Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Matthew 5:14-19 - Let Your Light Shine



14
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Light shining on a shrine
The Light will be Noticed
photo by Flickr user, Travel Aficionado,
used under the creative commons license
check out more photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travel_aficionado/
O Lord, it is hard to believe that I am a light. For, surely, too many times I allow darkness to overtake my soul and that darkness snuffs out the light.  But, Lord, I want the Light of Christ to shine forth through and in my life.  May others see that Light and give glory to Your Father.  Your Word, O Lord, is a Light to my path and Your commandments are Life everlasting! May I read, learn and inwardly digest Your commandments, O Lord, and may I teach others to follow them as well. For Lord, I surely do not want to be called least in Your Kingdom. Rather, may Your Light shine through me and my actions, illumining Christ for all to see. Amen.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Matthew 15:12-21 - External Cleanliness is NOT the Key!

At that time, the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and so passes on? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

Mud kids
These Kids understand -external cleanliness not important
photo by Jonny LeRoy, used under the creative commons license
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/leroy/ 
What passes for unclean is not what you eat. Rather it is what comes out of your heart!  So to live "unclean" externally. i.e., by what you eat  does not necessarily mean that your heart is impure. Truly, it is out of the heart that all manner of evil proceeds. Hatred, bigotry, murder, sexual sins, lying and rage are not effected  by what you eat nor if your hands are clean when you are eating (all very important to the pharisees) - Indeed, any religious activity that I might deem important, is actually useless if my heart is unclean.

I must take stock of my heart and see what lies therein. I must make sure that I do not rely on religious activity but, rather, make sure my heart is not unclean. This can only come about by constant prayer, vigil and repentance, My life and attitude must be one of humble submission to God and His ways. Then, what comes from my heart will not be unclean.

O Lord, grant me a clean heart. May I not worry about external cleanliness as much as my heart's purity. Then only Love and Praise will show forth from my life and none of these sins.  Help, O Holy Spirit! Create in me, a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Matthew 9:18-26 - Reaching out in Faith

At that time, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, he said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

Pick Me Up, Daddy
A baby knows who to go you...so should we!
photo by Flickr user, Squiggle, used under the creative commons license
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenr/
How marvelous is the faith shown here. A rule, knowing his daughter had died, still knew that Jesus could raise her from the dead. On His way to the ruler's house, Jesus is touched by a woman who reached out in faith. She did not ask Jesus for healing but, instead, believed that just touching Jesus' garments would be enough to heal her hemorrhage, which she had been suffering for 12 years! The ruler believed. The women believed. And their faith was rewarded.

How in my life can I show that kind of faith?  Faith that looks at my own situation, knowing I cannot do anything about it and yet knowing that Jesus can! Will I take the actions necessary for my faith to "work?" Surely, the women would not have been healed had she not reached out and touched Jesus' clothes. Surely, the ruler's daughter would not have been raised if he had accepted dead as dead. Their actions, meager as they were, changed the whole situation.

O Lord, help me to take whatever actions I need to take to show my faith.  I can do nothing, Lord, except reach out to You. Like the woman with the issue of blood and like the ruler whose daughter had died, I can do nothing except go to You, Who is able to heal! Heal me, O Lord, and help me to live in faith. Amen.