St. Matthew, Chapter 18, verse: 13, The Lost Sheep: Rejoicing over the one.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The lost sheep) Part 4.  

The Son of Man came.  He came to reclaim what was lost.  He came to save.  He came to take back the little ones.  For they are the lost sheep, scattered by the evil one.  They are the ones without a shepherd.  They are the loved ones of the Father.  Even though he had many, he came to reclaim the one.  Even though he loved all, he came to find the lost.  Even though he is all powerful, he has mercy.  Even though he passed judgment, he is forgiving.  Even though he issues wrath on those who trespass, he is compassionate.  For Christ came to carry out his father's will, to bring back the lost, to save the little ones.

There will be rejoicing.  There will be happiness.  There will be sorrow.  There will be sadness for each little one that is lost.  But there will be rejoicing at each little one that is saved.  The choice was given to each.  The decision is ours to make.  But the influence leads us in a direction that we do not know.  The turn of the head, the blink of the eye, the sound of the music can lead astray, away from the flock and into lost territory.  But Christ came to save.  Christ came to restore.  Christ came to take back what was lost.  He came to pay the price that we may have life.  And there will be rejoicing for each that returns to the flock, for each that returns to the Father.  "And if he happen to find it, amen I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray." 

And if he happens to find it, the lost one, he rejoices.  Christ tells this parable to demonstrate to his disciples and to us the depth of love that the Father has for his little ones.  For they were created from his heart.  They were created from his love.  They were brought forth from nothing into life that his love and his passion may be shared.  We have a God and Father that loves us deeply.  We have a God and Father that protects us totally.  We have a God and Father that provides for us completely.  The question is will we let him.  Will we seek him?  Will we open our hearts to him?  Will we allow our minds to comprehend that which is incomprehensible to the mind but lies hidden in the heart?

We have all the documentation in history.  We have the facts laid before us.  We have the institutions that help us to understand.  We have the grace of Christ, the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to provide for us, if we believe, if we seek, if we desire to know, if we love, if.  And it is that if that deters us.  It is that if that delays us.  It is that if that causes us to pause.  It is that if that turns us away.  For that if, is what is used against us in the world. 

Can we not believe?  Can we not see with the eye that was given us, the key to the soul?  Can we not understand that which is within us, within our nature, within our being, within our soul?  If we are told otherwise, we can not.  If we are fed lies, we can not.  If we are deceived, we will not believe.  For deception is the tool of evil.  Deception is the blindfold that allows us to continue to sleep, to turn away, to follow the path of destruction.  But Christ came to save.  Christ came to take back.  Christ came to give new life.  Will you accept it?  Will you believe in it?  Will you be open to it?  Or will you be deceived?  Come!  Follow the path before you.  Seek the truth that is within you that you will know the truth of who you are in Christ.  Believe and you will see.  For he told us how to find the truth that is within us.  He gave us a path to follow.  Will you follow it?  Will you seek to know it?  Will you find you?  Christ awaits.  The Holy Spirit beckons.  The Father will rejoice at your coming.

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 15, verses: 19, Understanding: The Revelation

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ explains what defiles a man) Part 3.   

The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and it is they that defile a man.  Christ spoke these words to his disciples and to the people that he had called to himself.  He is the teacher.   He is the instructor.  He is the author of Truth that proceeds from the Father, and Truth is with him.  Yet they did not understand.  They did not know.  They did not see the things that he spoke to them.  Truth reached out to them but their minds and hearts were blocked by the things that filled their hearts.  Christ is the truth that comes from the father and in him there is no lie, there is no deceit.

Yet do we find truth in his words today?  Do we believe that he can not lie and his words are living truth?  He speaks of things that do not make sense.  He speaks of things that are difficult to comprehend.  He stretches the imagination to the limits of understanding that perplex the mind.  Yet he does not lie.  He does not deceive.  His words are truth.  Then he spoke these words to his disciples:  "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, immorality, thefts, false witness, 
blasphemies."    

The Revelation: "Out of the heart come evil thoughts."  Is this truth?  How is it that thoughts come from the heart?  We think with our minds and not our hearts?  Or do we?  Christ, the author of Truth through his Father, tells us that the heart thinks.  Is this truth or is it symbolism?  Out of the heart come thoughts???   Christ praised his father in a previous verse for hiding the things of knowledge and wisdom.   " I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and prudent, and didst reveal them to little ones."

Hear and understand!!  The heart thinks.  The heart believes.  The heart knows.  The heart is!  For we are the children of God and through our hearts we are.  Let not the heart think of evil.  Let not the heart know adultery.  Let not the heart seek murder.  Let not the heart give false witness or think of theft, or immorality.  For it is from these things that open the door of the heart to darkness and the good heart becomes evil. 

Hear the revelation, hear the lesson.  Hear and learn!  Hear and understand!  Truth seeks to know you.  Truth seek to find you.  Truth seeks to give you joy and peace.  For from it and with it and through it comes the blessings of the spirit within you.  Let it not be contaminated with evil.  Let it not be defiled.  Let it be cleansed with the living words of Christ.  Fill it with the knowledge and truth that comes from the father and his blessing will flow unto you.  His seed will be planted in you to grow and bring forth much fruit.

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verse: 26 - 27, The Revelations.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus draws men gently to himself) Part 2.  

Christ continues to give praise to his father for the things that he has done.  It was pleasing to God to hide the mysteries of the kingdom from men who have earthly wisdom.  It was pleasing to God to prevent the prudent of this world from knowing the things of heaven, and Christ praises the father for his wisdom.  For Christ says all thing have been given unto him by the father.  He says,  "Yes, Father, for such was thy good pleasure.   All things have been delivered to me by my Father."   

For Christ has all wisdom and all knowledge and all understanding of the will of the father.  And that pleases the Father.  Christ has made the effort to bring the message to the villages and towns throughout the land.  He has preached to the multitudes.  He has cast out demons, cured the sick, made the lame walk, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, and provided all signs and wonders to the people that they may believe that he was from the Father, God in heaven.  Yet they do not repent.  They do not believe.  They do not understand the judgment that they bring unpon themselves.  But all things have been given to Christ.

No one knows the Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father.  And they are one with each other.  Christ says,  "No one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and him to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."   For that wisdom and knowledge of the Father and of the Son has been hidden.  Yet it is revealed to the little ones.  It is shown to those whom Christ chooses to reveal it.  For if they knew who walked among them they would understand.  If they truly understood the power and majesty of the one in their midst they would be in awe.  If they knew the glory of the one who walked before them they would fall down in honor, giving glory to the one who is worthy of honor and glory.  But they did not repent.  They did not understand.  They did not know the true nature of Christ.

The knowledge and wisdom of the Father is hidden.  It is not revealed.  Only to those who seek him will find him.  Only those who desire his presence will glory in the reception of his spirit.  For he has hidden himself and will reveal himself only to the little ones.  Christ says that the knowledge of the Father will only be revealed to those he chooses to reveal him.  Do you know Christ?  Have you received him?  What has he spoken to you to do?  The harvest is great but the laborers are few.  Are you a laborer in the field for the harvest?  Are you a shepherd for the body of Christ?  Where do you lead your sheep?  For who's glory do you labor?  All things have been given to Christ and he is calling you.   Come, Christ wants to reveal to you the Father.  Are you wise and prudent?  Will you receive the gift of God?  The little ones are open to his ways.  Are you?

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verse: 25, The Revelations.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus draws men gently to himself) Part 1.  

Christ is mournful as he looks back at the towns and villages that did not repent.  He sees their damnation in the day of judgment and calls them out.  Yet, he is mournful at the sorrow of their condition.  Attempts were made to open their eyes, to open their ears, to help them understand the signs of the times, but they remained impenitent.  They were a hard lot.  The devil had infiltrated their defenses and turned them, so that, they could not see, or hear, or understand with their senses.  So they will face the consequences in the day of judgement.

Christ goes on to give praise to his heavenly father for the decisions that were made.  For these things were not revealed to the wise.  They were not revealed to the prudent.  They were revealed to the laborer, to the field hand, to the street sweeper, to the farmer.  They were revealed to the little ones, those who were without hope, without faith.  Christ says,   "I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and prudent, and didst reveal them to little ones."  

For it was God's knowledge that the wise rejected.  It was God's wisdom that the prudent refused to believe.  They knew of the existence of God but refused to believe.  They knew of the power and majesty of God but rejected him and replaced him with gods fashioned after human likenesses and the likeness of animals.  They knew of the glory of God but refused to give glory but instead set themselves up to receive glory from the people.  And this was Christ's revelation of the will of the father to hide the mysteries of the kingdom from those who were wise and prudent and to reveal them only to the little ones.

Do you consider yourself wise?  Do you think of yourself as prudent?  God looks for the little ones to reveal his mysteries.  He seeks the clean of heart to whom he will show himself.  Blessed are the clean of heart for they shall see God.  For the wise do not know him.  Their earthly wisdom is a stumbling block.  The prudent do not know him.  Their worldly knowledge prevents them from having faith.  The rich do not know him.  For their riches blind them.  The famous do not know him for their arrogance make them unworthy to receive him.  But the little ones believe.  The little ones know.  The little ones open themselves to the wisdom and the knowledge of God.  For it is by God's grace that the little ones receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from God.  Wisdom comes from the mouth of babes and fools.  Faith is the belief in the desire to be one in Christ as Christ is one in the Father.  Are you wise in the world or a fool?  Are you a baby in the world but a child of God?  We are all his children!!!

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse:42, The Reward.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Blessings for the Apostles' benefactors) Part 5. 

The rewards for the people that the apostles will talk with.  Christ tells his disciples that those who receive them as messengers will receive rewards.  Those who heed the words that they speak will receive him and the Father in heaven also.  God is the sender of the message.  Christ is the spokesman of the message and the disciples are the message carriers.  They will preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel first and then to the Gentiles.  Great are the rewards  And small are the rewards.  To those who receive them they shall rejoice.

Christ tells his disciples about the rewards of the prophet.  He tells them about the rewards of the just man.  Now he  talks about the little ones, the children.  He tells his disciples,  "And whoever gives to one of these little ones but a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."   The little ones are precious in the eyes of God.  Christ tells his disciples that they are also disciples.  They can also carry the message of Christ.  They who receive them and provide some kindness and a cup of cold water to drink, must also be rewarded.  Such kindness shall receive, in return, kindness from God.  They shall not lose their reward.

The children are disciples.  They run, they play, they shout, they jump, and they are full of energy.  They are like sponges.  They soak up what they see, what they hear, and what others do.  In good company they are playful and fun loving.  In bad company they will be destructive because of the influence of the devil from their peers and adults. 

It is amazing what children will say.  It is amazing what they will repeat when they hear something that they hear.  We are their influence.  We must beware of what we do at all times in their presence.  For what we say and do will be repeated.  If we speak the love of Christ that is in our hearts they will pick it up.  They will absorb the love that is within us and carry it to other children.  They will be messengers also to those who do not know the message.  And they will be warriors in the battle against the evil one when we teach them the defenses that Christ has given us.

Be kind to the children.  Show them the love that Christ has shown us.  For we are but children in the eyes of God, his children.  He who gives but a cup of cold water to these little ones will not lose their reward.  Are you kind to children?  Do you know that you are a child also, a child of God?  Do not lose your reward.  Do not miss the opportunity to serve the little ones!  For they too are disciples and they carry the message of Christ also.  Listen!  Hear!  Understand, the message of Christ!  Your reward is in the little ones.  Be kind to them.