St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 10a; Those who leave.

 Our paragraph topic is: (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 4.  

It was like a movie.  Christ was foretelling the future and the disciples were visualizing it all taking place before their eyes.  Christ seeing what the Father was seeing and knowing what he knew walked through time as all these things were happening.  It was like he was standing still and time was fast forwarding around him.  He could see and understand all that was happening.  He could stop, reverse, go from one point in time to another, move from one place to another to see and hear all that occurred at that point at that place in time.

And he spoke to his disciples about all that happened.  Reading a book only gives a general idea of what happens and is incapable of describing in detail what is happening.  But if you are there at the time and place that an event took place you are able to give detail information that would take many pages to describe.  This is why Christ wanted to tell his disciples what would happen because he was able to see first hand in detail the events that would take place.  So he told his disciples after all the tribulation and their deaths, he said:  "And then many will fall away."

Christ could see the great increase in the number of new members coming into the church.  But after the church suffered torture and death of the disciples, many of the so called believers would turn from the church for fear.  They did not have the same belief, the same hope, the same faith, the same spirit as those who were first to experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  And so as the persecutions began to spread the members began to scatter for fear of same.

Today we live in a different world where we do not have religious persecution in most of the free world.  However, in some parts of the world religious persecution is still practiced.  Freedom to believe and practice your choice of religion is not allowed in those parts of the world and must be hidden and practiced underground away from the public.

Most religions as a whole are free to practice in the open, free from persecution.  But there is also internal persecution or pressure from within our society as a whole.  Ask a person to attend church with you and you might get push back or even disassociation.  We evangelize everywhere in an attempt to bring new members into our churches.  This is what we are given to do by our religious leaders, to go out and carry the message to others so that they can become new members, new believers. 

Christ came to spread the good news.  He went from village to town talking about the kingdom of heaven because the people did not know during those times.  They knew that there was a God but did not fully believe in life after death and the kingdom of heaven.  He came to show us the truth of who we are and to demonstrate to us the truth of our Father in heaven.  So today we have witnesses to the truth.  We have knowledge of the truth.  We have faith and trust as to the truth of his words.  Today we are the children of the light created in his image.  Ours is the kingdom of heaven if we choose to accept and believe in the word.

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 24, verse: 7c; Pestilences and Famines.

 Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 10.  

This was not just an ordinary conversation that he had with his disciples.  Christ had to tell them the details of how this would happen.  He had to let them know what was coming so they would be prepared.  Knowledge would be the key to fighting against the fear that would spread from not knowing what was coming and how to prepare.

To keep them from being led astray like others Christ had to let his disciples know what to do.  He had to tell them what was coming and what they needed to do in order to not be led by the winds of despair.  He told them:  "And there will be pestilences and famines."

Where are we today?  Did we get the message of yesterday?  Did Christ tell us about the coming of the end?  Is this a message for us today also?  Are we having pestilences and famines, wars and rumors of wars, where kingdoms are against kingdoms?  Is the end near?  What can we expect today?

What do our leaders say?  Do they have a solution to our problems or is it just more of the same political rhetoric that we have heard before?  What do we do today, what solutions do we have today, who do we turn to, what side do we take, where do we go?

For those who know there is peace.  For those who believe there is love.  For those who understand there is trust in the will of the Father and his protection.  His will be done.

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 24, verse: 7b; Kingdom against kingdom.

 Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 9.  

It must have been a bleak picture that Christ painted for the disciples.  He wanted them to understand the totality of what would happen before the coming of the end.  It would not just be in their area, in their region but all over the world, where destruction would take place.  The people would hear the words and become very fearful of what would happen.  

Many would despair.  Many would loose hope and give up their lives.  Others would follow leaders who would come proclaiming they had the answers to the future, proclaiming they knew the way from destruction.  False prophets would come leading many astray as Christ foretold. He told his disciples, do not be led astray for:  "Kingdom against kingdom." 

In the time of despair and chaos all will be lost.  Not many will know what to do or how to survive the impending doom.  Only those who have the faith and the spirit of the Lord will know that he is with them and no harm will come to them.  The Lord will protect those he loves, those that are his children, those that know him and love him.

Even now in this time of confusion and chaos God is in control.  He has a plan for those who know him.  Our job is patience and steadfast trust in his will for us.  Everyday we can see his will working in our lives if we are patient.  Little by little we can see the miracles coming to life in our lives.  It is easy to get impatient but we must constantly remind ourselves that his will be done and not ours on earth as it is in heaven.

We have a purpose here on this earth.  What is your purpose?  What is my purpose?  We each must ask God what is it that he wants us to do for him.  How can we please him?  How can we show our love for him by doing something for him with our lives?  He touched me to show me his love when I was in darkness and did not know the way.  He filled me with his love that I knew him from no one else.  I write now to share that love with you that you may know that he is there for you also, waiting for your call, waiting for your cry, waiting for your need for his love for you.  Call him and he will come.  Cry to him, he will hear you.  And when you least expect it he will be with you. 

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: 23b; Paying Tithes on nonessentials.

Our paragraph topic is:  (They overstress the nonessential part of religion) Part 2.  

They wanted to control everything the people did, every aspect of their lives, so they could collect taxes and tithes.  So they conceived of different ways they could create rules to control the people.  They stressed the nonessential parts of religion as being important in the lives of the people.  The more a person adhered to the nonessentials the more a person was made to believe they were special to God.  And yet this was not what God wanted from the people.

Where was their faith?  Where was their belief in the God who created them and gave them life?  Where was their trust in the one God who provided for them on a daily basis?  Why were they not grateful for the many graces that were given to them on a daily?  Instead it was:  "Because you pay tithes on mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the Law."

What is important to us today?  Are we taught to observe just the nonessentials of our religion, go to church on Sunday and holidays, give tithes if we can, send our children to Bible study?  Are these the essentials for us today?  Or is there more that we should do?  Do we really believe in what we hear in church?  Do we know that we have a God in heaven that loves us and provides for us?  What happens when we have a love one who is taken away and we have to suffer the pain of loss?  Do we blame God for our loss, our pain, our suffering?  

Our knowledge and belief is more than just words that we hear repeated in church.  It has to become a part of who we are, an understanding of the knowledge of our God and his love for us.  Our belief has to become us, who we are inside and out no matter what happens, life or death.  We are more than just flesh and blood.  We are more than just body.  We are soul, spirit, created in the image and likeness of our Father.  Our life is eternal if we choose to accept who we are.  And the life here on earth is only a spec in the cosmic time of eternity.  That is our belief.  That is our knowledge.  That is our truth, our faith in the trust given us from the promise of Christ Jesus.  He came to give us new life and now that new life is yours.

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: 21; The Oneness of Him and the Temple.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Their distorted religion) Part 12.

You see they had no idea what they were doing.  They were led by their intuitions, by their instincts, by the influences of the world around them which would have them maintain their positions of power and influence.  They were the rulers of the time.  They had positions of power and prestige that they did not want to lose.  And Christ came along and questioned their positions by calling them blind guides in the public eye which challenged their authority and prestige.  Any other person they would have had the temple guards arrest and thrown into jail or beaten.

This was Christ, however, the miracle worker.  He had cured many of the sick and the lame and the blind and the cripple.  There were many followers who believed in him and his teachings.  So the Pharisees and the Scribes and the Elders had to think of another way to capture him so that they could silence him for good.  But they did not realize who they were dealing with.  They did not know the storm that was brewing behind the scenes and the parts they were playing.  Christ had to stir the hornet's nest.  He had to take them to task.  He had to show them up to the people so that everyone would know who they were.  This is why he told them:  "And he who swears by the temple swears by it, and by him who dwells in it."

You see they didn't know.  They were being influenced by the evil in the world, like pawns on a chess board.  To swear by the one who dwells in the temple is to swear by Almighty God.  And to swear by Almighty God is a bond that must be kept, a bond that must not be broken.  Yet here the Scribes and the Pharisees were telling the people that to swear by the temple it is nothing.  How foolish they had become.  How distorted they had rationalized the truth of their religion.  How broken were they making the people against the God of their fathers.

Two thousand years ago Christ came down from heaven to walk among mankind.  He gave up his majestic robe, his kingly spirit and became human that he might experience the truth of humankind.  He walked with us.  He talked with us.  He danced and drank, and eat with us.  He laughed, cried, smiled, sighed, felt human emotions as we do.  He lived a full life with us and he left his legacy for us to know that he was here with us.  And lastly he fulfilled his promise for which he came; he gave his life to pay for the original sin committed in the garden.  

For his life and for his passion we have life again.  We have a new soul.  We have but to believe in him who came, him who is, him who guides and saves our life is anew.  The choice requires daily renewal and confidence for there is one who will test that belief, that faith, that trust of the soul within.  But there is one also that will renew and guide and support and walk with you every minute, every hour of the day to be the light in the darkness that comes.  Keep the faith.  Know the love.  Trust in the truth of the light of life that is within you.

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: 14b; Widows houses.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees) Part 6.  

The kingdom of heaven was at hand and Christ pronounced judgment over the Scribes and the Pharisees.  He made every effort to reach them.  He did everything he could to pull them back from the brink, but they were too far gone to turn back.  They were too caught up in their anger and frustration at Christ to break free from their positions of hatred and fear.

The prophets of the past had called them out to the people.  They spoke the words of God to the leaders and rulers who did not listen.  And so it was the same in the time of the Scribes and the Pharisees.  They would do the same as their forefathers to get rid of those who would call them out to the people.  Christ called them hypocrites:  "Because you devour the houses of widows, praying long prayers."  

This is the time in history to look back on and imagine what it was like to be there with Christ.  Imagine being in his presence, in the presence of the kingdom of heaven that was with him.  And yet from what we can read it was difficult for those who were there, those that did not know him, to experience his presence.  Often he said that this man was blind or this person was cripple for the sake of the disciples and the people that they might believe, that they might see the power of God in him.  And how much of a life altering experience was it for those who were touched by his miracles.

We, today, do not have the luxury of experiencing his miracles as they did then.  Or do we?  We cry and moan to God when we are in pain, when we suffer loss.  We blame him for the loss of our loved ones when they are taken suddenly without cause.  We cry to him of the hardships that we face daily because we are presented with a better life that we wish we could have.  Yet with all our pain and suffering, do we thank him for the little blessings, the little miracles that he gives us daily.  

If we let him he will provide.  If we allow him he will protect.  If we trust him he will secure for us a place of peace in our life today, tomorrow and forever.  And if we learn to love that which he does for us he will call us home to be with him for 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 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 20, verse:22c, We Can.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The mother of James and John) Part 7. 

Wherever the Gospel is written this paragraph shall be included, the paragraph of the mother of James and John.  What must have been her faith?  What must have been her trust?  What must have been her belief in Christ that he was the one who would change all things?  She came to him.  She worshipped him.  She spoke to him about her beloved sons.  They were all she had. They were her future and her past and her present.  And they were the ones who would become his disciples for all eternity.

Little did she know what would happen.  Little did she know what they would become.  Little did she know what they would suffer.  For they were to drink of the same cup of suffering with Christ.  They were to be teachers the same as Christ.  They were to be miracle workers the same as Christ.  And they would be the twelve disciples, apostles, for all eternity.  Did they believe?  Did they know?  Did they understand what would happen.  Did they know the battle that they would face with evil?  Could they stand with Christ and become the sacrificial lambs?  Could they drink of the same cup?  They said to him, "We can." 

Can we drink of the same cup?  Can we follow in the footsteps as Christ and become sacrificial lambs?  Or are we more about ourselves and our own desires?  It is a tall question to ask and an even greater one to answer.  Just to think of the ramifications of that answer brings shudders to the mind and the body.  Just to reflect on the pain and the suffering that he endured makes one think of turning away.  Yet he willingly entered into the sacrifice, he willingly became the innocent lamb, he willingly accepted the pain and suffering, the humiliation and mockery, the beatings and the hatred of those who would do him harm.  He allowed himself to be brutally beaten and crucified by the doers of evil.

Can we do the same?  Can we accept such punishment today?  Because he suffered for us then, we do not have to suffer that today.  Christ became the sacrifice for all.  He accepted the sins for all; past, present, and future.  And because of his sacrifice we are redeemed, we are saved, we are born anew.  Because he could endure, because he accepted, because he was the lamb, we are reborn anew.  Once again we have life.  Once again we are acceptable to God.  Once again we are his children. 

James and John believed that they could.  James and John knew that they could.  James and John walked in his presence and trusted that they would do the same as he did.  What was their prize?  What was their motivation?  What did they see, what did they know, what did they believe that allowed them to drink of that cup?  There must have been something greatly motivating that gave them the courage to continue.  There must have been something more than we know that allowed them to be who they were.  Can we discover what that something else was?  Can we know what motivated them, that it might motivate us today?  What will strengthen us to do the same?  What will give us the power to accept?  What force will guide us to be like Christ, to follow in his footsteps, to know his love?  What must we do to discover that which is ours to know?  He has given us the key.  He has opened the door.  He awaits our footsteps that he might guide us to his presence.  The choice is ours to make.  All we have to do is ask. 

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses: 18-19a. Faith is the cure.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Why the disciples could not cure him) Part 1.  

Christ made the demon leave.  He cast it out.  He returned the child to his father and set the guard to prevent the demon from returning.  And the light of Christ shone within the child.  The disciples tried to cast it out.  They made an effort to remove the demon but it would not obey them, it would not leave.  The father pleaded with them for their help.  He begged.  He knew that it could be done.  He heard the word of how others were cured.  He saw the ones who were transformed, the ones who were made whole, the ones who had demons that were cast out.  And he believed that this could happen for his son also.  He had faith in his belief.

The father was persistent.  He was demanding.  He was unrelenting because he loved his son and he knew that if it could happen to others it could happen for him.  He had faith.  So he searched, he traveled, he followed the word.  He listened to all the talk about Christ and what he had done for others.  He believed with certainty that it could happen for his son.  He believed with certainty and he had faith.  But the disciples did not know.  They did not have the certainty in their beliefs, in their faith.  So they could not cure him.  They asked Christ why they could not cure the boy.   Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could not we cast it out?"  He said to them, "Because of your little faith."

They had little to no faith.  They had little to no belief to guide them in their actions.  They were not ready to do great things.  Yet these were the ones Christ chose to follow him.  These were the twelve that he hand picked.  They were the chosen ones that the people would follow after Christ returned to his father in heaven.  When would they get it?  When would they believe?  When would their faith increase so that there was no doubt?  All plans were in place for the completion of the mission and the training time was coming to an end.  When will we get it?  When will we believe?  When will our faith increase so that there is no doubt?

What is faith?  How would we define it: faith is a belief in something?  Would we say that faith is a belief that there is a God, that there is a supreme being, that there is something greater than ourselves?  The question then becomes: Is this God a loving God?  Is this God a caring God?  Is this God a protective God?  Can we believe in this God?  Can we trust this God?  What is it that we believe, as we go through life on a daily basis?  We are taught that there is a God.  We are given the scriptures as a basis for our beliefs.  As children we are taken to church and taught in Sunday Bible study about our God from the scriptures of the Bible.  Is this enough to guide us through life?  Do we continue our beliefs as we grow older and venture out into the world to make our own way? 

The world would change our beliefs.  The world would turn us away from what we are given as children, as young adults.  The world would have us doubt what we are given through the teachings from the scriptures.  It would convert us to its way of thinking and lead us away from the commandments of the Bible.  The world says the Bible is outdated.  The world says the Bible is a book of fiction and not to be believed.  The world says do not follow the Bible but follow us and we will reward you with our riches.  The world says we will make you happy, we will make you rich, we will fulfill your desires, we will provide for you, we will protect you if you only follow our ways and not the ways of the Bible. 

How do we reconcile the difference?  How do we come to terms with what the world offers and what we are taught in church?  On the one hand we have the world that would offer to fulfill our needs and on the other hand we have the church that would have us believe that our needs will be fulfilled.  Do we have the faith to believe?  Do we have the faith to know with certainty that our beliefs are true, our hopes are real, and our desires will be fulfilled?  Only with certainty will we be able to act.  Are you sure?  Do you know?  Have you discovered the truth of who you are in Christ?  Faith is the belief in the desire to be one with Christ, as Christ is one with the Father?  Come!  Open the door to your heart and become one with he who is one with the Father.  And you will know for certain who you are.  There will be no doubt.  There will be no fear.  There will only be you in the truth of Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

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.   

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 25 - 26, The Test of Heart: The Demonstration of Power.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus walks on the water) Part 3.

And the disciples were on the sea and Christ was on the land.  And let us test them that they may believe.  Let us show them the awesome power of God that they may know that Christ was sent by the father to do the father's will.  For they saw the multiplication of the loaves.  They saw the healing of the sick.  They saw the lame walk.  They saw the eyes of the blind opened but they did not believe.  They did not trust that they could feed the people, Christ told them to feed the people themselves.  They did not know who they were.  They did not know, yet, who they were becoming.  They did not have the faith in Christ through whom all things are.

They were on the sea and Christ was on the land.  And the boat was being buffeted by the waves and they were in fear of loosing their lives.  They were afraid of drowning.  There was no place to hide.  There was no place to run.  There was no place to seek shelter from the impending waves.  But they were the disciples of Christ.  They were his pupils and he was their teacher.  Yet they were on the sea and he was on the land.   But in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking upon the sea.

They did not believe, even with all the miracles that he performed.  They did not know, even with all that they had seen.  They did not trust even with all they had heard.  And they did not know how to feed the people, for Christ had told them to feed the people.  But the disciples wanted to send the people away that they may find food for themselves.  The disciples wanted to put them back into the world after being with Christ.  The disciples did not know who they were becoming.  They did not believe.  They did not trust.  So, a demonstration of power had to be made.  An irrefutable image had to be placed in their  minds that they would know the true Christ.  For no one had seen or heard of a man walking on water.  But Christ was not mere man. 

But, they were in fear.  They were in chaos and the evil one was knocking at their door telling them that all they had sacrificed had come to this.  They had dreams of power.  They had visions of honor.  They had desires of leadership and all the perks that comes with being a ruler. But all  that flashed before their eyes and through their minds as they struggled with the wind and the waves that threatened to destroy them.  And Satan was there reminding them that they had failed. And Satan was there reminding them that all had come to naught.  For they did not believe.  They did not know.  They did not have the faith in Christ that brings forth complete trust. 

And when Christ came to them walking on the water their fear was confirmed.  They believed that they were seeing a ghost.  They believed that they were near death.  They were on the verge of canceling out their belief.  They were about to step over the line between belief in Christ and 
belief that Christ had failed them.  They believed that they were dying.  They opened the door to Satan and believed in the lies that he was giving them.    And they, seeing him walking upon the sea, were greatly alarmed, and exclaimed, "It is a ghost!" they cried out for fear.

Are you on  the sea in a boat that is sinking?  Are you being tossed about by the waves of the world?  Will you believe in Christ?  Will you believe that Christ can calm the sea, speak to the wind and dispel fear?  Be not be like the disciples in the test.  You have seen miracles and attributed them to the world.  You have seen the wonders of his power and accepted them as your own praise and glory. 

You have witnessed the awesomeness of his majesty and do not know that Christ is with you.  He has made himself known to you in many ways, yet you do not know.  The world will deceive you.  The world will lead you down the wide path of destruction taking you away from life in Christ into death with the evil one.  The world will blind you.  The world will block your hearing.  The world will steel your heart that you may not know the truth of its longing for God.  Wake up!!  Know that you are a child of God and know that you are much more than the world offers.  Know and believe that Christ in you will bring forth the fruits of the kingdom of heaven and transform you into the truth of who you are in Christ.  The disciples were transformed.  Are you ready for the change?  The test is here!

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.