St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 17b; Which is greater?

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 5.  

He called them blind.  He called them fools.  They could not see, they could not hear, they could not understand.  They had distorted everything that was given to them.  They had made their own religion to conform to their own desires so that they would be in control of the people and the people would respond to their wishes.

They were the rulers of the people.  They made the laws and handed them down to the people.  Moses gave them the Law from God but they changed it to meet their own needs.  God sent prophets to show them the errors of their ways but they did not listen, they did not hear.  This is why Christ called them blind fools: "For which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold?"  For this is what they made their religion to believe.

Many years had past since their forefathers had left the dessert and the memories of the miracles of the hand of God protecting the children of Israel.  The prophets had come and gone and nothing changed.  The generations did not remember the lessons of the past.  The leaders and rulers came and went without handing down the wisdom of the forefathers.  The world was the same.  Everyone sought power and fame and fortune.  Everyone sought the glory of men and no one sought the glory of God.

Gold had more value than anything on earth, and yet man had not reached or sought the inner value of the soul.  He had not witnessed the truth of the burning light of life within that came from the life of the soul given by the sacrifice of Christ.  And the light of the world walked the earth without being noticed.  The demons noticed his light but man could not see it.  The leaders of the people could not see it and the crucified him for it.  Yet that is why he came down from heaven that he might pay the price for our transgressions and free us from sin.  

We are blessed to have a second chance.  We are blessed to be so loved to have him as a savior.  We are so wonderfully blessed to not have to walk in darkness anymore but are now guided by the light of his Advocate, the Holy Spirit.  Thank you Father for your love.  Thank your Christ for your passion.  Thank you Holy Spirit for your guiding light.  Amen!

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 19, verse: 13a, Bring the Children.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus blesses the children) Part 1. 

He gave his disciples lessons to live by: lessons on adultery, immorality, and marriage, lessons on bonding, acceptance, and love.  They were powerful lessons for them.  But as with all things from Christ they took it in until they could understand.  They accepted his teachings because he had demonstrated to them that he was special, he was the chosen one, he was the Messiah.  There were many strange things that he said and did.  They knew that he loved them and wanted them to understand.  While all the time in the back of their minds, in the darkest corner of their being there was always that lurking voice speaking to their doubts and their fears.

So they took a rest and all the children came to play.  The children had heard their parents talking about him.  They had heard about all the miracles.  They knew that this man was special because of the way that the others treated him.  And they played near him, in his sight, in his presence, not knowing who he was.  They wanted to know.  They wanted to see up close.  They wanted to be with him.  So they got closer until they were within his reach.  "Little children were brought to him then that he might lay his hands on them and pray."

They brought the children to him that he might bless them.  Parents brought them that he might impart some spiritual healing upon them, that they might grow up knowing that this man affected their lives.  Lay hands on them.  Pray for them.  Teach them that they might know the true meaning of God.  We are fortunate, those who grow up in a Christian environments.  We are brought to church.  We are taught the history of our religion.  We are given the essentials of our beliefs that we might have a foundation to grow upon as we encounter the world. 

For too many of us, our religion, our beliefs, our faith is based upon what was forced upon us in early childhood.  We did not want to go to church.  We did not know what we were being given through the many lessons and teachings and preachings.  All we knew was that it was required of us.  And if we did not obey then we were taught about the wrath of God.  We would burn in hell.  We would be eternally damned.  We would not go to heaven.  All of this was given to us at an early age.  We would carry these teachings, these thoughts, these beliefs, with us throughout the rest of our lives and pass them on to our children and their children's children.

And yet love was within us, as children.  Love was a part of us as little ones.  For we loved life.  We loved our parents.  We loved our brothers and sisters, most of the times.  We had the seeds of God's love within us but no one cultivated those seeds that they would bring forth fruit.  Are children able to become fruitful?  The seed within us was buried deeper.  Instead a new seed was planted within us as children, a seed that would set our beliefs on a vengeful Father, a Father of wrath, a God of punishment if we did not obey.  Our Father is a God of love.  No matter what we do he will still love us. 

With understanding,  true understanding of who we are in his love, our eyes can be opened, our hearts can beat with a different beat, and we can become aware of the spirit within us.  With that awakening we can know the truth of who we are in Christ.  With that awakening we are able to receive his love.  And the knowledge of his love makes us keenly aware of our sins, our wrongs, our transgressions.  Repentance, sorrow, regret comes with knowledge of his love.  And like little children we are able to free ourselves from the grips of evil and become once again his children.  For He is forgiving.  He is merciful.  He is loving.  He is protective.  He is our provider.  He is Our Father above all.  Open the door and let him lay hands on you that you may become a child again.

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.