Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus curses a fig tree) Part 2.
The Earth Made Fruitful: Genesis: Chapter1, verse: 9-12.
Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place and let the dry land appear." And so it was. God called the dry land earth and the assembled waters Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and all kinds of fruit trees that bear fruit containing their seed." And so it was. The earth brought forth vegetation, every kind of seed-bearing plant and all kinds of trees that bear fruit containing seed. God saw that it was good.
And that was how it was in the beginning. Everything had a purpose and there was a purpose for everything. The earth brought forth vegetation with fruit and the fruit had seeds that bore fruit. And there was nothing that was without a purpose. For God said it was good. And yet there were trees of a different kind that came to be. Trees that did not bear fruit but only leaves. And seeing a tree by the wayside, he came up to it, and found nothing on it but leaves.
Was this tree not according to the purpose of God? Did it not serve a purpose in his plan? How did it come to be that this tree did not have fruit and seeds in fruit? Christ came upon it. He felt hungry and a need to feed himself. But the tree of nothing had no fruit. It had nothing to give to the Son of God, the Lord of the universe. What purpose did it serve? Of what good was it to be in existence?
All creation has a purpose, be it good or bad. We acknowledge the good that is within us and we accept the evil that can come from us. Yet there is more than that. We are spiritual beings held within a clay shell. We have a purpose, to recognize that which has given us life, to rejoice in the knowledge of who we are, and to know that there is one above that gave us the life that we own.
The choice is ours to see, ours to believe, ours to know, ours to accept. Some will and some will not. Some will accept their human reasoning as a hindrance to allowing themselves to believe. It is that step beyond reasoning that allows those who believe to see, to know, and to understand that they are more than just the physical. It is that step beyond reasoning that allows us to open the door of the physical and see the spiritual that is within us, the light of life. And with that giant step beyond reasoning one begins to transform into the living spirit.
It is the light within that transforms. It is the light within that grows. It is the light within that shines through the physical and transforms the world. Death cannot hold it. Time cannot define it. Chaos cannot move it. Love is the force that gives it life. For within the spirit is the love of God our Father and the passion of Jesus Christ our savior and nothing can separate us from that love. We have a purpose. We belong. We are loved. We are at peace.
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: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
Part 17.
They grumbled. They complained. They murmured amongst themselves. They were not satisfied. They were not happy that they received the same as the others who had only worked an hour. They thought that they would receive more because they had worked longer than the other laborers. This is the parable that Christ told his disciples. He compared this parable to the kingdom of heaven.
There was a message. There is a lesion to learn. There is information in the parable that will enlighten those who understand. Laborers are needed to bring in the harvest. The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. There is a reward for those who work in the vineyard. There is pay for those who work. What will the agreement be for those who do the labor? Christ wants his disciples to understand that the householder is just and fair in his rewards. He wants them to know that as laborers in the vineyard that they will be compensated for their work. But he also wants them to know that just as the laborers in the parable, they should not be like them, they should not compare. For they told the house-holder:
"Thou hast put them on a level with us, who have borne the burden of the day's heat."
And then comes the central point of the parable, on the same level. I am better than they. I worked harder and longer and better than they. I deserve more than they. It is this feeling that comes from within that makes us compare ourselves and determine that we are different, we are better, we are more than they. Where does it come from? Where does it originate? Adam and Eve had everything their hearts desired. They lived in the garden. They did not have to toil. They had all provisions given to them, yet they were tempted. The snake told them that if they ate the forbidden fruit that they would be like God. And with that information came the thought that they were not like God. but wanted to be him. The comparison overwhelmed them so much that they were compelled to transgress.
Are we not the same? Are we not created in the same image and likeness as our Father? Are we not made of the same spirit and life given us by our heavenly Father? Yet we consider ourselves more, we consider ourselves better than, smarter than, prettier than, faster than anyone else. We consider. We allow ourselves to be influenced by the thoughts of the day and the influences of what we perceive from the world. We do not consider that which is within us, that which is our spirit, that which is the light of life restored to us by Christ Jesus.
We walk in the darkness of the physical world not knowing the life that is within us. We see not the beauty of the light of life within each of us. We see only the physical, only the appearance, only the focused view that is given us by the world we live in. What is beauty? What is intelligence? What is wealth? What is life? And what is death?
To see beyond the physical and see within the physical is the opportunity to truly know who we are. To see the light within our own selves opens our eyes to the life that is in others. We are the same. We have the same spirit, if we have life. We all are children of our Father. And it is that one fact that makes us equal, the same, not different. Our Father opens the door to all who would ask of his forgiveness and of his love, whether we do this everyday for the rest of our lives or whether we ask in the last minute of our life here on earth. He is fair. He is merciful. He is loving. He is forgiving. He is our Father and we are his children. Let no evil separate us from his compassion and his love. We are all on the same level.
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 8.
We continue with the parable of the laborers. Christ relates this story to his disciples that they may have a better understanding of the kingdom of heaven. Many times telling directly does not register but relating in a parable or a story goes into memory without having to be understood and later the meaning reveals itself. This is how Christ taught his disciples and he teaches us today.
We are the sheep and he is the shepherd. But there is a wolf that wants to scatter. There is a wolf that wants to separate so that he may devour those that go astray. Christ is here to protect, to provide, to love that which belongs to him and not to the wolf. So he tells his disciples this simple story that they may have insight, that they may have understanding, that they may have truth of who they are in him. In the story the house-holder asked the men in the market place why they stood about idle. "They said to him, 'Because no man has hired us.' "
Why do we stand about idle? Why do we wait on man to give us something to do? Why do we depend on that which can not as opposed to that which can? We are independent of man and dependent on God our Father. He will provide. He will protect. He will give all that is needed to survive in this world. And yet we have not recollection of that fact. We are not given that understanding. We are not raised with the knowledge that God will provide. We are given that we must strive and work and be our best that we may succeed.
And yet all that is needed is already given to us. All that is required is provided if we only knew. We go out into the world believing that we can have all that we see and desire. We see the glitz and glamour of the world and we forget that we are children of God our Father. He it is that gave us life. He it is that provides for us. He it is that loves us so much that he sacrificed his most precious son that we may have life.
We were dead. We lost our life. We transgressed and were punished by the judge. But the judge was lenient. The judge was merciful. The judge was loving and he sought to give us another chance to have life again. We wait idly for the world to provide for us but the world can only provide death. We wait idly for the world to save us but the world can only condemn us. We wait idly for the world to protect us but the world will only destroy us. And we miss the opportunity to receive the grace of God our Father who loves us. Do not get caught by the thief unaware. Do not slip away without asking for forgiveness. Do not let the temptation of man's knowledge block faith and hope from entering.
We are not physical. We live in a physical world but we are spiritual beings living in a physical shell. We are created in the image and likeness of a spiritual God. We are spirits within. The light of life is within us if we only seek to know it. The light of life is within us if we only believe. The light of life is upon us if we only open ourselves to what has been given us. Christ came that we would know. Christ died that we would have. Christ arose and ascended that we would believe in him and in the Father. Lean not upon man but upon that which is real, that which will provide, that which loves eternally. Lean upon God and know that he will hire.
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 3.
So Christ continues to tell the story of the workers as they are hired for the work in the vineyard. He has compared this parable to the kingdom of heaven that his disciples may have some understanding of the kingdom. For in the kingdom they will rule. In the kingdom they will judge. In the kingdom of heaven they will sit on the twelve thrones that oversee the twelve tribes of Israel. And Christ will be with them in the regeneration.
But, now, he had to give them some understanding that they will know. He had to enlighten them. He had to teach them the ways of the spiritual world. So he continued to tell them this parable about the laborers in the vineyard. He said to them: "And about the third hour, he went out and saw others standing in the market place idle."
He saw idle workers in the market place waiting for someone to hire them to work. He saw men wanting to have something to do. He saw men needing to make money to support themselves. He saw opportunity. And he opened the door for them to enter. Are we idle workers? Are we in need of something to do? Do we have a need to be employed by someone else to provide for our needs? Reading this parable gives us some view into what the story is telling us today.
The kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder, a property owner, who is in need of workers to assist him with the work at hand. The property owners owns property where he has planted seeds that are in need of harvest. He has planted grape vines that are reaching their ripe state and are ready to be picked. The property owner has wealth and he wants to pay workers to help him bring in the harvest. Are we ready to work? Are we ready to assist? Are we ready to receive the rewards for working in the vineyard of God our Father?
He created us. He provided for us. He gave us everything that we needed to grow and prosper. Yet we lost our way. We were deceived. We were blinded. And we are scattered and lost in the darkness, afraid and alone. And then Christ came. He opened the door and pushed back the darkness that all may see. He touched us and gives us new life that our eyes may be opened to the truth of who we are in him. But there are many who are lost. There are many who do not know. There are many who are still in the darkness.
The light of life is opened to the lost if they accept, if they believe. But the darkness and death holds them. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Are you a believer? Are you a worker? Do you carry the light of Christ within you? Do you know the truth of who you are in him? Let us not be idle workers! Let us go and become workers for the kingdom of heaven.
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 rich young man speaks to Jesus) Part 5.
The young rich man sought Christ for direction, for truth, for honesty. He had heard the word. He was touched by the miracles. He felt that there was something in this man that was not in any other man. So he traveled, he asked directions, he followed the signs until he came to the place where he was in the presence of Jesus Christ. Looking back, how wonderful must that moment have been. Looking back, how exciting must that time have been. Looking back how joyous and enlightening must that moment have been to be in the presence of the Son of God.
Christ came down from heaven to be with us. He came down from heaven to walk with us, to talk with us, to see us in the flesh. He gave up his majesty, his glory, his crown, to take on a lowly position in the form of a man. He came down from heaven to teach us, to show us, to give to us, to die for us that we might regain the life that was given to us from the beginning. And the rich young man asked him what must he do to attain heaven. Christ told him to keep the commandments. But this was not the answer that the young man wanted to hear. He asked which ones to keep. And Jesus said, "Thou shalt not kill."
Which ones shall we keep today? Shall we kill or shall we keep the commandment? Shall we walk down that path that will lead us to kill? Shall we face the anger and the rage that swells up within us when we feel wronged. Shall we allow this anger and rage to lead us down this path? Shall we face the anger and resentment that may cause us to consider this action? Or shall we, in the fit of rage and passion, act without thought to commit such a deed? We live in a world of passion. We breathe the desires and wants of what the world has to offer and it is with those passions and desires and wants that we are guided. Are we beings of passion, beings without thought or direction, beings without a soul? Or are we led by the spirit of the one who created us, the one who gave us life. Shall we follow the commandments he has given us?
What would lead us to kill? What would guide us down the road of allowing ourselves to consider the thoughts of committing such an act? Are we open to the suggestions of ourselves or are we influenced by other means. Passions are strong. Passions will lead, pull, drag us in a direction that we may not want to go, or they may speed us in the direction that we want. It depends on the influence. Do we have an influence of darkness or do we have an influence of the light of life given us by the sacrifice of Christ through God our Father. Death is but a door. The door swings in two directions. One direction leads us to the glory of God our Father. The other direction leads us to the death and destruction of the life that is within us and away from the joy of the Father. Which path will you take? Keep the commandments. "Thou shalt not kill."
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 rich young man speaks to Jesus) Part 2.
And behold there appeared a young man from nowhere with a question for Christ. The young man was innocent. He was perplexed. He was without a sense of direction with this question that he sought to find an answer but the answer eluded his understanding. The question was, what must one do to obtain the kingdom of heaven. What must one say, or think, or behave, or be to assure that he would enter the kingdom of heaven.
Christ came into this world and preached to the people the coming of the kingdom of heaven. He told them that they must repent and be renewed in the spirit. He spoke to them of the old ways. He spoke to them of the new ways that must come into play. He spoke to them of attitudes, of behaviors, of love, of hate, of good and of evil. He wanted them to know the truth of what was taking place here on earth. He wanted them to see for themselves the light of life that was before them that they would know who they are. And then comes this young man seeking knowledge of what was good. And Christ told him: "One there is who is good, and he is God."
The young man was filled with the question of what was good. He was driven by the need to know what was good, what was right, what was wrong, or what was bad. And he sought the one person that he thought was good. He placed a label upon that person who he thought was good. So he called Christ the good master. He asked Christ what good works must he perform to assure that he would attain the kingdom of heaven. But deep within him was the unknown. Within him was the innocence and the desire to fulfill. Yet also within him was the slight tinge of evil that was hidden. And Christ saw and corrected him that he would not be allowed to think that he was the source of all goodness.
Only one who is good and that is God our Father. This is a statement that is true, in and of itself. Yet our concept of God is not real. Our concept of our heavenly Father is not tangible to us as the world is tangible, as our physical bodies are tangible, as our need for food, clothing and shelter is tangible. For these are the things that occupy us. These are the things that consume our daily consciousness. These are the things that we strive to overcome, to obtain, to master, to assure that we have enough of. And our Father is good. Our Father is all powerful. Our Father is protective. Our Father is loving and merciful, and forgiving, and good. But to our understanding this is not tangible to us as the world is tangible. Or is it?
For our understanding tells us that we must provide for ourselves. Our understanding tells us that we must be a success unto ourselves. We are the be all and end all of who we are. And this is how we are programed to think and believe and be in the world. For is the world is good? Is the world caring? Is the world loving if we just embrace what it has to offer? This is what we are told. This is what we are given to believe. This is what we love by and not by the goodness of our Father. How deceived we are. How misled we are. How unknowing we are of the truth of who we are in Christ. The truth will come to you. The truth will knock at your door. The truth will set you free. The truth will open the eyes of your heart and fill it with the love of the Father so much so that nothing else on earth can compare. All you have to do is open your heart and accept what the Father has to offer. He offers love! Open up and let him in. God is good.
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: (Jesus blesses the children) Part 4.
Christ sat with the children. He played with them and laid hands on them that they would be blessed. His disciples did not want the children to disturb Christ. They did not want them to be brought to Christ. But Christ told them that they should not hinder the children from coming to him. He told them that they should not stop the children from being with him. For these were they whom he loved. These were they whom he had passion. The children were they who were the new life, fresh from the tree of life.
They knew not about the Christ. They knew not about the miracles. They knew not about the message that he came to bring to the world. They only knew that Christ was special according to what their parents spoke. But Christ knew them. He loved them. He saw them as they were, little ones. And he had compassion for them, for they were the innocent ones whom he would sacrifice his life. They were the innocent ones who had died without life before his coming. They were the passion of his heart. And he told his disciples: "For of such is the kingdom of heaven
."
The little ones are of the kingdom. The little ones belong to the kingdom. The little ones are the innocent ones, they are the ones without corruption, without malice, without hatred, fear, anger, and evil. For they are fresh from the tree of life, newly born into the world. Long had time pasted with many of them without life. Long had time pasted without the light of life within them. Long had time pasted with them living in limbo until the coming of Christ. He was the one who made the sacrifice. He was the one who paid for the sin. He was the one who redeemed all. He was the one who gave new life to all, male, female, young and old, children and adults.
Save the children. Do not allow them to be harmed. Sad is the day when we loose the young before their time. But many have been martyrs. Many have been sacrificed. Many have died before their time. And yet joyous are they that enter into the kingdom. Joyous are they that meet the Father. For Christ told his disciples: "Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God." Joyous are the ones who live in the presence of the Lord, because they are the innocent ones. They are the ones who's life was given and taken away. And yet they exist in God's presences in the kingdom of heaven.
We live in a world today where anything goes. Our lives are filled with desires and passions that lead us astray. We are given to be bad rather than good, to be wicked rather than pious, to be evil rather than filled with the light of life given us by our Father. It becomes thrilling to us, it raises our blood pressure, it makes us feel good, feel alive, feel strong. And yet it is just those feelings that lead us astray from who we are, spiritual beings created in the image and likeness of God our Father.
We are his children and he is our Father. We are his little ones and he is our provider, our protector, our joy and our hope. He is merciful and through his mercy we live and exist. We are given to be strong, to seek power, to be wise and knowledgeable. Yet it is through our own humility that we can come to understand true knowledge and true wisdom. Acceptance is the key to who we are. Denial of the world is what must happen. And understanding of what fills our souls completely will open our hearts to the love that awaits us in him. Such is the wisdom of the kingdom. Such is the knowledge of our existence. And such is the makeup of the children of the kingdom of heaven.
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: (Christ travels to Judea).
Christ finished his sermon to his disciples and to the people and moved on. He left Capharnaum and entered the district of Judea. He was on a mission, the mission of his father, to preach the coming of the kingdom of heaven. For the kingdom of heaven was open to all. It was open to those who heard the word. It was open to those near and to those far away. For they heard of the miracles. They heard of the teachings. They heard and they came to see for themselves. They came to know. They came to believe.
There was a hunger in the land. There was a yearning. There was a void that was not being fulfilled in the people. And Christ came. He came to save. He came to take back. He came to give new life. He came to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for the sins of man. And the people came to hear, to see, to know, to believe. AND it came to pass when Jesus had brought these words to a close, that he departed from Galilee and came to the district of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.
It was a time for new beginnings. It was an exciting time. It was a time for joy, a time for happiness, even though there was much pain and torment in the land. John the Baptist opened the door and spoke of the coming of the Messiah. Some believed. Some did not believe. Some were excited. Some were fearful. Many were worried that the change would mean destruction for them. And yet it was time. It was the place. It was the now that took over the land. And there was news in the air.
Many had read about the coming. Many believed that it was upon them. Many saw the miracles. And many eyes were opened, ears heard, and many believed. He cured them all. He made them whole. He brought forth the light into the darkness and opened a door for those who had waited for so long for his coming. Christ was the beginning and he was the end of what had taken place in the past. He was a slice in time that denoted a break. Will we have the same? Will we have a break? Will we be able to see, to hear the word, to know the truth, to believe?
The time is upon us. The thief is lurking in the dark, surveying your house, to see when he may enter and take. For he wants your most precious possession. He wants to take away your light. He wants to take away your life. He wants to leave you in darkness and despair. Be aware. Awake from your sleep and be on your guard. Sleep not. Put on your armor and be on guard. It is easy to be on the fence, half believing and just going through the motions. The truth opens the heart and allows one to see, to know without doubt. And with the truth one can live truly in Christ, without conflict.
Come! Follow what is in your heart. Seek the truth of who you are in Christ and you will know. There will be no doubt. There will be no fear. There will be no lust. There will be no desire to go astray. For the truth opens the eye and allows one to see the light within, the light of life given by Christ Jesus. Know your light and let nothing take your life from you. For your light was given to you by your Father in heaven through Christ Jesus. He loves you. He will care for you. He will protect you. And he will bring you home to be with him for all 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 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 unmerciful servant)
Peter asked the question and Christ responded. He asked: " But how often shall we forgive?" How often shall we endure the hurt and the pain of our brother's and sister's sin and still forgive them of their transgressions? How often shall we stand by and watch them play the game of seeking repentance only to turn around and sin again? How often can we put up with their problems and not get angry? Is seven times enough, he asked? Christ wanted his disciples to know that seven times was not enough. Even if their brothers and sisters continue to sin, to forgive them should not be limited by the disciples inability to forgive.
He told them that they should forgive not seven times but seventy times seven. Forgive as often as it is necessary and then some. Forgive more than they can sin and then some. Forgive that they will know that you are different and that there is something in you that will not allow you to judge, to be angry, to not love, or to not forgive. Forgive that they will see that there is something inside that allows you to see them in a different light. Forgive that they will see that there is something inside you that allows you to be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful with you. Forgive that they will see that there is no limit to your mercy as there is no limit to his mercy and there is no lack to his justice.
And then Christ told his disciples this parable to help them understand why they should not limit their forgiveness. "This is why the kingdom of heaven is likened to a-king who desired to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But the servant fell down and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay thee all!' And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt."
When the time comes for the settlement of accounts will we meet our debts? At the judgment day when we are called upon to review our lives on the scale of justice will the scales tilt to good or will the scales tilt to evil? When we are faced with eternal happiness in heaven or eternal damnation in hell, how will we plead, guilty or not? Will we beseech justice to have mercy? Will we ask for clemency? Will we be sorrowful for our sins? Will we seek compassion? How will we plead?
It is the honesty in our hearts that will weigh upon justice. It is the realization that flashes before our minds that will awaken us to the judgment before us. And it is the absence of the worldly and the presence of the spiritual reality of who we are that will press upon us the justice that we face. We had the words. We had the teachings. We had the built in presence of right and wrong. And then we had the world that transformed us into physical beings that allowed us to hide behind the veil of untruth. Yet the end comes when we are faced with the truth of justice.
Christ gave us all that we should know. He came to us. He walked among us. He spoke to us. He left us to return to God his Father. And he sent us his presence in the Holy Spirit. He established for us the written word and built for us his church. The time for settlement comes. And it will come for all without delay or postponement. It cannot be stopped. It cannot be changed. It is the justice of God. Will you be ready? Will you be prepared? Our Father is merciful. Our Father is Loving. Our Father is forgiving. Have patience with us Father that we may come to know the truth of who we are in Christ! For we are lost. We are blind. We are influenced by evil. We pray that the day of settlement will not find us without your mercy, without your grace, without your love. In Jesus Christ name we pray. 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 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: (Peter asks how often to forgive) Part2.
Christ was teaching his disciples about winning back the souls of their brothers and sisters. He told them to meet with thy brother/sister face to face to help them understand their transgressions. Help them overcome with love and not with anger, or hurt or pain. For these emotions will cause them to strike out, to exact revenge, to cause pain and hurt as they, thy brothers/sisters, did to them. Should they not be hurt! Should they not feel the pain? Should they not be angry, or vengeful? These are the questions that the disciples were thinking about when instructed by Christ to win back their brothers/sisters.
Then Peter spoke out, asking the question, how often should we forgive. How often should we accept their transgressions? How often should they, the disciples, allow their brothers/sisters to betray them, to bear false witness against them, to lie against them, to cheat, to steal and then to seek forgiveness? Is seven times enough before they should stop forgiving? Is seven times enough before they should turn their backs on their brothers/sisters? Is seven times enough before they should cast them out and never allow repentance again? Christ answered Peter's question and told them what they should do.
Jesus said to him, "I donot say to thee seven times
, but seventy
times seven.”
Peter was a simple man, a fisherman. Everything for him was black and white. He felt strongly and deeply. Yet he was a sensible man. He wanted to know practical things, things that he could apply, things that he could grasp, things that he could know. He knew forgiveness. He knew how to accept that some people make mistakes. He knew that we are all human, not perfect, so we would err. Yet he wanted to know how long should we accept the errors of others. How long should we allow sin to be committed against us and still forgive? He wanted to know if there is an end to the ability to forgive.
At what point do we stop forgiving and start to hate? At what point do we stop forgiving and start to take revenge? At what point do we stop forgiving and ourselves turn to the sin that we seek to forgive. For this is the pit that we open ourselves to fall into if we place a limit on that which is given to us from our Father
. Christ told them, his disciples, as he tells us today, that there is no limit on forgiveness. He told them that there is no limit on the love that we should have for our brothers/sisters who sin against us.
We have a merciful Father, a God who is love, a provider, a protector, a creator. It is he who is all forgiving, all loving, all merciful and all just. And it is through his love that we become love. It is through his forgiveness that we are forgiven. It is through his mercy that we become forgiving of others, our brothers/sister. For if they truly knew who they are, if they truly knew where they come from, if they truly knew that their actions are not the actions of children of a loving God, they would not commit sin. Sin comes to influence. Sin comes to take over. Sin comes to commit sin. Sin comes to recruit others to sin.
But Christ came that we would know who we are without sin. Christ came that we would have life anew. Christ came that the light of life would shine within us. And Christ left that we may have the light of the Holy Spirit reside within us, to guide us through the influences of sin. How often should we forgive? He told us seventy times seven. He told us they do not know what they do. He told us to forgive without limits. He told us to forgive with love. He told us to forgive that they may see the goodness and the light that is within and know that their Father in heaven loves them. For through you and with him and in him we are the light of the world. So come! Let your light shine for those who cannot see. Let your light shine for those who know not. Let your light shine for those who have not. And you too 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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Fraternal correction) Part 7.
The battle is against sin and the weapon is love. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that man would be saved from sin. Man had sinned against the command of God. But God was so loving that he was merciful. God was so loving that he, through his mercy, allowed man to be saved. He did not have to. He was not compelled to. But he wanted that mankind, his precious creation, would not be lost to condemnation.
Christ came to take back. Christ came to win back. Christ came that man would have a chance to be born again in new life. Man disobeyed the command of God and sin entered the world. And sin ruled the world until Christ came. And Christ restored what was lost. Christ gave man life by paying the penalty for disobedience, the judgment for transgressing, the restitution needed to make whole again. But sin does not give up. Sin does not let go. Sin does not release its captive until forced to do so.
And Christ told his disciples that he gave them the power to separate. He gave them the power to remove sin. He gave them the power to loose sin from the soul of man by force. He told them: "And whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven."
Be gone sin! Be gone lust! Be gone addiction! Be gone evil! By the power of Christ Jesus I loose thee. By the power of Christ Jesus I loose thee from me, from my brother, from my sister! Be gone! Separate thyself from this person and enter in no more. I bind thee by the name of Christ Jesus to enter no more into this person. These are the powers that Christ told his disciples. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Whatever you cast out on earth shall, by the power of heaven, be carried out by the angels in heaven.
The battle is against sin and the weapon is love. The weapon is the love of God the Father for his children here on earth. Sin will come. Sin will tempt. Sin will enter. And sin will seek to take over, to control, to occupy, to drown the light of life completely until there is nothing but darkness within. But Christ came. Christ conquered. Christ rose again. And Christ lives forever seated at the right hand of the father. And he gave us the power to bind and loose that will be a command executed by the angels in heaven.
Christ came. But he did not leave us alone and lonely. For he watches over us in heaven. He sends us the Advocate for those who seek him. He protects us for those who want protection. He provides for us for those who want provision. He is our fulfillment for those who want to be fulfilled. For his love overwhelms. His love is complete. His love is all. And the his counsel is our guide. Come! Know the truth of who you are in him. Seek to find the light of life that is within you that you may know the Advocate. For with him, and through him, and by him all will be revealed.
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.
