We continue our paragraph topic with: (Power of prayer) Part 2.
Christ gives us another example of the power of prayer in these verses. He tells us of the love that an earthly father has for his son through what the son asks. He shows us that if a son asks his father for a loaf of bread, he will not give him a stone instead. If a son asks his father for a fish to eat, he will not hand him a serpent. Our earthly fathers love us because we are their children. If it is in their power to give us what we ask then they do it with pleasure because it demonstrates their love for us. Most parents love their children from the day they are born and even before, when they are in the womb.
These are powerful examples of what our prayers can bring. We do not pray to our earthly fathers when we ask for something. We speak to them in person, on the phone, via a letter or text or otherwise. Prayer is the same. We are talking to our spiritual father when we pray. We are speaking to him directly through what we say when we pray. It is almost the same as if we were talking to him in person. Christ tells us that just like our earthly fathers, our heavenly father loves us also. He would not give us bad gifts. He would not give us lack when we ask for riches. He would not give us pain when we ask for relief. He would not give us suffering when we ask for help. He would not give us hard times when we ask for prosperity. He will give us good gifts when we ask.
What good gifts do we ask for? Do we ask for good health? Do we ask for money? Do we ask for a good job? Do we ask for fame? Do we ask for glory? Do we ask for a new car? Do we ask for a new house? Do we ask for a good spouse? What things do we ask that our father give to us? Here is the critical question that we should know. Are we asking for a stone when our father wants to give us bread? Are we asking for a scorpion when our father wants to give us a fish? Are we asking for destruction when our father wants to give us prosperity? Are we asking for damnation when our father wants to give us salvation?
Do we really know what we ask for? Do we have any idea that what we are asking for will do us harm or good. If we had a crystal ball and asked for money, do we know where the use of that money will lead us in the future? If we had the magic mirror and asked for fame, do we know where that fame will send us tomorrow? The question is do we know best what we need? Do we know best what is good for us?
Parents know what their children need to survive, and our heavenly father knows already what we need. Are we willing to accept his wisdom over our own desires and passions? Are we willing to rely upon his wisdom and believe that he only wants the best for us? Are we willing to be patient enough and allow his will for us to unfold before our eyes as we walk the path that he has set before us? God loves us very much and wants us to know his love. Only through walking in his will can we come to know and to see that he provides for us much more than we can provide for ourselves. Only through our patient acceptance of his will for us will we see how he protects us from harm and gives us the good gifts of his heavenly love. Abide in Him. Love Him. Seek Him. Know Him and he will know you.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
St Matthew, Chapter 7, verses:7-8, The Sermon on the Mount
We start a new paragraph topic in three parts: (Power of prayer) Part 1.
Christ now gives a new topic for comment in the power of prayer. In previous sermons in chapter 6 Christ has already told us to pray in secret and he has given us an outline for praying. Here he tells us that there is power in prayer. He tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. In doing these things we will receive, we will find, and when we knock doors will be opened to us. He did not qualify our asking. He did not say what we should seek. He did not tell us what doors to knock upon or what doors we should stay away from. He gave us open statements. He, however, in previous statements told us that our heavenly father already knows what we need.
What then shall we ask for? Shall we ask for money? Shall we ask for a good job? Shall we ask for a spouse? Shall we ask for a new car? Shall we ask for a good grade on our tests? Shall we ask for material things or shall we ask for spiritual gifts? What shall we seek? Shall we seek fame? Shall we seek our own glory? Shall we seek earthly powers? Or shall we seek for righteousness and justice, and knowledge and wisdom and love? What doors shall we knock upon? Shall we knock upon the door of privilege? Shall we knock upon the door of wealth? Shall we knock upon the door of long life? Shall we knock upon the door of good health? Or shall we knock upon the door of heaven to let us in? Shall we knock upon the door of our hearts to be opened to the Holy Spirit to come and live with us, to guide us, to protect us against the evil one.
Christ gives us an open invitation. Choose what to ask for. Choose what to seek. Choose what to knock upon. For whatever you choose it will be given to you. Whatever you seek you will find. Whatever door you knock upon it will be opened to you. The choice is yours. Shall you choose the world to seek and find? Or shall you choose the kingdom of God to knock upon to be opened to you?
We live in a world that caters to its own whims, desires, and passions. And yet we are distinct from it. It will engulf us, surround us, consume us, if we do not exercise a choice, if we do not choose. Not making a choice is a choice in and of itself. For that choice allows us to continue in the world. And even when we choose other than the world, the world will continue to attempt to create doubt and fear in our hearts due to the constant barrage of questions that it throws at us on a daily basis to challenge our beliefs. Straddle the fence if you like. But half of you cannot live in heaven and half in the world. Our choice requires commitment. Our choice requires dedication. Our choice demands that we give our all and not half, or one third or one fourth. God wants us to live with him one hundred percent. The choice is ours to have. Choose correctly. Choose right. CHOOSE God and live by that choice.
Christ now gives a new topic for comment in the power of prayer. In previous sermons in chapter 6 Christ has already told us to pray in secret and he has given us an outline for praying. Here he tells us that there is power in prayer. He tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. In doing these things we will receive, we will find, and when we knock doors will be opened to us. He did not qualify our asking. He did not say what we should seek. He did not tell us what doors to knock upon or what doors we should stay away from. He gave us open statements. He, however, in previous statements told us that our heavenly father already knows what we need.
What then shall we ask for? Shall we ask for money? Shall we ask for a good job? Shall we ask for a spouse? Shall we ask for a new car? Shall we ask for a good grade on our tests? Shall we ask for material things or shall we ask for spiritual gifts? What shall we seek? Shall we seek fame? Shall we seek our own glory? Shall we seek earthly powers? Or shall we seek for righteousness and justice, and knowledge and wisdom and love? What doors shall we knock upon? Shall we knock upon the door of privilege? Shall we knock upon the door of wealth? Shall we knock upon the door of long life? Shall we knock upon the door of good health? Or shall we knock upon the door of heaven to let us in? Shall we knock upon the door of our hearts to be opened to the Holy Spirit to come and live with us, to guide us, to protect us against the evil one.
Christ gives us an open invitation. Choose what to ask for. Choose what to seek. Choose what to knock upon. For whatever you choose it will be given to you. Whatever you seek you will find. Whatever door you knock upon it will be opened to you. The choice is yours. Shall you choose the world to seek and find? Or shall you choose the kingdom of God to knock upon to be opened to you?
We live in a world that caters to its own whims, desires, and passions. And yet we are distinct from it. It will engulf us, surround us, consume us, if we do not exercise a choice, if we do not choose. Not making a choice is a choice in and of itself. For that choice allows us to continue in the world. And even when we choose other than the world, the world will continue to attempt to create doubt and fear in our hearts due to the constant barrage of questions that it throws at us on a daily basis to challenge our beliefs. Straddle the fence if you like. But half of you cannot live in heaven and half in the world. Our choice requires commitment. Our choice requires dedication. Our choice demands that we give our all and not half, or one third or one fourth. God wants us to live with him one hundred percent. The choice is ours to have. Choose correctly. Choose right. CHOOSE God and live by that choice.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
St Matthew, Chapter 7, verse:6, Sermon on the Mount: Do not give to dogs what is Holy nor to swines your pearls.
We continue our paragraph topic with: (Avoiding judgments) Part 3.
Christ end this paragraph topic with a very well known passage: "Do not give to dogs what is holy, neither cast your pearls before swine." He tells us this is dangerous because they will trample your pearls and then come to tear you. Holy things are to be kept holy and not given out freely. Precious things are the same. They are not to be given to any and everyone. One must understand the value of a spiritual item before one can appreciate how sacred it is. By giving us this warning Christ is telling us that there are dogs and swine our there that would do us harm.
Under the paragraph topic of judgement, what can we consider to be holy? What can we consider to be spiritually precious as pearls? A young student once asked a wise sage what is the path to righteousness. The sage replied, truth. Not having the wisdom to understand the response given to him the young student became critical of the wise man. He pondered what truth had to do with righteousness. He sought to understand how he could obtain righteousness through seeking truth. Yet his attempts did not yield his desired results. He became frustrated and bitter. And eventually gave up his search for righteousness. Upon seeing the wise sage on several occasions, he thought of him as foolish. When with his friends, he judged the sage and spoke evil of him. Finally, out of his own lack of understanding and sense of downfall, he spurred his friends to join him in an attack on the wise old sage. After being attacked and beaten by the student the sage looked him in the eye and said to him, "The truth of who you are has led you to this point in life. There within lies your righteousness."
Christ's words reminds us that we are in a battle. We are faced with an enemy that would destroy us. We must be diligent in who we allow to enter into our circle. Wolves come in sheep's clothing. The fox is crafty. The snake is beguiling and deceitful. And Satan will drag us to hell if it were not for the grace of God.
Judge not your brother or sister for they are weak and sinful, but judge the dog and the swine for they are deceitful and cunning. Judge not the actions but judge the intentions so that you are not misled. Be cautious with your precious gifts. Give love, give understanding but give in proportion to spiritual growth. If there is much growth then give much love. If there is little growth then feed like a child. Time allows us to determine the nature of the fruit, if we are patient. Upon first meeting, one does not know the true nature of a person. But time peels back the layers allowing us to truly see each other.
Christ tells us here to be cautious with our gifts. He warns us that there are vicious beings in the world that would do us harm. Guard what is precious to you in Christ. Love your brother as yourself but give the precious knowledge and the pearls of wisdom to those who are ready to receive them. Christ instructs us to not judge least we are judge by the same standard that we judge, but he also tells us to not be fools with our precious gifts.
Christ end this paragraph topic with a very well known passage: "Do not give to dogs what is holy, neither cast your pearls before swine." He tells us this is dangerous because they will trample your pearls and then come to tear you. Holy things are to be kept holy and not given out freely. Precious things are the same. They are not to be given to any and everyone. One must understand the value of a spiritual item before one can appreciate how sacred it is. By giving us this warning Christ is telling us that there are dogs and swine our there that would do us harm.
Under the paragraph topic of judgement, what can we consider to be holy? What can we consider to be spiritually precious as pearls? A young student once asked a wise sage what is the path to righteousness. The sage replied, truth. Not having the wisdom to understand the response given to him the young student became critical of the wise man. He pondered what truth had to do with righteousness. He sought to understand how he could obtain righteousness through seeking truth. Yet his attempts did not yield his desired results. He became frustrated and bitter. And eventually gave up his search for righteousness. Upon seeing the wise sage on several occasions, he thought of him as foolish. When with his friends, he judged the sage and spoke evil of him. Finally, out of his own lack of understanding and sense of downfall, he spurred his friends to join him in an attack on the wise old sage. After being attacked and beaten by the student the sage looked him in the eye and said to him, "The truth of who you are has led you to this point in life. There within lies your righteousness."
Christ's words reminds us that we are in a battle. We are faced with an enemy that would destroy us. We must be diligent in who we allow to enter into our circle. Wolves come in sheep's clothing. The fox is crafty. The snake is beguiling and deceitful. And Satan will drag us to hell if it were not for the grace of God.
Judge not your brother or sister for they are weak and sinful, but judge the dog and the swine for they are deceitful and cunning. Judge not the actions but judge the intentions so that you are not misled. Be cautious with your precious gifts. Give love, give understanding but give in proportion to spiritual growth. If there is much growth then give much love. If there is little growth then feed like a child. Time allows us to determine the nature of the fruit, if we are patient. Upon first meeting, one does not know the true nature of a person. But time peels back the layers allowing us to truly see each other.
Christ tells us here to be cautious with our gifts. He warns us that there are vicious beings in the world that would do us harm. Guard what is precious to you in Christ. Love your brother as yourself but give the precious knowledge and the pearls of wisdom to those who are ready to receive them. Christ instructs us to not judge least we are judge by the same standard that we judge, but he also tells us to not be fools with our precious gifts.
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