How you doin? Happy
Independence Day! Hopefully it will start feeling like the 4th of July
here in South Jersey. It's been very slow at work and not tremendously
packed with people like years past. The prayer request is for me. I woke
up this morning with terrible dizziness. It's very odd. I can't recall
ever experiencing this before. I'm getting old. Matthew 23 this morning.
Stacey and I both thought it sounded very much like the Old Testament.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. (Matt 23:1-4)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (Matt. 23:13)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. (Matt. 23:15)
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matt 23:33)
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. (Matt 23:1-4)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (Matt. 23:13)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. (Matt. 23:15)
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matt 23:33)
These are some harsh words from Jesus. I can't help to think
that God, through the prophets and Jesus, takes such a stand against
the teachers of the law, religious leaders, and Pharisee, because they
are such a close counterfeit. They are such a stealthy version of the
works of the Devil.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (Matt 23:37-39)
So
often, while reading the Old Testament, I noticed God's displeasure
with those who chose not to except His free gift. Though He executed
wrath and punishment, He maintained compassion. These last verses of
chapter 23 express God's compassion and God's hope. We often talk about
our hope. Our hope in Him. Today, through Matt 23:37-39,
God showed me His outstanding hope in/for us. Hope = eager
anticipation. It's something to consider. God has great hope in/for us. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (Matt 23:37-39)
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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