily routines. We work, we play, we socialize with our friends. We shop, we cook, we eat, we sleep, we do things to entertain ourselves on a daily basis, but what is it that we really want in this life. Do we really know the answer to this question? Do we really know what we want? Do we really know what would make us happy?
We are presented with ideas of what others do, or have, or want and we think that this is what we want also. We rejoice over the possibility of how we would feel if our wish was answered, if we won the lottery, or won a car, or won some money. And the joy of winning would make us happy for a while. But will this sustain us for life? Will this joy be with us for eternity? Will we be happy when we get what we want?
Each morning we wake up in search of what we want. Our every thought, our every action, our every belief moves us in the direction of our wants and our desires. There is something inside that needs fulfilling, something inside that drives us to do what we do. Christ told us that our Father knows our every need, our every desire. He told us not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough worry in itself. But the Father knows us, provides for us, protects us from harm. And the Father fulfills us. For it is with him and through him that we find what we want. It is in his love that we are complete and desire nothing more. Through his love our hearts desire is found. Through his love we long no more. Through his love we are finished and can rest in peace knowing that he loves us. What do you want? I want to be with my Father, my creator, my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. For through him and with him I want nothing else.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
Part 16.
The last of the laborers came to the steward to receive their pay. They are paid a denarius, as agreed, but they murmur against the householder. They believed that they were deceived. They believed that they were mistreated. They believed that the pay that they received was unfair because they worked all day.
They were the first to come to the vineyard and the last to leave. They sought work in the market place and agreed to work for a denarius. They did not know that others would be hired. They did not know that others would be paid the same amount. The only knew that they agreed to work for a denarius and believed that they were receiving a fair amount for their labor. But when it came time for payment, they saw that others who came after them received the same amount. They were dissatisfied: saying, "These last have worked a single hour."
Such is the way of comparison. We compare ourselves to others and loose the sense of our own self, the sense of our own self worth, the sense of who we are. What makes us happy? What makes us satisfied? What will fulfill our needs? What will make us content within ourselves? Who are we that we do not know who we are? For it is the nature of discovery that allows us to understand. And it is in that understanding that we come to know who we are.
Are you satisfied with who you are or are you continuously in search of the things that others have to satisfy yourself? The laborers were not satisfied when they compared their labor to the labors of others. They worked the day long. They agreed to a fair amount but when compared with others who worked less for the same amount, they were dissatisfied. It was in the comparison that they decided they were unhappy. It was in the comparison that they saw others who were paid the same. It was in the comparison that they felt hurt and pained that they did not get more. What does it take to make us happy? What does it take to give us satisfaction? Are we continuously reviewing and revising what will make us happy so that we never know what will give us joy?
Just like the laborers in the parable, we grumble and murmur against the house-holder. We want what we see others having and believe what we see that others have, will make us happy. Yet there are always others. There is always dissatisfaction with what we have in comparison to what others have. There is always that which we see in others that we want for ourselves. Our happiness, our joy, our completeness is in others. And yet there is nothing on this earth that we see that will fill us with the joy and happiness that comes from the knowledge of who we are in Christ. For it is in the knowledge of being the children of God our Father and his love for us, that we can come to know who we are. And it is in that knowledge that we are fulfilled.
No gift or thing or object can substitute for the complete and fulfilling love that comes from God our Father. Nothing else can compare. And when you know his love nothing else is needed. In this life, nothing else can compare, nothing else will satisfy. If you yearn, if you seek, if you desire, with your whole heart, to know who you are, seek him and he will come. Know him and he will provide. Embrace him and you will be filled with his love. And in that moment you will know that there is nothing else that can compare to the love that the Father has for you, thanks to the passion of Christ Jesus.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
Part 15.
The first received his reward and was joyous. They had only worked an hour. The next to the last received their denarius and they were happy. They had only worked a couple of hours. Those who came before the first received their wages and they were satisfied. They did not work as long as those who came first. And then came those who were hired first. The time came for them to receive their reward and they also received a denarius.
And upon receiving their pay they were astonished. They were not satisfied. They were not joyous. They were not happy to receive what they had agreed to work for. For they had made comparisons. They had worked all day in the heat of the sun. They had watched others come into the vineyard and knew that they would receive more. They thought that their reward would be greater than all the rest. "And on receiving it, they began to murmur against the householder."
They made comparisons. They looked at others as they entered the vineyard and compared themselves to those that came after them. They raised themselves above those that came after them. They thought that they were better. They thought that they deserved more. They saw themselves as different from those who came after them. And yet they all were the same. They all were offered the same amount by the house-holder to tend the fields in the vineyard.
There was work that needed to be done. There was a need for laborers to do the work. There was a contract made and an agreement for compensation. Yet somewhere in the process a change took place. Somewhere in the work something entered the picture to bring about a change. They worked side by side. They picked the grapes from the vines and harvested the fruit. Somewhere in the work day, the minds of the workers changed. Somewhere during the heat of the day their thoughts changed. Somewhere as the day came to a close the hearts of the workers changed and a new mind, a new heart, new thoughts came into the picture and all were changed.
Some were happy. Some were joyous. Some were satisfied. But others were astonished and dismayed at what they received. They began to murmur. They began to talk back. They began to allow frustration and doubt, and fear, and anger to enter into their hearts and minds and bring about a transformation in who they were. They began as simple workers seeking to find work for the day. They ended up as angry spirits who's hearts were filled with anger.
What is it that brings about such a change? What happened that they were dissatisfied? What brought about this about face in their attitudes and mindsets that they began to murmur? Comparison came in. Comparison came in and set things in motion. Comparison came through and showed them a different picture. They started out happy to have work. They ended up sad and disgruntled with their pay. Are we the same today? Do we start out happy to have work and end up sad with our pay? Does comparison come into our lives and lead us to change? Does comparison come into our lives and turn us in a different direction?
We are God's children, created in his image and likeness. He has given us the gift of life. The most precious gift that could be had, we already have. Are we satisfied? Are we happy? Are we understanding of what has been given to us? Or are we making comparisons with what the world has to offer against what we already have? We see, we feel, we taste and touch and smell all that the physical has to offer. Can we know the truth of what the gift of life has to offer? The spirit will tell. The life within will show. The Advocate will listen and teach that which has not been taught. And then you will know that there is no comparison to what you have. And then you will be happy and joyous, for you have the gift of life.
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.
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.
