Persistence (Matthew 15 - P37)

Jesus is on the way to the cross.  And He knows it.  He realizes that His time is short.  Therefore it is incredibly important that He prepare, not so much Himself, but His disciples for what is to come.  So, he leaves the familiar surroundings of Galilee and goes into Gentile territory.  He needs some time and space where He can be free of the crowds ... of the intense pushing and testing by the Pharisees.  I think He wanted some time with His disciples ... time away ... quiet ... no pressing crowds ... no critics.  However, His reputation has preceded Him ... even in Gentile territory.  Today, read

Matthew 15: 21 - 28

I wish I knew this woman's name.  I love her!  I am impressed by her.  Let's make a few observations ...

First, she was driven by love.  She had a mother's heart - and that is not limited by race or religion or culture or country.  Her little girl was suffering and it was breaking her heart.  Love drives us.  Often, love drives us to do things we would not ordinarily do.  Which of you has not stayed up all night "doing" for your child?  Feeding and holding the infant ... keeping cool compresses on a fevered forehead ... helping finish an assignment that was procrastinated and is now due ... sewing the "dream" dress or the bridal gown ... trying to catch a nap in an uncomfortable chair in a hospital room ... and on and on.  This particular mother's heart drove her to seek an audience with a Jewish rabbi.  She didn't know him.  She wasn't Jewish.  But she had heard about Him.  She heard He was in her territory ... so she sought Him out.

Second, she was willing to humiliate herself in her desperation for help.  There is no subtlety here.  We can surmise from the disciples' response that she was causing quite a scene ... making quite a nuisance of herself.  She set her own pride aside for the good of her child.  What are you willing to set your pride aside for?  Anything?  

Third, this lady was persistent!  She would not easily be turned away.  She reminds me of the words that the Apostle Paul used to describe love.  As he penned the elegant words to describe love in 1 Corinthians 13, he wrote:

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor. 13:7)

Always ... it does not give up ... nor would our heroine.  

Luke tells a story that Jesus told about prayer in Luke 11: 5 - 8.  I see this woman in the story ...

"Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.'  And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed;  I can't get up and give you anything.'  I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs."

Persistence.  Perseverance.  Are you needing a dose?  Take a lesson from our Canaanite role model!

Lastly, this lady is witty.  And Jesus responds.  The word Jesus uses for "dog" in this case is not the same word as is used for the street dogs that roamed the area.  It is not the same word that Jews used when they spoke about "Gentile dogs".  The woman would have known that word ... she would have heard it before describing her (and her daughter).  Jesus uses a different word when he speaks to her.  The word He chose is the one that was used to describe a family pet.  In spite of her desperate trouble, in spite of her dead-in-earnest mindset, she maintained a sense of wit and banter.  I think she smiled when she responded to Jesus ... and I think He smiled as well!  And I think He LOVED granting her request.  

When we think of women in the New Testament that are heroines ... this nameless woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon should be on this list.  She had GREAT FAITH.  I want to be like her ... I hope to meet her one day.  I want to know her name.

The Crux of the Matter (Matthew 15 - P 36)

In our reading today, we will observe the Pharisees and the scribes approach Jesus with more questions.  However, this time seems to be a bit  different.  Matthew does not indicate that they are coming to entrap or to test Jesus ... they are coming with an honest question ... one that has them mightily perplexed.  And the question cuts to the core of "What is religion?".  Read ...

Matthew 15: 1 - 20

How can a person approach God?  That's the question.  That's the crux of the matter.  How can mere human beings connect with God?  It is the question of all peoples - all religions - all faiths.  And it is the undercurrent in the question we meditate upon today.  

The Pharisees ask about hand washings.  Why such a seemingly inane question?  We have to explore a bit of the Jewish mindset at the time.  Approaching God was everything.  And approaching God required "cleanness".  If you were unclean - you were out.  Over the centuries elaborate ceremonies regarding washing your hands had developed.  Before an orthodox Jew ate, ceremonial hand washing had to take place.  If it did not, the "eater" was unclean because there was no way to know for sure if he had been in the presence of anything considered unclean.  Therefore before partaking of food the person would hold his hands - fingers pointing upward - and a bit of water was poured over the hands.  Then the hands would be turned - fingers pointing downward - and a bit of water was poured again so that the water dropped down.  Only then were the participant's hands "clean" and he could eat without concern over uncleanness entering his body.  It mattered to them.  Cleanness was everything.  The Pharisees could not fathom why Jesus' disciples did not follow the ritual ... the tradition.

Jesus does not directly answer their question.  He cuts to the heart of the problem.  Religion had evolved into a series of very elaborate traditions that had taken precedence over the true law from God.  William Barclay writes:  "To the scribes and Pharisees, worship was ritual and ceremonial law; to Jesus, worship was the clean heart and the loving life.  Here is the clash.  And that clash still exists."

I love the definition of worship stated by Archbishop William Temple:

To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God to purge the imagination by the beauty of God to open the heart to the love of God, to devoted the will to the purpose of God.

Jesus turns to the crowd around him and reiterates, yet again, that God is most concerned about your heart.  He was then ... He still is!!  All evil thoughts and behaviors are born in the heart - not from missed ritual.

When religion is relegated to external regulations and forms, two deadly results happen.  First, it becomes too easy.  It is so much easier to follow regulations than it is to love the unlovely, to help the oppressed at the cost of one's own time and money and comfort and pleasure.  Also, religion becomes misleading.  One can live a life in the externals and harbor all kinds of bitterness and evil and immorality and pride in his/her heart - all the time being quite 'religious'.  We see it around us  ... we read of it  ... we experience it.

No wonder Jesus began his teachings with the words, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)  

Do you want to be a religious person?  I do.  I hope you do as well.  However, I pray that we will take seriously these words from Jesus and focus our attention on our hearts ... not our forms and rituals.  When a particular ritual is meaningful for you ... when it communicates the truth that lies behind it ... perform it openly.  Benefit from it.  But never forget that God looks to your heart ... always!  Pay attention to your heart today.  Confess the uncleanness that tries to set up permanent residency there.  Then ... worship.  And pray ...

God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Wash me ... YOU wash me ... and I will be whiter than snow.

Listen and Believe (Matthew 14 - P 35)

As we finish Matthew 14 ... before you read today's verses ... glance back through the chapter to remember the flow of events.  Then, slow down and read

Matthew 14: 22 - 36

A storm.  This one physical.  Some of our storms are not so bad - some wind, some waves, uncomfortable.  And then others are of catastrophic proportions.  Think Katrina or Sandy.  Think Newtown or Algeria.  Think avalanches and loss.  Think cancer and devastating treatments.  Think infidelity and divorce.  Think death and grief.  And that is a small list!  Storms.  We will all navigate through them during our lives on this planet.  So what can we learn from this description of a storm that raged in the life of Jesus' disciples?  

Notice first ... that in the midst of the storm, Jesus was there.  The disciples were fighting the waves ... and Jesus was there.  They did not have to fight the storm alone.  Nor do we.  William Barclay writes:

In life, the wind is often contrary.  There are times when we are up against it and life is a desperate struggle with ourselves, with our circumstances, with our temptations, with our sorrows and with our decisions.  At such a time, no one need struggle alone, for Jesus comes to us across the storms of life, with hand stretched out to save, and with his calm, clear voice ..."

Notice secondly what that voice says.  Jesus' words in the middle of a storm are of supreme importance.  

• Take courage
• It is I
• Don't be afraid
• Come
• You of little faith, why did you doubt?

Do you need to hear those words today?  If so, stop right now and say them out loud.  Say them slowly.  Ask God for the faith to believe those words ... and to act accordingly.  "Take courage ... the Lord is with you ... no need to fear ... rest in Him ... and believe."

In the seventeenth century, the Bishop of Geneva was St. Francis of Sales.  He had noticed a custom of the country districts in which he lived that intrigued him.  He often noticed a farm servant going across a farmyard to draw water at the well.  He also noticed that, before she lifted the brimming pail, the girl always put a piece of wood into it.  One day he ventured out to ask the girl about her custom.  She looked surprised and answered, "Why? to keep the water from spilling ... to keep it steady!"  Writing to a friend later on, the bishop told this story and added:  "So when your heart is distressed and agitated, put the Cross into its center to keep it steady!"  The presence of Jesus ... the love which flows from Him, from the Cross, will bring peace and serenity and calm.  Believe it ...

Truly You are the Son of God!

Use Me (Matthew 14 - P 34)

Remember we have just learned the circumstances surrounding John the Baptist's death.  In fact, Jesus had just been told at the beginning of chapter 14.  The reader of Matthew can feel Jesus' deep grieve when he records:  "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."  He needed time away from the crowds ... he needed time to grieve this loss.  However, his solitude did not last long ...

Read Matthew 14: 13 - 21

In this familiar story, three things stand out to me.

First, Jesus desires to do His work through His disciples.  Could He have fed that crowd without the disciples help?  Of course.  Could He have spoken food into existence?  Of course.  And yet He did not.  He told the disciples to feed the people.  When they could not because their supplies were so limited and meager, Jesus stepped in and performed extravagant work and supply.

What do we learn that is applicable to us? Jesus wants to use you and me to do His work.  We may not believe that is such a good idea because we know how weak and limited we are!  But it is the way Jesus chooses to work.  So, we bring our meager supplies to the Lord - our limitations, our want of talents and gifts and resources - bring them all to the Lord and leave them there.  And then trust that He will do with them what He wills.  My job is to openly bring what I have to the Lord ... His job is to work with it however He chooses.  That's good news!  We can trust Him to do more than we can dream or imagine with our own limited selves.

Second, even our little is worthy of thanks.  Jesus gave thanks to God for the pitiful little meal that was laid before Him.  He doesn't make excuses for it ... we do sometimes.  He doesn't rationalize away the gift because it is so small.  He gives thanks for it ... and proceeds to use it.  That's also good news!  We don't have to apologize for our shortcomings ... or make excuses for how little we have to offer ... or rationalize away any possible benefit from them.  We just bring them and give thanks to God that we have anything at all to offer!

Third, in the face of this stupendous miracle ... this extravagant display of food ... there was no room for waste.  Jesus had the disciples (whom He was still working through) collect the leftovers.  Barclay says, "God gives to us with munificence, but a wasteful extravagance is never right.  God's generous giving and our wise using must go hand in hand."  

OK ... familiar story ... strong applications for us.  So, what will you do with this little story?  Will you just learn the facts and be able to say, "Wow, look what Jesus did!"?  Or, will you, with me, choose to examine our own lives and ask three very pertinent questions:

1. Am I willing to offer myself - with all my limitations and shortcomings - to my Lord for His use, as He sees fit?  
2. Am I a grateful person for the gifts that have been bestowed on me?  Or do I spend my timing whining about what I do not have?  
3. Am I wasteful?  With time, resources, money, talents?  How can cut back the waste in my own life?    

Lord, help me see myself in the light of this encounter You had on the hillside in Galilee.  Use me ... use us ... as we come to You in complete dependence on Your hand and work.  We desire to be useful disciples of Yours!

Reactions (Matthew 14 - P 33)

From Matthew 10 to our reading for today we have been listening to Jesus as he taught those around him.  He has commissioned his disciples, he has confronted the toxic religionists of his day, and he has taught about the kingdom of heaven.  Then he goes home ... to Nazareth.  Read ...

Matthew 13: 53 - 14: 13a

These verses are packed with emotion.  We see the humanity of our Lord.  And we can 'feel' with him.  Let me share a couple of observations with you.

First, the old proverb "Familiarity breeds contempt" is alive and illustrated in the first half of our reading.  Nazareth was a small town.  It is estimated that between 1600 - 2000 people populated the town.  Nazareth was near the much larger Sepphoris, which is most likely where Joseph, perhaps accompanied by Jesus as a son/apprentice, went to work.  Sepphoris had been burned and was being rebuilt.  So carpenters would be in demand.  Carpenters at this time were not only wood workers, but stone masons as well.  Joseph and Mary's household would have been well known.  So Jesus went home.  And he went home to do what he had been doing all over Galilee.  He went to the synagogue to teach.  The reaction?  'Who does he think he is?!'  The citizens of Nazareth could not get past whom they THOUGHT Jesus to be.  Therefore, they could not see who he WAS.  Result?  They were offended ... and they missed the miracles.  

I see a warning here for those of us who grew up in Christian homes.  What a blessing that is!  However, if we are not careful, we allow the familiarity of Christ talk to dim our eyes.  We fail to notice fresh glimpses of Jesus' person in our day-to-day lives.  When we hear people who have just discovered the Christ ... when we hear them talk about the ways they see Him ... the ways they hear from Him ... we can get cynical.  We can respond with a bit of the "who do they think they are?" mentality.  When we react that way ... we, too, can miss the miracles.  Guard your heart from such response!

A second observation comes from the verses in chapter 14.  Matthew told us what happened to John the Baptist.  And the details are gruesome.  Our culture and time in history are not the only ones where violence is rampant ... where violence is perpetrated by those in authority ... where sexuality is used to manipulate.  Those things were alive and well in 1st century Palestine under the leadership of Herod Antipas.  Our culture and time in history are not the only ones where good, honorable people are violated and even killed.  I wonder why we continue to be surprised?  It is a vivid reminder that this world is in the hands of the "evil one".  Never forget that we are in the wilderness.  Life on this earth is not as it was meant to be.  We are aliens here.

But knowledge of the commonality of such things does not assuage the grief.  And our Lord - grieved over the violence done to John.  You see it in the beginning of verse 13.  He withdrew to a solitary place.  He needed to be alone.  He needed to grieve.  I think his heart was sick.  I think he needed to talk to his Father.  I think he may have needed to weep.  Our Lord was fully human.  And yet our Lord was wholly divine ... and that divinity allowed him to know the coming resurrection ... the coming joy.

As we suffer loss in this alien place ... grieve.  But never grieve as those who do not know the Lord.

Let's close our time today with a piece of poetry by Ruth Bell Graham:

When death comes

will it come quietly

- one might say creep -

as after a hard

and tiring day, one lies

and longs for sleep -

ending age and sorrow

or youth and pain?

Who dies in Christ

has all to gain

- and a Tomorrow!

Why weep?

Death may be savage.

We cannot be sure:

the godly may be slaughtered,

evil men endure;

however death may strike,

or whom,

who knows the risen Lord

knows, too, the empty tomb.

Pictures of God's Kingdom (Matthew 13 - P 32

More parables today ... all pictures of the the kingdom of heaven ... all through the lens of Jesus ... through His eyes ... a worthy source of information!

Read Matthew 13: 24 - 52

Let's imagine we are making a scrapbook today.  Just as you collect pictures that represent moments to be remembered when you assemble scrapbooks of your family or a recent vacation ... let's collect these pictures from Jesus about his kingdom.

On page 1 ...

          The Parable of the Weeds and its explanation (vs 24 - 30; 36 - 43)

Perhaps the color of this page should be a mixture of greens and browns ... representing life and death ... growing and dying.  I love this parable.  It is one of my all time favorites. (I hope I do not say that about every other one!)  I grew up in a time and place where much of the religious conversation  swirled around who was right and who was wrong - which denomination got it right and which ones (bless their hearts!) got it wrong.  I sometimes worried about how one could be sure he/she was right ... about everything ... about anything.  Then I 'discovered' this parable from Jesus.  And the weight was lifted from my shoulders.  In the kingdom of heaven on this earth ... there seems to exist a mixture of the righteous and the unrighteous, the good and the bad ... and they seem to exist in the same space.   The weight was lifted when I realized that it wasn't my job to weed the garden!  That, my friends, is good news. It's God's job to weed the garden.  He's the best one for the task.  After all, He knows for sure ... He knows hearts and minds ... He won't make a mistake.  Can you breathe easier?  We can focus our attention on growing in the Lord rather than on critiquing those around us.  We can be more concerned over the purity of our own hearts and motives rather than judging others.  Remember:  I am responsible for the purity of my motives and the integrity of my behavior.  For me ... this little story is a Charter of Freedom!!  Thank you Lord.

On page 2 ...

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (vs 31 - 33)

I think the color of this page needs to be that green of early spring.  You know the color I mean?  It's bright ... vibrant ... alive ... and speaks to rapid growth.  The snapshot Jesus presents in these two parables is one of rapid growth.  However, that growth is observable in its results, not its process.  We can see that a mustard plant grows into a tree ... but we cannot see the actual process.  We can see that yeast causes dough to rise and grow ... but we cannot see the actual process with our human eye.  So it is in the kingdom of God.  Growth will come.  But we will not always be able to see the actual process.  God will cause the growth ... we will see the results.  And it will be dramatic ... it IS dramatic!  I am part of that inexplicable process ... are you?  

On page 3 ...

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl (vs 44 - 46)

This page has to be gold.  Perhaps platinum!  In these snapshots, Jesus emphasizes the incredible value of the kingdom of heaven.  It is worth everything.  I am reminded of a cartoon I saw some years ago.  A pig and a chicken were talking about providing breakfast for someone.  The pig is hesitant ... and then says, "For you it's a contribution.  But for me, it's total commitment!"  Jesus gives these two illustrations so that we can understand ... it's total commitment!

On page 4 ...

The Parable of the Net (vs 47 - 52)

Let's think about this page being blue ... like the scenes of the earth from space.  Jesus reveals the universal nature of the kingdom of heaven in this snapshot.  It is not national ... or regional.  It is not ethically exclusive.  It is not culturally exclusive.  The net caught ALL kinds of fish.  So does the kingdom of heaven ... ALL kinds.  What do I learn from this?  I just need to cast the net.  I don't have to sort the fish.  That's God's work.  I just cast out the net.  That means I need to be aware of my tendency to prejudge who would be receptive and who would not.  We are to be God's fisher-people ... just let down your net.  Be who you are called to be in Christ ... and let the net fall.  

What is your "next step" from these four pages of snapshots?  Do you need to check any judgmental tendencies that still creep into your spirit?  Do you need to be more willing to speak the things of God to those around you?  Perhaps you need to talk to God about the way you have cheapened his kingdom by only giving leftovers to it?  Do you need to trust Him more to grow His own kingdom and quit thinking you are the one to decide who's in and who's out?  

Thank you Lord for these beautiful, challenging, mind-stretching and liberating pictures.  Give me eyes to truly see!

The Robbers (Matthew 13 - P 31)

What makes a stellar teacher?  Is the best teacher the one with the most information?  Or is it the one who is most creative and clever?  Or perhaps the one who is most entertaining and engaging?  We all have our own opinions on the traits that signify a good teacher.  But history bears out the fact that Jesus is considered one of the stellar teachers of all times.  I believe that one of the reasons he carries such accolades is because of the way he presented truth ... never spoon-fed ... always challenging ... always forcing his 'hearers' to wrestle with the information ... to discern the 'lesson' if they were willing to open their hearts and minds to the truth presented.  One of his primary teaching methods was through the use of parables.  As we begin Matthew 13, we begin to read example after example of his use of parables.  One thing we must remember as we begin to read them ... a parable is not like an allegory.  A parable has one primary meaning.  We get into trouble when we try to assign meaning to every little detail in a parable.  So, as we read, look for the "main point".  And let it rest there.  Look for the "main point" in each one ... and today ... look for the "main point" as you read the passage.  Ask God to help you not to allow familiarity to blind your eyes and ears from hearing a fresh word today.

Read Matthew 13: 1 - 23

A great story!  I love this particular parable because Jesus explains it himself - very helpful indeed!  How are you going to apply this story to yourself?  What did you see that made you wrestle with the content?  Can you find yourself in the story?  

The message about the kingdom of God is an important message indeed.  It's a life-altering message.  It's a message with eternal significance.  So it seems to me that Jesus wants us to know what will keep us from absorbing that message.  Hence, he tells the "parable of the sower".  Here is my application:

How To Avoid Leading an Unfruitful (an unproductive) Life:

1. Avoid not understanding.  That is Satan's playground.  How in the world do we do that?  We pray for understanding.  Intentionally.  We learn in James 1:5 - 8:  "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.  But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Pray for wisdom.
2. Don't be 'rootless'.  Any strong plant needs a good root system.  Having no root will keep us from absorbing the message of the kingdom.  When you are rootless, Jesus tells us that when trouble or persecution comes to us because of his teachings, we won't stand.  We'll just leave it - let it go.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:24  "It is by faith you stand firm."  Jesus tells us to "build our house on a rock" ... and He is that rock.  John tells us to "abide in Jesus" (John 15:5)  Keep yourself rooted in the very person of Jesus.
3. Don't allow the "worries of life" to rob you of your hope and/or joy in the message of the kingdom.  Yes, life is hard.   There will be plenty of opportunities to think that God doesn't mean what he says because our lives are not "waltzing through the tulips".  But remember, Jesus already told his followers, "Don't worry about your life." (Matthew 6:25)  Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:6 - 7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Set aside anxiety over the things of this life.  Do it through prayer.
4. Watch out for the lures and the lies of wealth.  Being infatuated with wealth in this life will rob you of the message of the kingdom ... will rob you of joy in the Lord.  Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10 saying: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  Love the Lord first.  Seek his kingdom first.  Use the monies you have well ... but LOVE God.  

Wisdom ... how to lead a life that bears fruit ... that is purposeful ... that has eternal value.  I want that kind of life.  So do you!  These are warning signs ... like orange traffic barrels set up to warn us of dangerous territory ahead.  Will we listen?  Will we heed the warnings?  

Lord, I pray that you will shine a light on any of these 4 areas that may be seducing us from steadfastness in you.  Give us eyes to see where we may be playing with fire.  We long to be good soil ... and to be people that bear much fruit for you.  What an incredible privilege.  

Blindness (Matthew 12 - P 30)

Our reading in scripture today is Matthew 12: 15 - 50.  As you read, remember the Pharisees have begun to plot against Jesus.  They are the people in power in that society ... they were the ones with influence and importance ... and they had turned against Jesus.  See what God tells you as you read ... then return.

Jesus is accused in our reading today of being in league with Satan.  Jesus refutes the accusations with impeccable logic.  Here's what intrigues me ... when you have already made up your mind about something ... no amount of logic or reason or evidence will change it.  It is as if the person has chosen blindness.  One CANNOT see when the mind is closed.  Prejudice and hatred ALWAYS obliterate vision and reason.  This particular chapter in Matthew provides illustration after illustration.

1. Jesus casts a demon out of a man who could not see or speak ... he cured him ... the man could now see and speak.  But rather than rejoice, Jesus' enemies condemned and coupled Him with Satan.  How could they not see?
2. Jesus' enemies asked for a sign.  A sign?  What about the demon being cast out?  Not sign enough?  What about the blind being given sight?  What about the lame being able to walk?  What about the withered hand restored in the beginning of this chapter?  A sign?  However, when you don't want to see ... you will not see.  
3. Repentance cannot come from hearts of stone and hatred.  Jesus provides these teachers and Pharisees opportunity after opportunity for repentance.  He is not subtle.  He does not make his points obscure.  But when one has chosen blindness ... one sees absolutely no need for change and repentance.  

The little, simple prayer song is at the forefront of my mind as I think about these things ...

Open our eyes, Lord ... we want to see Jesus

to reach out and touch Him ... and say that we love Him

Open our ears, Lord, ... and help us to listen,

Open our eyes, Lord ... we want to see Jesus.

May that be your prayer today ... as it is mine.  My mother is losing her eyesight.  And it is a frightening thing when you have been seeing your entire lifetime of 80+ years.  She did not choose blindness ... but it is coming.  She did not want blindness ... but it is coming.  I desperately do not want to CHOOSE blindness in relationship to spiritual things.  I want to see!  Fully!!!

There are several other truths that loom from the pages of Matthew 12.  They provide the points of application for me ... the places where the truth of Matthew 12 collides with my own life ... the places where I can practice, and/or repent and then practice!  I will list a few of mine ... and would love to hear a few of yours:

• my God desires mercy ... always (12:7)  [Where can I show it today?]
• I will not speak against God or His Spirit (12:32)  [I will only use God's name, or the Spirit's name with the utmost respect and careful consideration ... no lame joking.]
• watch out for careless words (12:36)  [Guard your words today.]
• fill myself up with good things ... fill my heart with good, with God ... leave no void or empty space (12: 43 - 45)   [I will not waste time today.  I will focus upon God and His character and act accordingly.]
• pray that I do the will of the Father ... and am, therefore, a sister of my Lord! (12:50)  [I will rejoice today in my familial relationship with Jesus and the Father.  'Your will be done ... in my life ... today.']

God, help us choose to see You ... to see as clearly as is possible with our limited, earth-bound sight.  Help us see our own behaviors and attitudes ... clearly.  Give us sight ...