The Truth!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me." 

John 14:6

Today’s Reading: Matthew 26:17-35

Truth! That is what I think as I read through these verses. Jesus tells us that he is the way, the truth and the life, and here he only speaks the truth even if it is not what the others want to hear. He knows Judas will betray him and the truth is Judas knows that he is going to do it as well, yet he denies it, why? Why do we deny the truth? Does it make it not true? Does it make us look good in the eyes of others? Does it make us feel better about ourselves? Is it too confrontational? Do we not want to hurt someone’s feelings? It seems like it is easy to speak the truth if it doesn’t offend others, if the truth sounds good to everyone, but when it goes against what someone else thinks, then that is where it becomes hard. When the truth is revealed it cannot longer cause pain---think about it, while the truth may be hard to take, there is also a sense of relief after the truth is revealed. The truth can never hurt you the way a lie can. I think of a friend being honest with me about a personal issue, while it may be difficult to acknowledge the truth---it is so much better than lying so that I will feel better about myself---doesn’t the truth eventual come out anyways?

Now I have to wonder, did Judas really know Jesus like the others? It is hard to imagine doing what he did, how can you claim to love someone and then sell them out like that? What happened to Judas, why did he turn away? I think Satan found a way in, he saw a weak spot in Judas and gradually weaved his way in. You now Satan will do the same to you and I---he is always looking, always searching for a crack in our life, he never lets up, he wants us to fall away from Jesus and he is willing to do anything to separate us from Christ. While Jesus is the author of truth, Satan is the author of lies, and there is no doubt in my mind that Satan told many lies to Judas in order to convince him to turn away from Jesus. Yet what did Jesus do? He called him friend and simply told him the truth. Jesus does not continue to tell us to stand on truth for nothing, this truth is our barricade from Satan. When we hold on to it, stand on it, and surround ourselves with the truth of Jesus Christ, Satan won’t be able to find a way in.

While Judas may seem like the worse of the worst, we can’t leave out Peter---the disciple that denied knowing Jesus three times, what a friend. I think that when Jesus told Peter that he would deny him that Peter believed with all his heart that he would never do that. So what happened? Satan found a way to Peter as well----through the use of fear. Peter saw what was happening and it scared him, really, do you blame him---I have to be honest I am sure I would have been terrified as well given the grime situation. So what was the difference? Peter used his mistake to make him stronger and although we haven’t read all that yet, most of us know what Peter went own to do for Jesus, how bold he became in never denying who he served.
We will all make mistakes, we will have days that we don’t always stand completely on the truth, but we have to use those days to build our faith, to ignite our boldness for Jesus. Jesus forgives us, he sees us through our sins, but he wants us to use those things to grow in the truth of his word. We can no longer settle for our daily routine---our routine has to change daily.

Whose Side?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 26:1-16

Just 16 short verses, but so much going on. Jesus is once again preparing the disciples for his death, the chief priests and elders are planning his capture and murder, the woman with the alabaster box is pouring her expensive perfume out on Jesus, the disciples are complaining that she is foolish and being wasteful, and Judas is trying to turn a profit by using Jesus. So of course I have to ask myself, if I were living during this time where would I fit in? Whose side would I be on? Even the disciples who were for Jesus didn’t understand the woman’s gesture. Speaking of the woman, we don’t even know her name and we can assume she probably didn’t know as much about Jesus as the priests, elders, disciples, or Judas did, yet her faith in him seemed to be greater at this moment. She didn’t have to know everything about Jesus, she only had to know that he was her Savior, that he was the true Son of God. She poured everything she had out upon Jesus, not expecting anything in return. When is the last time you truly poured yourself out to Jesus? When is the last time you prayed to Him and didn’t ask for something in return? I don’t know about you, but the last question hit home for me----it seems that I am always asking him for something. While there is nothing wrong with seeking Jesus for answers to something we need or even want, I think that sometimes he just wants us to praise him for what we have already been blessed with and most of us have so many things. However, if the only thing that I had was salvation granted by Jesus, then that would be blessing enough to praise him continuously.

It seems to me that this women sold out for Jesus, she put everything she had into him. That is what is takes my friend, if we are going to make it in this world we have to sell out to Jesus. We cannot have it both ways---we either sell out to Jesus or we are sold out to Satan. Sometimes it’s not as obvious as it was with Judas, when he collected those 30 silver coins, Satan collected his soul, but we have to be careful of where this world is trying to lead us---with every step we have to look to our guide, Jesus, to be sure that we are on the right path and taking the right steps.

I want to be like the woman with the alabaster box, not caring what the world thinks, not concerned about what Jesus’ disciples were saying about her, but only concerned with pouring out her love upon Jesus. I have to wonder if this woman knew the significance of her actions, if she knew that the perfume was part of the preparation for Jesus’ burial. I think she was probably doing what God told her to do, what her heart felt lead to do. So many times I try to reason everything out, but you know when God speaks to us, we are to just do it without hesitation, after all, he is only doing it for our benefit.

Wow!

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

I Peter 4:12-13

Thank you God for your word! With every day that passes, with every trial that I face your word continues to guide me, encourage me, and show me the love that you have for me. Many times the things that you call us to do are not easy and I see now that they are not meant to be. Just as the scripture says---for us to enjoy the glory of God we also have to partake of the sufferings as well. How can we really know Christ, follow Christ, if we never suffer? Sometimes when things happen, when people say hurtful things, when things don’t go the way I think they should, I can smile beneath the tears and know that I am doing something right---it is not a strange thing, it is a wonderful thing to know that this world is against me because I am for Christ.

Wow, God is so unbelievable! While I was writing this the following song came on. After listening to the song I read Romans 8, wow again! I serve such an unbelievably awesome God!
Our God by Chris Tomlin

What Are You Doing to Others?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

In a world that surrounds us with the idea that we should think of ourselves first, Jesus is telling us the complete opposite. Not only is he telling us to help others, to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to welcome strangers, to clothe the needy, to take care of the sick, and to visit the imprisoned, he is telling us that when we do these things for others, it is the same as doing it for him. I know you have all heard this before, but I want you to stop and really think about this. Anything that we do to others, we are doing to Jesus. Now what are you doing to others? Is it the things that Jesus asked us to do, or is it something else?
We can’t expect only the good things that we do for people to count---what about the things that we do wrong, what about the things that we just don’t do? Are we doing those things to Jesus as well? With every unkind word or deed that we do or say, it is like we are doing it and saying it to Jesus. Has this hit you as hard as it has hit me? I hope so! What about when we do nothing at all? Could that be even worse?

This idea became very real to me when I began to think of my own children. When someone does something for them, maybe nothing big, just something kind and helpful, it is like they did it for me, it seems that I appreciate it even more than they do. It gives me great comfort and joy when someone is kind to my children. However, when someone causes harm or hurts my children in any way, it brings something out it me that nothing else does, and not just anger, it is such a deep hurt when my children are did wrong in any way. Now think about Jesus’ love for us and how much greater it is.

My friend one day we will all be separated, but there will only be two sides. I so desire to be one of the sheep that the King places on his right. What about you? This path will not always be the easiest, but it will be the greatest path that you will ever take.

What's Your Talent?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 25:14-30

‘So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you’ (vs. 25). The key word here….afraid! Isn’t that why we usually don’t do what we have been called to do because of fear. Fear that we won’t be successful. Fear that people will not understand us. Fear that we will completely fail. Fear that we are not good enough. Fear that we will be talked about and that others will make fun of us. You know God does not expect us to be successful with everything we do, but he does expect us to be faithful!

When I think about it, it is really my failures that make me even more faithful---it is during those times that I draw closer to God, that I really search for the true meaning of life. Now don’t get me wrong success can be rewarding and I know that God is a loving God that blesses us with many successes, but we have to be sure and keep everything in perspective during our times of success---we have to never forget who bestowed each blessing upon us.  Notice that while the first two men’s talents multiplied, they were not congratulated because they were successful, they were congratulated because they were faithful! It tells us that the first two immediately went to work and multiplied their talents---we don’t know how difficult the task was to multiply their talents, but we do know they didn’t sit around expecting them to multiply without doing anything about it. The last man was given 1 talent and what did he do---nothing! He was afraid, of what, I don’t know, but I do know that not only was his master disappointed in him, but he called him ’wicked and lazy’---powerful words, huh!

You see when God gives us something---a special gift, a talent---he expects us to use it and with that use it will naturally multiply. He doesn’t give us something to just hold on to until he returns. I have been writing for a while now, but I never shared my thoughts with others until a couple of years ago. Why? I was afraid that people wouldn’t get me, wouldn’t understand what I was trying to say, and I didn’t want people to think I was different. Sounds crazy now since I have been sharing almost all my thoughts with the world, but sometimes that voice still creeps up on me and tells me that what I am saying doesn’t really matter, but I know it does. You see, God spoke to me one day and told me that he didn’t give me these thoughts, these messages for just me to know. He told me that it wasn’t just about me increasing my faith, but that I was to share what he gave me with others---that I was just the tool that he was using. I can honestly say that I cannot take credit for anything that I write because I know without a doubt that it is God guiding my thoughts and my words because I know that there is no way that I could do this on my own. I do not have it in me and believe me sometimes when I get finished writing and I read back over it I am amazed myself at how God uses me.

So what has God given you? If you don’t know, ask him---he’ll let you know! If you do know than what are you doing with it?

With All Your Heart and Soul!

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy Chapter 11

Alright, well I know that we have been studying Matthew, but I really felt lead to go to the old testament today and I found myself in the book of Deuteronomy. This chapter continues to remind the children of Israel that it was not their children “who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God”, but that it was you and you should never forget it and tell others, including your children, about it. So as I read I began to think about what I have saw and experienced the Lord do in my life. My first question….am I sharing those things with my family? With others? Am I standing on the things that I know without a doubt that the Lord did and being strengthened by them daily? No, no, and no. It seems to be such a human trait to forget where we have been. You know like those nights in desperation when you cry out to the Lord and you immediately feel his presence and know that everything will work out---even when it hasn’t already. Like the prayer that you simply whispered and it was answered exactly. Like when something happens and you feel overjoyed because you know God did something just for you. The feeling that you have at these moments feel like you will never let go of that feeling and you know that you have been changed by them, but then what happens? Things run smooth for a while and then we all seem to get in a rut and forget those feelings, forget that excitement that we thought in the moment that we would never loose. I believe each event in our lives change us, but we have got to learn to hang on to that change, that excitement, and not let go, but add to.

What has God brought you through? Where has he placed you? Are you ready to be strengthened by him and allow him to raise you up in service to him right where you are at? You are where you are for a reason and that reason is to show others Christ. So many times we try to figure out what God wants us to do, but it is really not always as complicated as we make it out to be. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 says it well… “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

There is so much in this chapter that I could write pages and pages on, but my focus is on the land that God has brought you to---you are not there just to survive this life, you are there to live a life of abundance according to the will of God. If we hold on to God with everything we have in us he will drive away our enemies, he will give us strength to sustain us during the most trying times, he will pour his blessings out upon us, and he will raise us up for the purpose that he created us to fulfill.

After reading this chapter I began to thank God for revealing this to me and once again he spoke to my heart and whispered something more. He reminded me of all the things that others have experienced in order for me to have this precious book in my hand. If it wasn’t for the men and women that followed God with all their heart and soul I wouldn’t be where I am at either. Along with my own experiences their experiences change me as well, when I study His Word he uses these stories to strengthen my faith, strengthen my knowledge in Him, and prepare me to live a life in service to him. How much closer would I be to God if I gave up 40 days to be with Him, to listen to him like Moses did? In the comfort of my home, I read a chapter in the Bible, I pray, and I type words on a screen and I think that is sufficient? It’s not! While I know this is what I am suppose to be doing, God revealed to me that it is just a small part of what I have been called to do. I have been placed in a land, a land that needs more than just a small part of my time and energy---it needs me to fear God, walk in his ways, to love him, and serve him with all my heart and soul!

Be Prepared!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

After reading this parable about the ten virgins I have to share with you my experience with understanding this parable.

Many years ago some of the women in my church turned this parable into a drama and performed it before the congregation. My grandmother happened to be one of the virgins who did not bring the oil with her. Everything was great about it, they were bringing the word of God to life and we were able to actually see the story before our eyes, making it even more real and memorable for each of us. Then when the time came and the door was closed my grandmother began to beat upon the door while begging them to please open the door, tears began to pour down her face and she began to plead even more desperately for them to let her in. Later she told us that she became overwhelmed with the feeling of being left by God, she said I began to think about how terrible that would be and how lonely one would feel when that door closed and the thought that it would never open again. While that has been many, many years ago I have never forgot the sound of her voice and the look upon her face as should stood in front of the closed door.

God is so good to us and he is so full of love, but it is still up to us individually to choose to live for him or not, while he loves us infinitely he will not make the choice for us. There is no in between, we wither choose Him or we choose Satan----it is really that simple, only two choices, life or death?

The parable of the ten virgins is just another reminder from Jesus about how important it is to be prepared, whether we die or he returns we have to be prepared. You know I think of each day as another day to prepare, another day to do a little more for Jesus, another day to show others who he is, and another step closer to my eternal home.  My grandmother allowed the Holy Spirit to guide her during this drama, as she did it not only prepared her better, it not only drew her closer to Christ, it placed a deeper desire in me and I am sure others to be more prepared for our Lord.  Her obedience caused me to be more obedient and the cycle continues through us all when we follow the call of Jesus.

Are You Ready?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 24:36-51

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father."  Matthew 24:36

Are you ready? Isn’t that what Jesus is saying throughout these verses? He wants us to know the signs of the end of the age, he wants us to hold on to and trust in Him, but he also wants us to be prepared---be ready when he returns for his children.

After Jesus finished telling us about the signs of the end of the age he then went on to tell us that no one, absolutely no one will know when he will return for us. Why did he do it this way? Just like I said before he wants His children to be prepared, and we can only be prepared if we read and study his word. We have to know this word, and as we read, we automatically grow closer to Him. We feel him more, we trust him more, and we seek him more. Now let me back up just a minute and explain something. You can not just read the words on the page as you read through this book, you have to seek him before you read, while you read, and after you read. You cannot read the Bible and truly get it, truly let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts unless you open up your mind, heart, and soul to the truth that lies within the pages of this book. You have to accept the Bible as more than just a compilation of historical stories, you have to accept it as the ultimate truth, the Holy Word of God.

So I ask you again, are you ready? We have already learned from this chapter that it will not always be easy to hold on to our faith, but we have to be knowledgeable about what the Bible says, about how Jesus is preparing us to go back home with him. While no one will know the day nor the hour, we do know, without a doubt, that he is coming and we have to be ready. So we should ask ourselves daily am I ready? I do not doubt that when we really get honest with ourselves, when no one else is around and we ask ourselves ‘am I ready?’---we know the answer before we even finish the question. We cannot depend on anyone else on this earth to save us, we are accountable for ourselves, and we have to be ready ourselves---no one can or is going to do it for us. We have to humble ourselves before Christ. To me there is no better way to live than to be ready for Jesus’ arrival---I want to be ready, I want to cheer when I see him coming, I want my hands to be raised and an enormous smile upon my face. The word tells us that every knee shall bow, but when I bow I don’t want it to be in fear because I know I haven’t been living for him, I want it to be in praise and honor to my Savior who is coming to take me, a commoner, home to live with the King!

Hold on to Jesus!

Today’s Reading:  Matthew 24:1-35

Wow, I don’t know about you, but this was a lot to comprehend.  So many things in these 35 verses, but after reading through them quite a few times one thing became abundantly clear… ‘hold on to Jesus’.  Though Jesus never spoke those exact words, as I read I continued to feel the whisper of the Holy Spirit saying…just hold on to Jesus!

In verse 4 Jesus says to ‘watch out that no one deceives you’.  I find it interesting that Jesus tells them this before he gives them any examples of what is to come.  It seems to me that he is saying once again, just trust me---hold on to me and I will lead you through these things.  Within the text of all this Jesus is constantly reassuring us that it will be alright.  By Jesus saying ‘see to it that you are not alarmed’, ‘such things must happen’, ‘he that stands firm to the end will be saved’, ‘for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened’, ‘see, I have told you ahead of time’, and Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away’ I think Jesus is constantly reminding us that we are his children, we are the ‘ ‘elect’ that he is referring to and that He is sufficient---we just have to hold on!

Now, will it be easy----no way!  He tells us that too when he says that ‘many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other’ and that even the elect may be deceived.  Honestly, we just think times are tough now, while I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, I have to say that I believe, according to scripture, that these times will only continue to worsen.  All the more reason to put our complete trust in Jesus Christ---what a loving Father we have to be so truthful with us about what the future holds.  He tells us these things because he loves us and he wants us to be prepared for what is to come.  Don’t we do everything in our power to prepare our children for what we know they will encounter?  What if they never listened to us?  As parents, how does it make us feel when our children don’t listen to us when we are only trying to help them, trying to save them from future mistakes?  Well I think Jesus is doing this same thing except on a much larger scale..our life.  It will be hard to hold on to our faith during these difficult times, but isn’t it completely worth it.  What is our other choice?  There is only one alternative and I want no part of it.  Jesus died so that I may live---I owe him my life and with everything in me I am giving it to him daily. 

Just hold on to Jesus!

How is Your Life Going?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 23

The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.  Matthew 23:11-12

The way in which we live our life is a serious matter and Jesus makes that point strong as he addresses the way the teachers and Pharisees are living. He actually tells the surrounding crowd of people to listen to what they say, but not to do what they are doing. Bottom line… they knew the laws of Moses, but they were missing the spirit of God. As I read through this chapter in Matthew all I could think of was ‘servant leadership’----isn’t that what Jesus has been showing us all along? The best leader is the one who serves. Anyone can lead by demanding others to do everything, just as these men were doing, but only true men and women of God can humble themselves to lead others through service. Why? Well I believe that you have to have the spirit of God in you to truly be humble, to truly serve with no other intentions and those that don’t have the Spirit seem to think it is beneath them to serve others. I believe when you are truly following Jesus that you have a desire in you to serve others. Service to others is the true way to follow Christ, while the world may see it as being weak, I see it as true strength to know that there is something greater within you leading you to serve.

When I say the way we live our life is serious, it is! In this chapter Jesus says seven times ‘woe to you’ before addressing a faulty area in their lives. I don’t know about you, but I never want to hear Jesus say ‘woe to you’ when he is speaking to or about me. He even tells them that they were making their converts ‘twice as much a son of hell as you are’ He also calls them hypocrites a few times and states that their leadership is as a ‘blind guide’. He adds that they are snakes, ‘a brood of vipers’ and asks them ‘how will you escape being condemned to hell?’. Wow, strong words from our Savior---but once again every point Jesus makes is strong, but this is for our own good, he wants us to know how important it is to do what he says, to follow the path that he has set before us.

With all this, Jesus once again shows that no matter how bad we are, how much we have hurt others, how much we have hurt him, that he loves us infinitely and unconditionally. Look in verse 37 when Jesus says to them ‘how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing’. He’s waiting and ready for you to come to him----no matter where you are or what you have done, he is right there with open arms asking you to come and find rest in his presence.

I am fascinated by people who can quote scriptures, who know where to find almost anything in the Bible because that is definitely not me, but I am more fascinated by the people who hold to the Bible for answers, but also allow the Spirit to guide them through. Just as the Trinity is more than one and we can only accept it as such, the Bible is not meant to be the sole guide for our lives---that is precisely why we are to not only read God’s Word, but to also pray and seek His will, His guidance as we read.  I am reminded once again that Jesus is contantly reminding us to humble ourselves, even when it comes to knowing his Word.

What Will Your Response Be?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 22:15-46

Questions, questions, questions! The disciples of the Pharisees, the Herodians, the Sadducees, the Pharisees and an expert in the law all asked questions of Jesus with the intent to find fault with him. So did they? You tell me. After reading these scriptures a few times something jumped out at me---not their questions, not even Jesus’ response, but it was their final response in each situation that caught my attention. Go back and look at verses 22, 33, and 46.

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (vs. 22)
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (vs. 33)
No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (vs. 46)

Really? These people that were trying to trap Jesus with his own words were amazed, astonished, and eventually could not even reply back after his responses? Now, don’t get me wrong, Jesus’ responses were beautiful and there are many lessons that can be learned from his responses. To be honest, in the past that is what I would generally focus on, what Jesus had to say, but God opened my eyes to something new here, something that I had never even thought of until now. So now what do you think, could they find fault with him? Why were they so amazed and astonished at his response? Why could they go no further with the questions? One word----Truth! He spoke the truth and that was it---he stood on the foundation of truth that God set in place---he never wavered and that I believe is why they were so amazed.

I have often said that I am not good at putting my spiritual excitement into words and that is how I feel now. I feel like God is opening up my heart to something new and exciting. I feel like me heart is running a race all through my spirit. I believe that God is reminding us that the truth truly does set you free! Jesus’ reaction to all these people that questioned him was not in anger. He even knew their intentions, yet he responded with integrity. His response is what made the difference. Our response should be no different. People will come against us, people will attack us, people will do us wrong---but it is our response that makes the difference. We are to stand on truth and just like Jesus, not waver! The people around us will see who we serve through our response. As I respond in truth I want people to see Christ in me and be amazed!

Chosen?

Today’s Reading: Matthew 22:1-14
　
“For many are invited, but few are chosen” (vs.14).
Am I one of the chosen? Will I be sitting at the banquet table with Jesus?
How it must hurt Jesus for his children to refuse his invitation. How it must hurt him to know that people will not even acknowledge his sacrifice. How it must hurt him to know that the people you love so much will never be with you in the place that was created for them. Some may say he is God and rejection doesn’t affect him the same way it does us, and I agree---I am sure it is much worse for him. Why? Well if his love for us is greater than any love that we can have for one another, then why wouldn’t his heart break even more for those that are lost?

As I write this I can’t help but think of how many times I have hurt Jesus’ heart. How many times I failed him. How many times I have rejected him when he was standing there with his arms outstretched before me. How many times have I ignored his calling? Sometimes I may have missed it because I was caught up in other things and while that is no excuse it is better than completely ignoring it even when I knew what he was asking me to do. It is really hard for us humans to admit failure, but more especially it can be extremely difficult for Christians to admit failing God. Perhaps this is why the people that should have recognized Jesus did not or maybe they did recognize him and would never admit they were mistaken originally. Either way they failed to hear the calling, they were not dressed for the occasion. I think they let their level of knowledge outweigh their level of spirituality. They let go of the idea that they were chosen by God and seemed to think that they were entitled to the Kingdom of God.

Friend, let me tell you, none of us are entitled to anything this world has to offer nor anything God has to offer. It is only through the grace, love, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we even have a way back to God. He invites us all, but few are chosen---why?---because there is only a few that turn their lives completely over to him and that, I believe, is what it takes to be chosen. It was just yesterday, prior to reading these scriptures, that I had a friend tell me that she was praying and said to God, you must feel overwhelmed by everyone talking to you all the time, getting so many request all at once---and she said God spoke to her and said there is not many of you. Few are chosen! Are you one of those few?

I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to God for making a way for me. With all the blessings that he has bestowed upon me, salvation is by far the greatest. I thank him daily, but know I need to do so much more. I do try my best to live for him everyday, but I know there is so much more that I need to do. I make mistakes daily, but I have also been learning more and more everyday from those mistakes. I cannot even put into words how much my life has changed since I started writing on a daily basis---it has only been 9 weeks since starting this blog, but those few weeks have been phenomenal l. Not the blog itself, although it has been such a wonderful blessing, but that I have not only read God’s word daily, I have studied it, I have reflected upon it, I have read many scriptures numerous times, I have prayed about it, I wrote down my thoughts, and then I prayed some more. It has made me realize how much I need to stay in the Word---I won’t make it to the table without it. It all goes back to my first blog---the words that prompted me to do this…

“If you claim to be a Christian and you say you follow Jesus, yet you don’t read and study His Word, then there is absolutely no way that you are truly following Jesus Christ.” ---Louis Kathman

Truth is Truth!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:36-46

Well I will just have to be perfectly honest, I have read these scriptures over and over again and I don’t know if I really completely understand everything that God is telling us here. So as I share my thoughts, please know that they are my simple thoughts and nothing more.

What I think is that Jesus is the cornerstone, the builders are the priests and Pharisees, and because they have denied who Jesus really is the Kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to the ones who believe and are doing the work of our Father. I do find it very interesting that Jesus never names them, but the chief priests and Pharisees know that he was talking about them when he was sharing this parable. The other day I heard someone say if you let someone continue talking they will eventually convict themselves. Never really thought about it, but it is so true. Maybe this is why Jesus never tried to explain himself to his accusers---he doesn’t have to explain himself. Jesus himself represents truth. When we follow Jesus’ direction, live in truth, stand upon truth, we won’t have to explain ourselves either. Does truth really have to be explained?

I know these thoughts may seem very simple, but I am sure that God will one day reveal even more to me and you, but for now this is what I have.