Morning Moments with God: Day 55

                                  

Day 55: I am Jesus' Family!

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” (Matthew 12:46-47)

This appears to be a completely normal situation, until you read this account in Mark chapter three and Luke chapter eight and read the commentaries. First, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people and His mother and brothers come for Him. Jesus is not a little boy out playing with friends that needed to go home for dinner. Jesus is in His thirties- a grown man when His family came looking for Him. Second, Jesus is in Capernaum. His family came from Nazareth, thirty miles away, to come and get Him. (Commentary) They traveled a long way to get to Jesus. What was their motive? The Commentary in my Bible said that they, 'came to take charge of Him' and 'The family, thinking he was "out of his mind" probably wanted to get him away from his heavy schedule." I personally did not read that Jesus' mother and brothers thought He was crazy. But after reading several times of how the Pharisees have tried to trap and provoke Jesus in order to have a reason to kill Him, I think word was getting out that Jesus was upsetting the Pharisees and His death could be near. As a mother, I think I would have traveled the thirty miles to hear for myself what Jesus was saying and see if there was any proof to it and bring Jesus home to protect Him. Remember, Jesus is GOD. Jesus IS Emmanuel. Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father. Jesus was not crazy. Jesus was not bearing a heavy work schedule. Jesus knew what He was doing and saying and all of it was in perfect step to the Father's bidding. If Mary and Jesus' half-brothers believed Jesus was the Son of God they wouldn't have come looking for Him. They wouldn't have been worried about Him. They wouldn't have wanted to take Him home. If they believed that Jesus was sent from God, no matter how hard it would have been to see Jesus in trouble with the people or the Pharisees, they would have trusted God's plan for Him, but sadly that was not the case.

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50)  Jesus knew the motive and the heart of why His mother and brothers came to Him. They did not come to sit and listen to Him and watch the most incredible miracles performed with their very own eyes. They did not come to receive His message or WHO He was- God. They came with the agenda to take Him back home, which would have been out of the Father's plan. If they had come with hearts to listen to Jesus. To learn, believe and accept Jesus as the Son of God, I would like the liberty to say that Jesus would have been overjoyed in seeing His own family come to Him. Jesus judges the motivation of the heart. Jesus addresses the heart of the situation straight on- "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?...whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." And we can only assume that He doesn't go out to them, and that His mother and brothers go home for nothing else is stated about this situation. 

I remember the first few times I read this passage in Matthew twelve. I remember thinking, "I have no idea what this all means, but I must be Jesus' sister for I desire to be in the Father's will." I remember my heart soaring with excitement that I was Jesus' sister. I was in Jesus' family. I was/am accepted. Much healing has come to my heart from this one verse.

Pray with me:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God sent from Heaven to die for my sin and rose again to give eternal life. I believe you are God. Graft me into your family- the family of God. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for calling me your family. I am safe in you. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Morning Moments with God: Day 54

                        

Day 54: Jesus is the 'Sign'

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 12: 38-45

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
They want a 'sign?' I'm not sure how much time has passed since the beginning of Matthew 12, but the Pharisees have been around and among the crowd since verse one. They have witnessed the healing of a man with a shriveled hand be completely restored and a demon-possessed, blind and mute man completely healed. They have heard Jesus preach, in which many have said, 'He preaches with authority.' And yet they would, once again, confront Jesus and ask for a sign. I'm not sure what exactly they are looking for, but I think they have already see the sign, but refuse to accept it. 

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:39-42)

Jesus tells them straight out that they are a wicked and adulterous generation to ask for a sign. (He said that to the 'holy' Pharisees). Then Jesus compares the generation of the people of Jesus' day to that of the generation of people in Ninevah and the Queen of the South. Clearly, they were evil as well, but when Jonah and Solomen confronted them and told them to turn from their wicked ways, they did! The people repented! Jesus tells the people, "and now something greater than Jonah is here." (Matthew 12:41b) Jesus is referring to Himself. Jesus, God, is among the people. He is preaching, teaching, and healing and yet they do not repent! They only want more and more proof!

43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)
If I had been in that crowd, hearing those words, I would have fallen on my knees, and repented for myself and my generation. 

Pray with me:
Jesus, thank you for giving me eyes to see the truth, a heart to respond and the humility to repent. I repent. Forgive me. Make me whole that I may serve you with a pure heart, free from fear or doubt. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Morning Moments with God: Day 53

                             

Day 53: The Unforgivable Sin

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 12: 29-38

After reading Matthew 12: 22-28 and writing about it, it seemed to play over and over in my mind. I kept thinking about the demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. I thought about how he didn't have 'little faith,'but how he had no faith to believe Jesus would heal him because he was demon possessed. I thought about how he couldn't ask Jesus for healing because he was mute. And I thought about how he couldn't see Jesus because he was blind- but I also thought about how his blindness also summed up his spiritual life. He couldn't see Jesus spiritually or physically. I thought about how this man's healing had nothing whatsoever to do with his own faith or walk with God. His healing was one-hundred percent on Jesus. Jesus gets all the glory for this man's healing. Then I started to think about all the miracles in my life. The difference between me and this demon-possessed man is that I have asked Jesus to be Lord of my life and I actually asked for healing, but as far as my faith...I wonder how much I truly believed Jesus would perform a miracle for me. What I'm trying to say is, Jesus gets all the glory for any good thing in my life. I didn't and haven't deserved a thing, but Jesus wanted it for me and because of that, I have been blessed with miracle after miracle in my life. 

The other thought I had was, because this demon-possessed, blind and mute man could neither see Jesus, ask Jesus for healing or believe for his own healing, it must have been more obvious to the pharisees WHO Jesus was/is. The Pharisees witnessed this miracle and yet hardened their hearts towards Jesus. The pharisees, the very men who were to lead the Jewish people in faith and to look for the coming Messiah, chose not to believe. This is huge. Not only do we know that they began plotting Jesus' death, but because they did not believe, many of their followers would not believe. Jesus began rebuking the Pharisees in Matthew 12: 25-28 and he continues in today's reading; Matthew 12:29-36. 

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:29-32) Here Jesus continues to spell it out very plainly to the Pharisees- 'if you are not with me, you are against me'- if you are not with God, than you are against God.

Matthew 12:31-32 is specially a hard verse for me to read because it brings back a time in which I was involved in a cult. The leaders of the cult claimed to be Christians, who were sold out for Jesus, and held the very truth I needed to continue my new walk with Jesus. As I began to see flaws in their doctrine, I was told that I, 'spoke against the Holy Spirit and will never be forgiven for it.' They opened the Bible to this passage and told me that I had committed the one sin that could never be forgiven. I was told that I was going to hell. The more they spoke about 'my sin' the more they contrived a reason to murder me. They said that because I committed the worse sin named in the Bible, I must be from Satan himself. They couldn't have Satan in among them for I could begin placing curses on them and steal one of the members for myself. That was reason enough for them, the leaders and my own mother and sisters, to bind my hands and feet and tie a pillow case around my head. They beat me until they thought I was almost dead. They dumped me out onto the street and left me there. God had been with me through it all and has put my feet on solid ground, but it became my quest to understand this Scripture after my horrifying experience. 

Jesus was/is part of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees were speaking against the Spirit of the Trinity. It was by God's Spirit that Jesus healed the demon-possessed, blind, mute man, but the Pharisees said Jesus was the devil, and the devil healed him. Speaking against the Spirit of God is, I believe, not believing that Jesus is the Son of God, not believing that HE is Lord of the Heavens and the earth, not believing that He died and rose again for our sins. I believe in Jesus and I did even when I was a part of the cult, but of course in a cult they wanted me to stop believing in Jesus and worship them. They knew that, that was never going to happen, so they plotted to kill me. They knew the Word of God and twisted it for their own use. I believe they accused me of the very sin in their own lives.

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-38)  

Pray with me: 
Jesus I believe you are the Son of God. I believe you died on the cross to take my punishment of sin and you rose again to give us the promise of eternal life with you in heaven. Jesus, I believe. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

To read more, go to 'Mommy Life' and read the articles about my autobiography. Here is one: A Night of Beatings and I Never Felt a Thing

Morning Moments with God: Day 52

                               
Day 52: Good, Good Father

Please read the Bible for today:

Matthew 12: 22-28

Jesus and Beelzebul

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:22-23)
Did you read what I just read? '...they brought a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute..." Being demon-possessed is a horrifying thought, but blind and mute also? This is by far the worst of the 'sick' that were brought to Jesus so far in the book of Matthew. I don't know if it gets any worse than this. Whoever brought this guy must have been so desperate for help. It actually astonishes me that someone did bring him-I mean, how scary must it have been to not only bring a demon-possessed man, but to touch him and guide him to Jesus. Whoever brought him was desperate, brave, and hopeful. I know that I have had some pretty traumatic situations in my life, that brought me to my knees before Jesus begging for healing, and in my desperation, and in my heart I was unsure if Jesus' plan for me was healing or death. But now I'm seeing Jesus' choice is always healing in some form or another. Whoever brought this demon-possessed man to Jesus, brought him as a 'burden too heavy for them to carry', and they laid him at Jesus' feet to receive the burden Jesus had for them. (Matthew 11:28-30) Do we bring our sicknesses, burdens to Jesus, and believe that He will touch our lives in the miraculous? 

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”(Matthew 12:24) Wow! The Pharisees really cannot accept Jesus as their Messiah, so they've come up with-'Jesus is from the devil!' It is so much easier to believe Jesus is God than to believe that He is from Satan, but pride will have you believe what you want to believe. It is interesting to me that after the demon-possessed, blind and mute guy was healed, the crowd said, "Could this be the son of David?" (Matthew 12:22) The crowd, ordinary, common Jewish folks, who worked hard and weren't as 'religious' as the Pharisees, could see and question, 'Is this Jesus the Messiah?' I'm thinking that this crowd, and the Pharisees, had never had a miracle worker among them before, so how is it that they are still questioning His identity? But it is still happening today. Even in our own hearts we don't believe that Jesus will answer our prayers, but if we believe HE IS GOD, why do we doubt?

25 "Jesus knew their thoughts..." (Matthew 12:25a) WHAT!!! How awesome is that???!!! Jesus knew the Pharisees thoughts! They didn't have to say anything and they didn't. Jesus heard their thoughts and before the Pharisees had a chance to say anything to this crowd that would confuse them and possibly cause chaos, Jesus addresses the Pharisees THOUGHTS! 

 "...and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." (Matthew 12:25b-28) Perfect. Jesus' words were a perfect response to the Pharisees thoughts. It's a perfect rebuttal, no flaws whatsoever. It probably made them speechless. And to all the people in the crowd who were there listening, how it must have made them think...'Yes, if Jesus is not from the devil, He must be sent by God!" How that would have encouraged them, deepened their faith and brought even more hope to the people. But my favorite line is, "...then the kingdom of God has come upon you." (Matthew 12:28) How the power of the Holy Spirit must have fallen on the people as those words left Jesus' mouth-'the kingdom of God has come upon you.' 

Pray with me: 

Jesus, thank you for your Word- this story. Thank you for healing the demon-possessed, blind and mute man. What freedom you gave him. Father, nothing I have endured in my lifetime has been as horrible as what that man endured and yet you easily healed him. You are a good, good Father. Forgive me for the doubt I have in my heart when I pray. I know your burden is easy and light and I submit to you all my burdens and worries and hold on to the thought, 'since healed a demon-possessed, blind and mute man who could not ask you to heal him, who was far from you in his heart and mind, than I know you can bring healing to my heart and mind from past hurts. I know my healing has nothing to do with me, except a humble heart. Lord, bring healing to me- in my mind, heart, and body I ask in Jesus' precious and holy Name, Amen. 

As you start your day, listen to this:

'Good, Good, Father'

Morning Moments with God: Day 51

                           
Day 51: Withdraw and Be Still

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 12: 15- 21

God’s Chosen Servant

15 "Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place." (Matthew 12:15) 'Aware of this,' Aware of what? Well, in Matthew 12:14 we read, "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." Every time I read that the Pharisees plotted Jesus death I am shocked, especially this time. They had just witnessed a miracle. A miracle on a man that they pulled from the crowd who had a shriveled hand-(an obvious deformity) and the guy was healed. And if that wasn't enough, they were actually standing in the presence of God! and still they would not believe. Still they looked for a way to kill Him. 
And what is Jesus' response to all of this? "Jesus withdrew from that place." (Matthew 12:15) There is a difference in 'running away' and 'withdrawing.' Running away one does in fear. Running away shows that the person cannot handle the situation. That is not our Jesus. Jesus withdraws. He bows out. He does not argue with the Pharisees. He does not try and convince them. He does not try and change their minds. He, in all of His wisdom, knows there is no convincing them, changing them. He withdraws silently- without a defense. I know for me, I would stay in the fight. I would argue and yell until my voice was heard. But I look back now and see the people I was trying to talk to, reason with, did not want to know-they did not want to change. All my words fell on deaf ears. I wish now, I had simply withdrawn.

 "A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. (Matthew 12:15b) Though the Pharisees did not follow Jesus, 'a large crowd' did. And what did this large crowd witness? 'He healed ALL who were ill.'

16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,

    the one I love, in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out;

    no one will hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

till he has brought justice through to victory.

    In his name the nations will put their hope.”

 (Matthew 12:16-21)

Jesus 'warned the large crowd not to tell others about their healing and who did healed them, not because He was afraid of the Pharisees, but because it wasn't time for His death. He was willing and wanting to die for our sins, willing to die a death of crucifixion, but not yet. God had the timing set and it was too soon. The prophecy from Isaiah was not fulfilled. Jesus waits on the Father. I need to wait on the Father too. So many times I jump ahead of God's plan for my life. I need only be still, withdraw, wait, and watch how God's plan is revealed in my life.

Pray with me:
Father, I praise you for the Scriptures and how every word is for my benefit. Help me to be like Jesus. Help me to close my mouth. Help me to withdraw. Help me to trust you to be my defense. Help me to trust your plan and your timing. Forgive me for all the times I have jumped ahead of your plan and your timing. Help me to let go, to let go of the control I have on my life. Lord, I want to trust you completely, in every area of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning Moments with God: Day 50

                           

Day 50: I Want to See Jesus

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 12:1-14

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
'At that time..." Jesus had just told the crowd, 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus is with his disciples now and He gives them rest. He walks them through the grainfields. Could He have walked around the grainfield? Probably. But He knew they were hungry, so the path was now one of restoration. One where they didn't have to wait until they got into town to buy food. One where they didn't have to sit in a boat and fish for food. Jesus knew they were hungry and laid it before them- the burden of hunger was lifted. It was easy and light, just like He said. 
I remember a time where I had surrendered my desire, as silly as this may sound, for new couches for my den. We just couldn't afford new ones. I surrenederd, in my prayer time, to the Lord my hope for couches. The next day the Lord spoke to my spirit, "Today you will find your couches." The anxiety- the burden to make my home beautiful was too heavy for me to carry. With no funds to transform my home, what could I do? But with the Lord, it was like He walked me through the 'grainfields.' In surrendering, I found His path, not my path of saving and skimping to buy couches. For the full story read, "He Owns the Cattle on a Thousand Hills."

3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Remember, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees- the holy, priests of the temple. They are not the towns people who received miracles and did not repent. But rather the very men of the temple who are to lead the people to God and teach the people about who God is. Jesus has to teach them! Jesus uses the very Scriptures that they know to teach them the lesson for today. And what is the lesson? Two I think: 1) "I tell you that something greater than the temple is here."  Jesus, God come to earth, Immanuel, is greater than the temple. The Pharisees are missing the very presence of God! They are not seeing the very Messiah that they have prayed for and waited for standing right before their eyes! and 2) "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." The New Covenant is here! And it is Mercy!

9 "Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Here the Pharisees are busted! They are looking for a reason to imprison Jesus. They ask, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? Wait one minute. The question is so ridiculous. They are asking as if someone can perform a miracle on the Sabbath or on any other day for that matter. They cannot perform a miracle, but they know who can- Jesus. As much as they try to deny it, they know there is something special about Jesus. 

11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. (Matthew 12:9-14) 

Jesus is remarkably gentle. I would have been so completely frustrated with these Pharisees, I would probably have walked off angry. But Jesus being God, is slow in wanting all to come to salvation. With a miracle performed before their very eyes, a miracle on the very person they chose, (not someone claiming to be blind and really wasn't) but a person with a true ailment was healed and yet they did not see Jesus. I think they are worse than the townspeople. For they know the Scriptures and still do not see God.

Pray with me:
Father, how I praise you for who you are: gentle, kind, the One who brings rest and restoration in your perfect timing. The One who brings healing out of compassion for us. The One who gives a girl new couches for her den! Father, I want to see you. I want to know you. Make me not like the Pharisees that know the Word, but do not know you. Take the blindness from my eyes. Help me to believe. Give me a deeper faith. I love you with all my heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Morning Moments with God: Day 49

                                   

Day 49: HE is Lord of Heaven and Earth

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 11: 25-28

The Father Revealed in the Son

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do." (Matthew 11:25-26)
"At that time..." 'that time' is just after Jesus rebuked the crowd for their hard hearts, and unrepentant ways found in the previous verses. After Jesus rebukes them, He prays. Whenever I need to 'rebuke' or speak to my child for doing something wrong, I'm not happy and rarely think to pray at that moment. Everything Jesus does is a lesson. I need to pray more in the midst of disciplining my child/children. 

So now, let's look at what Jesus prayed. "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth..." Jesus begins, as we all should, praising the Father. A moment to remember Who God is and His sovereignty. (It says in my commentary, that the words "The Lord of heaven and earth" is only found three times in the Bible.") Jesus than says that God has hidden 'these things,' the revelation of Jesus revealed through the miracles He performs, from the wise, but revealed it to children or those who are humble. It is God, the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, pleasure to reveal and conceal certain things and we need to accept that. We may not always understand why God does what He does, but HE is God. HE is sovereign. HE knows what is best.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27) I believe Jesus' words are very clear. The Father and Son know each other and all the mysteries of each other, but we do not and will not unless Jesus reveals Himself to us. 

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) We may not understand or know everything about the Father or the Son, Jesus Christ, but here we get a glimpse. Jesus tells us directly about who He is. HE will give us rest. HE will give us a lighter load to carry. HE will teach us. HE is gentle and humble in heart. We will find rest for our souls in HIM. HIS burden to carry is easy and light. 

Pray with me:
Father I praise you for you are Lord of heaven and earth. You are sovereign. You know all things and I trust you. I humble myself to your will. Give me a heart of humility to serve you completely. Jesus, I come to you for I am weary and burdened. I need your rest. I take your burden in exchange for mine. Help me to carry only what you ask me to. I give you my anxiety and worries. I love you with all my heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning Moments with God: Day 48

                              

Day 48: Repent

Please read the Bible verse for today:

Matthew 11: 20-24

Woe on Unrepentant Towns

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. " (Matthew 11:20)
According to Merriam-Webster, denounce means, "to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil." Jesus was announcing, in public, the evil act of people. And what was this evil act? Well, Jesus had performed miracles for all the people. People were healed from every sickness. People were healed from every disease. People were set free from demons. The evil act was that they received the healing, a miracle from Jesus, and then walked away. They did not repent. They took the healing and in their heart they were not moved. They got their healing and deliverance, and went right back to their lives without being convicted in their heart of WHO healed them. I am shocked. Every time Jesus has given me a miracle I have wept, fallen to my knees, cried and praised Him. I have gone out and told as many people as I can what the Lord has done for me. Why? Why have I cried and wept? Because the God of the Universe touched my life. The God who created the Heavens and earth heard my prayer and answered it. A miracle is personal. A miracle shows God knows the cries of our heart and cares about me. I pray and believe for miracles all the time and when it happens I am in awe of God's goodness. How is it that whole 'towns' didn't repent? I cannot even imagine Jesus' sadness to have witnessed that. 

 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:21-24) 

Jesus' words in verses 21-24 are scary words. He declares that these towns will receive eternal death for their unrepentant ways. 

(As a side note: I think it is so awesome that Jesus says, "For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day." The first thing that came to my mind was that Jesus was in heaven, with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, at the time when Sodom was destroyed. He was there! Thousands of years before He came to earth, He was in Heaven and saw and commanded the destruction of Sodom. He knew the people's hearts and knew that if they had received the miracles of His day they would have repented. It wasn't an assumption- it was a fact because He is God and was there! How cool is that!)

Pray with me:
Father, may it never be said of me that I did not or would not repent. May I be ever humble and grateful for all you do for me and my family. Keep pride far from me. Jesus, I repent for my arrogance, pride and judgemental heart. Forgive me. I want to serve you all my days in humility. I love you with all my heart. In Jesus' Name, Amen.