St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 34 - 35, The Test of Heart: the people.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Other miracles) Part 1.   

The disciples were now settled in the boat.  The winds were calm and the waves were flat.  No longer did the waves overtake the boat in an effort to drown it in the sea.  Christ was present and all was calm.  The disciples were in awe at the power and majesty of Christ who commanded Peter to walk on the water.  And he did.  They were in awe of Christ who commanded the waves to calm. And they did.  They were in awe of Christ who commanded the wind to cease and it did.  They worshiped him in the recognition of his kinship to God Almighty.  For they recognized thatChrist was the Son of Almighty God himself.  But in their recognition, did they believe, did they know, did they understand the person who was before them.  Or did they worship out of fear?  

Peter walked on the water and had that unique experience within himself.  No one can take that from him.  It was real and he experienced it himself.  It was real for the other disciples also who witnessed the miracle themselves.  And they all had a common experience to remember and to share.  Was this enough to convince?  Was this enough to make certain?  Was this enough for them to know without a doubt who was this Christ, this rabbi that they followed?  Only time would tell.  So they continued on their journey with Christ,  And crossing over, they came to the land at Genesar.   The inhabitants of that place as soon as they recognized him, sent into that whole country, and brought to him all the sick.

The inhabitants recognized Him.  How did they recognize Him?  How did they know Him?  How did they see Him?  For the news of Him traveled throughout the land and into the countryside, into the villages and towns and neighboring districts.  All heard the story of the man who healed with a touch.  All heard of the blind being made to see, the cripple made to walk, the lame made whole again and the dead coming to life again.  All heard of him who did such miracles.  The disciples knew.  They knew him daily, by the hour, sleeping, eating and in his presence at all times.  But did they believe?  Did they truly know with all their knowledge and wisdom the truth of the person of Christ.  He spoke to them with love.  He told them of compassion.  He gave them of himself that they may believe within themselves the truth of who he was.  But did that truth enter into their hearts?  Did that truth fill them with joy?  Did that truth tell them of who they were in Christ?  Did that truth penetrate to their souls that they were open to the light of Christ?

Do we recognized Christ today?  Are we truly aware of his presence in our lives today?  We can say and speak of him in our churches, in the company of others, in our prayers, at work with our co-workers, in the malls, and at dinner in the restaurants.  We can shout his holy name in our worship, but is he within us?  We can do all the things that indicate that we are true believers, but do we know him as we should?  Christ is the light of the world.  He came that we may have life.  He gave his life that we may find repentance, be justified in God's sight, and have eternal salvation.  He came that we may have life more abundantly.  Do we recognize immediately as the inhabitants did?  Do we believe that he is a healer?  Do we believe that he can make the lame walk?  Was it because of the miracles that Christ worked that we the people, the inhabitants of earth recognize him?  Christ said to the Samaritan woman at the well,   "If thou didst know the gift of God."  Do you know God's gift?  Do you believe?  Faith is the belief in the desire to be one with Christ.  How strong is your desire?

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 23 - 24, The Reproach.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The impenitent towns) Part 2. 

Christ continues with the appraisal of his work.  For he has traveled through many towns and villages.  And he has sent his disciples through many towns and villages preaching the kingdom of heaven.  Yet there are those towns that do not repent.  There are those towns that have had great miracles and wonders completed in them and they reject the gospel.  Those are the towns Christ looks back and calls damnation upon.  Those are the towns that Christ remembers their unwillingness, their unbelief, their sin, and Capharnaum is one of them. 

Christ says about Capharnaum, "And thou, Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted to heaven? Thou shalt be thrust down to hell!"  No glory for this town.  No honor for this village.  It shall be cast into hell for its sins and iniquities.  For it is an evil town.  It is a town filled with the dark forces.  It is a town where the people are blind and cannot see.  They are deaf and cannot hear.  Their understanding has been taken away from them by the evil one.  Many miracles were completed in Carpharaum.  Many demons were cast out.  Many sick were cured and many lame were made to walk.  Yet they did not repent.  They did not turn to the true God.  They continued to worship pagans and live in sin.

Christ told his disciples that Sodom would fair better in the day of judgement.  Sodom would receive a lesser penalty than this town because Sodom had no miracles, Sodom had no signs, Sodom had no prophets come to them.  But Capharnaum had Christ.  Capharnaum had the miracles.  Capharnaum had the light of the world come to its doorstep and it still did not repent.  And Capharaum has the wrath of God upon it because of its impenitence.  Christ says,  "For if the miracles had been worked in Sodom that have been worked in thee, it would have remained to this day.  But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for thee."   

Christ is doing an appraisal of his work.  He is reviewing the towns and the cities and the villages where his message is being preached.  Do you live in an impenitent town?  Do you live in a place where sin abounds and the message of the kingdom is not preached?  Miracles are being worked.  Wonders are being created. Signs are being sent to those who have eyes to see and those who have ears to hear.  Do you live in a house of peace?  Or is your house a house of lies and deceit?  Christ is doing his appraisal.  Will your house be exalted to heaven or cast down to hell?  Christ is doing an appraisal and life hangs in the balance.  Which way will the scales fall for your house?  Your house is your temple.  Does Christ live in you?  May the gift of God be in your heart.

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 32, Heavenly Value.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 8.  

Christ now concludes his talk with his disciples.  He has prepared them to do battle with the dark forces of evil they will face when they travel throughout the towns and villages carrying the message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  His entire message was meant to prepare them spiritually for what they would face.  On several occasions he has told them not to be afraid.  This is the central theme of his message to them.  Keep fear out of your hearts for the Spirit of the Father will come to you when you have a calm heart and a quiet spirit.  

The mission of the disciples is to carry the message of the kingdom of heaven to the people.  The people have strayed away from their worship of the one true God.  So the disciples are sent for to gather the lost sheep and bring them back into the fold.   They will face obstacles.  They will face trials.  They will encounter resistance by the demons of the evil one.  But Christ has given them the weapons to defeat them.  He has armed them spiritually by giving them power to cast out demons.  He has given them power to heal the sick, cure the lame, and restore life to the dead.  Those who do not accept the message he has instructed his disciples to kick the dust off their feet and mark the towns and villages for destruction in the last days. 

This is war.  This is spiritual battle and he wants his disciples to know the consequences of the decisions that men make.  The disciples can only carry the message.  They can not force the people to accept.  Christ tells his disciples, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven."   Blessed are they who accept the message of the disciples.  They will be accepted by Christ  before his heavenly father.  He is telling his disciples that everyone that they meet, that accepts the message of the kingdom of heaven, he will accept also when he is restore to his heavenly father.  Hearing is believing.  And believing is the door to faith and truth. 

Acceptance, acknowledgement, truth, God, religion, all denote concepts that evoke mixed feelings and awareness, in our society today.  To believe in God and accept his precepts requires one to step back from the world that we live in today.  It requires a distinct separation of mind and spirit from the reality of today.  This for many is a position of isolation, a position that brakes away from the reality of the world.  Most people struggle to be accepted in the world and not to separate from it.  After all, it is most peoples desire to become more involved in the world.  They want more money.  The want more fame.  They want more beauty and power.  They want more passion and lust.  They want more involvement with the world.  For this is the world that will bring them happiness, only if they can just get more of it. 

Many people try to live partly in the world and partly spiritually.  They do all the things that demonstrate their commitment to the spiritual precepts of God.  Yet they continue to live in the world also.  But acceptance,complete acceptance, requires one to live apart from the world.  

Complete acceptance requires one to brake from the world, to open the door to the spiritual realm of God and his principles.  One has to almost become schizophrenic to separate from the world.  And yet this separation is not a make believe world but one that is real, reinforced by Christ himself and the Holy Spirit.  For with the acceptance of Christ the Holy Spirit comes and resides with one.  Small miracles begin to happen in ones life and one walks along the path of righteousness.  No longer is one in the world but only exist in the world to do the will of God. 

Trust in the word of God and one will not walk alone.  Trust in the Holy Spirit and one will see the miracles of Christ.  Believe in the desire to be one in Christ as he is one in the Father and you will live a life of peace and joy.  Acceptance is the key.  Surrender is the vehicle.  Trust is the paddle and faith in the word is the direction that takes you to the kingdom.  Will you accept Christ before you accept men?  Partial acceptance is not the key.  Hypocrisy will not work.  Only in your heart will you truly know the gift of God.  If you accept Christ he will accept you before his father.  Will you accept Christ today and surrender to his will for your life?  He waits patiently for your response.