St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 37b; Gathered thy children.

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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 23, verses: 35a; All the Just Blood.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their persecution of religion) Part 11.  

And now comes the pronouncement of judgment against the Scribes and the Pharisees and all their kind who have persecuted religion throughout the ages.  They have massacred the prophets, slain the messengers, crucified the holy ones sent by God, and scourged those who spoke against them in the temples of the synagogues.  The evil within them has taken over and used them to commit sins against God to prevent the people from believing in the one true God.

Anger, pride, lust, slander, false witness, greed, all the sins of man have come upon the leaders of the religious sect to prevent them from seeing or feeling the sorrows of their people.  And God speaks through Christ Jesus to pronounce judgment upon them saying:  "That upon you may come all the just blood that has been shed on the earth."

They were offered the opportunity.  They were given the chance to change.  The door was opened for them many times but they refused to believe, they refused to see, they refused to go through.  Their anger, their pride, their desires, their blind ambition, led them to follow that which was given them from their lust from within, their desire for power.  They thought that they knew.  They thought that they understood.  Little did they know that they were being led down the path of destruction.  Little did they see that they would be required to do more and more evil to demonstrate their loyalty, until there was no turning back, until they had reached the point of no return and their souls were fully committed to evil.  The slippery slope of evil.  If there is no internal compass to guide one then all hope is lost and deceit will eventually play a part in the downfall.

God help us.  God guide us.  God protect those who fear him and those who love him.  Fear not for the events of the day for he has a plan that will always work to his advantage even if evil seems to win the day.  Our Father watches over us and provides and protects us.  We are in his hands and no one or nothing can take us away.  Today is our day to rejoice and be glad.  For we are protected by our Father in heaven and it is his love that will watch over us day in and day out.  Sleep well and be 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.