Today as we visited a park, and I was alone at the swings, I was overcome by a strong love and longing for my Lord Jesus. And in that experience, I learned what the Word means by the Lord being our first love.
If your greatest love is your family, or your friends, or your sports...your boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, children or anything else other than Jesus...then you are missing what love really is. It's not people, or things, or pastimes, or any other thing that might be out there: Love is God. God is Love. And He is the most satisfying, fulfilling, loving, caring, listening God ever to breath across the universe. Oh and on topof that, He's the only true God! there is none like Him! What other gods do you hear of that gave their own life to save ours, and that came back to life again, promising us eternal life as well? What other Lord would care enough about our welfare that He gave us guidelines and promises that He always keeps? What other god, would come back to us after what we did to His Son? Only YHVH. And I am so in love with Him. No really....I mean it. I don't mean love like somebody would love a puppy, or love a friend, or a spouse, but love in it's purest, strongest, most beautiful form.
Time and time again I've had casual conversations with the LORD in His throne room. I stand there(sometimes kneel or fall flat on my face there) in His presense, seeing only the bright golden light of His radience,the throne, and His gentle face: and He carries on conversation with me as He would with a friend. And then I ask Him almost every time, 'why do you let me talk to You like this?' and every time, never fails, He bends down, love lighting up His eyes and boring into my own, cups my face in His nail-scarred hands and whispers "Because I love you."
You may not believe me...but I am not lying. I am telling you the truth. Have you ever done that with Him? He desires that relationship with everybody, and He will talk wth you if you really want to hear what He has to say. He is always available. And I can tell you beforetime, that when you do come into that throne-room, that the Lord Jesus will stand from His throne, and run to greet you and call you His child.....because He loves you.
If youhave such a conversation with the LORD Jesus, please let me know! I would love to hear about it! If you have unbelief about what I've told you, feel free to say so. I don't mind sharing what I know, or what I don't know.
My point of this blog entry tonight is.....
Do you REALLY love HIM?
Do YOU really LOVE Him?
DO you REALLY LOVE Him?
He may very well ask you. What will be your answer?
DO you love Him.....with shoes on?
-'Emily'
"I've fallen in love
I"ve fallen inlove
I've fallen in love
With the King of Kings.
"I've fallen in love....
I've fallen in love...
I've fallen in love...
With the Prince of Peace.
"I'll never know fear,
For Jesus is near,
I'll never worry or doubt.
For when He is near,
There's nothing to fear,
Not even fear itself!
"I've fallen in love.
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
With the Great Redeemer
"I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
With the Great I AM
"I'll never complain,
And never disdain,
for He's provided all I need.
I'll give thanks every day,
In all that I say,
For He deserves every praise!
"I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
With the Great Physician
"I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love,
With JehovahYahweh
"He takes care of the lilly,
Grass of the feild,
And He watches the sparrow in flight
I know that He'll guide me,
Provide every need,
And guard me through the night,
"But why?
"I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love
Because He first loved me.
"Because He first loved me.
April 2012, JWS
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Real, selfless love
Chairein: the joy of the Lord to you:
These past few days have been really tumultuous spiritually. Attack after attack through my precious loved ones as well as in the spirit. I am so sorrowful and broken that some of my family members are so blinded to truth!
How long O Lord God must I suffer at the hand of my family? How long must I endure judgmental people that judge others by their own perverted viewpoint? how long must others call the 'red balloon' black, purple, or green? Oh YHVH please deliver me from this pain and torture please? I struggle daily against the enemy, and every time the wicked one uses my loved ones against me it is a hard blow to my heart. I am not angry, or bitter. I am so very very very hurt and wounded at their being used as a tool of the accuser. Will I have to leave Arkansas permanently to escape this, or will it be the same wherever I go? must I wear a mask to be liked by people? please dear LORD, surround me with people that really love You and that will really love others as You love.
Real love, pure, Christlike love, does not judge others. It does not gossip, it does not believe bad reports. It loves despite failures, mistakes, screw-ups and faults. It looks beyond the outer rim and framework and into the heart. If it hears others berating or cursing somebody they stop them. if it hears gossip it asks the person it's about if it's true or not. Love does not abandon when people are most in need of help. It makes itself available to help anyone in need, regardless of who they are or what they've done. Love sacrifices self to serve the LORD because a person cannot serve the LORD when they serve themselves.
"My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hands of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." -Psalms 31:15
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." Matthew 5:38-40
" Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 5:10-16
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48
If you don't like the truth....if you don't LOVE the Truth...sorry. But it's still true, regardless of what you want to believe.
To my readers I would appreciate any and all prayers that you can pray for me and my loved ones please? thank you. Also any other scripture or thoughts you may have are welcome. If you have anything private you wish to say, you may email me.
Shalom,
-JJ
wilsonbookworm@gmail.com
These past few days have been really tumultuous spiritually. Attack after attack through my precious loved ones as well as in the spirit. I am so sorrowful and broken that some of my family members are so blinded to truth!
How long O Lord God must I suffer at the hand of my family? How long must I endure judgmental people that judge others by their own perverted viewpoint? how long must others call the 'red balloon' black, purple, or green? Oh YHVH please deliver me from this pain and torture please? I struggle daily against the enemy, and every time the wicked one uses my loved ones against me it is a hard blow to my heart. I am not angry, or bitter. I am so very very very hurt and wounded at their being used as a tool of the accuser. Will I have to leave Arkansas permanently to escape this, or will it be the same wherever I go? must I wear a mask to be liked by people? please dear LORD, surround me with people that really love You and that will really love others as You love.
Real love, pure, Christlike love, does not judge others. It does not gossip, it does not believe bad reports. It loves despite failures, mistakes, screw-ups and faults. It looks beyond the outer rim and framework and into the heart. If it hears others berating or cursing somebody they stop them. if it hears gossip it asks the person it's about if it's true or not. Love does not abandon when people are most in need of help. It makes itself available to help anyone in need, regardless of who they are or what they've done. Love sacrifices self to serve the LORD because a person cannot serve the LORD when they serve themselves.
"My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hands of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." -Psalms 31:15
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." Matthew 5:38-40
" Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 5:10-16
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48
If you don't like the truth....if you don't LOVE the Truth...sorry. But it's still true, regardless of what you want to believe.
To my readers I would appreciate any and all prayers that you can pray for me and my loved ones please? thank you. Also any other scripture or thoughts you may have are welcome. If you have anything private you wish to say, you may email me.
Shalom,
-JJ
wilsonbookworm@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
blessings and cursings
I learned something that I didn't know in a recent word study. Of course...that is the entire purpose of a study in the first place, right?
Anyway, I looked up every verse about curse, cursing, curses, and cursed that is in the Word and wrote them all out by hand. The reason is a totally different story. But as I wrote them out, I noticed that the words for curse didn't all have the same meaning, so I looked them up.
To curse is not so much saying a word in anger, like so many of our four-letter words as I've always understood it to be. In that regard we can take ANY word and use it as a cursing; even words like 'whiskers' or 'stuffing' when spoken in anger become curse words.
But cursing somebody is to:
"Bring into contempt, to despise, to curse, with holes, to strike, to whip, to wound, to tear, to spear, to stab with words, to cut, ect." Cursing was and is not limited to words either. According to the Word, you can curse somebody in your heart or in your mind and not utter a word. Yikes!
That took me aback. Just talking or even thinking badly about somebody was cursing them? wow! I've done that all of my 19 years of living! How do I stop? that's an easy answer..... You just do. Even if tempted to just tell somebody else to get a load off my chest, or to council, or to pray about, if it brings that other person into contempt, or makes others dislike them or despise them, then it's a cursing. And the Word of the LORD says we can't have both blessings and curses coming from the same mouth because it's a contradiction to our testimony which is Jesus, the son of the Living God YHWH.
We are ambassadors for the Living God of the Everlasting Kingdom to the darkened world. Would we misrepresent our King, Master and Lord by cursing and blessing with the same mouth? Yes. So how dare we? it is hard, to resist cutting others down with our negative thoughts and words, but circumcision of the heart is always hard and usually painful. But the blessing that follows is greater than this present suffering, as Paul writes, and justifiably so. For at the Judgment Seat, when we are judged according to EVERY IDLE THOUGHT AND WORD and according to EVERY DEED, if we have done well, resisting evil and following the Word and Will of the LORD, then we will hear the words "Well done" from the King of all Kings. If that's not worth this present suffering, I don't know what would be!
I hope you are encouraged, and if you would, I would recommend that you search out these words as well, and perhaps even search into the meaning of blessing, blessings, blessed, and bless. If you do, feel free to share here! comments are welcome as well as your own spiritual insight.
The LORD bless you, and thank you for reading.
Shalom
Anyway, I looked up every verse about curse, cursing, curses, and cursed that is in the Word and wrote them all out by hand. The reason is a totally different story. But as I wrote them out, I noticed that the words for curse didn't all have the same meaning, so I looked them up.
To curse is not so much saying a word in anger, like so many of our four-letter words as I've always understood it to be. In that regard we can take ANY word and use it as a cursing; even words like 'whiskers' or 'stuffing' when spoken in anger become curse words.
But cursing somebody is to:
"Bring into contempt, to despise, to curse, with holes, to strike, to whip, to wound, to tear, to spear, to stab with words, to cut, ect." Cursing was and is not limited to words either. According to the Word, you can curse somebody in your heart or in your mind and not utter a word. Yikes!
That took me aback. Just talking or even thinking badly about somebody was cursing them? wow! I've done that all of my 19 years of living! How do I stop? that's an easy answer..... You just do. Even if tempted to just tell somebody else to get a load off my chest, or to council, or to pray about, if it brings that other person into contempt, or makes others dislike them or despise them, then it's a cursing. And the Word of the LORD says we can't have both blessings and curses coming from the same mouth because it's a contradiction to our testimony which is Jesus, the son of the Living God YHWH.
We are ambassadors for the Living God of the Everlasting Kingdom to the darkened world. Would we misrepresent our King, Master and Lord by cursing and blessing with the same mouth? Yes. So how dare we? it is hard, to resist cutting others down with our negative thoughts and words, but circumcision of the heart is always hard and usually painful. But the blessing that follows is greater than this present suffering, as Paul writes, and justifiably so. For at the Judgment Seat, when we are judged according to EVERY IDLE THOUGHT AND WORD and according to EVERY DEED, if we have done well, resisting evil and following the Word and Will of the LORD, then we will hear the words "Well done" from the King of all Kings. If that's not worth this present suffering, I don't know what would be!
I hope you are encouraged, and if you would, I would recommend that you search out these words as well, and perhaps even search into the meaning of blessing, blessings, blessed, and bless. If you do, feel free to share here! comments are welcome as well as your own spiritual insight.
The LORD bless you, and thank you for reading.
Shalom
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Worth the Wait
I have recently come back from a mission trip to Missouri. Which was great and I enjoyed my time there with fellow believers and the wonderful peace that envelopes Patton (despite the fact that it is the poorest county in the whole state, possibly the whole nation, and despite the drugs that are so prevalent there. It's almost like an oasis in the wilderness....but that's a different story). The Lord used that time to draw me closer to Him, and to greatly increase my faith. But that's not what I want to share right now. I want to talk about before I left.
I'd been setting up a yard sale around our area for a while, every Friday for that matter, to help clear out the clutter from my house and to help pay the bills. But I'd hardly made anything at the corner of 9 and 10. Nobody wanted to stop because it was hard to pull in, and there wasn't much traffic anyway. When there was, people were in a hurry to get home. So I was sitting out in the wind, watching everything blow over every ten minutes or so like clockwork. And like clockwork, or rather a working clock, every ten minutes I got up and set everything back up. And on top of that, I wasn't making much at all. I wasn't having much of a good day. My faith was not what it sould be, but I prayed anyway.
"Lord You know all this stuff belongs to You, and I know like You do that I can't do anything on my own, and everything I have I have because of You. Please Lord, do with this stuff whatever you will. in Jesus' name, amen."
Later on in the afternoon, I still hadn't sold much. I was about ready to pack up when a car pulled up into the lot. Inside was a woman and her daughter. The woman got out and approached me, and handed me a twenty dollar bill. "I was driving by and the Lord laid it on my heart to give you this." She said with tears in her eyes. "I don't know why, but I do know that it was the Lord, and I want to obey Him. I haven't always, and I know that I should. I hope the Lord blesses you." Then with me in shock still, she went back into her car, and began to drive away. I woke from my stupor and grabbed a picture from the front seat of my moma's Lincoln and ran after her waving my arms and yelling. Once I had caught up to her, she rolled down the window and I gave her the picture of a girl praying that I had drawn a long time ago. It was messy looking, and smudged where I erased lines, but I gave it to her. I had loved that picture more than any of my others. The girl in the picture looked so peaceful with her head bowed in prayer. I thanked the woman for her gift and gave her the picture. "I feel led to give you this as my way of saying thank you for listening to the Lord. May He bless you abundantly. Any time I think of you, I will pray for you." The woman looked like she would cry, said thank you, and we parted ways. With tears in my eyes I packed up my things and went home. That woman was why I had been there that day. It was worth the wait.
When the Lord laid it on my heart to go to MO, I hesitated. I'd be alone, with no way of getting home for one whole month, and with people I didn't know if I could trust. So I laid it before the Lord and told Him that if He really wanted me to go, He'd sell everything I had in the Lincoln so I could leave it cleaned out and neat for my moma while I was gone. I didn't h ave much faith, but that was alright. God did.
I was set up at a gas station, and again hadn't made much at all. But it was better than the last time. Again I'd prayed and given everything I had to the Lord, and asked Him to sell it for me because obviously I was doing a lousy job.
At two pm, the time that I usually have the least business, a man stopped by the 'booth' in his noisey diesel truck. Looking around, he asked me what I was selling these things for. I answered him, saying that I didn't really have much of a reason except to clean up and to make some extra cash. He shook his head and looked at me. "I don't know why the Lord had my stop here today, but He's got a reason. Would you take a hundred dollars for everything you have here?"
I was shocked. "For everything except the wedding dress, poster and shelves." I said in surprise.
I still couldn't believe it had happened while we loaded up everything into his truck, but it had happened. We talked about the Lord, and he explained that he was planning to donate everything to his church, which had a clothes closet and a closet for everything else a family would need. "And anything that we can't put away, we'll sell to make money to help those in need." Greatly encouraged that the stuff was going to bless somebody, I continued to help him load his truck.
He couldn't get everything into his truck. Scratching his head he asked me in amazement, "Surely you didn't get all this into that lincoln did you?"
I nodded and laughed at his expression. "Yes I did." I was slightly embarrased then and told him, "I come from a long line of packrats. If it can be packed, we can do it." It wasn't a really good testimony I realized, but it was the truth, and was sort of funny. In the end, I ended up with $120 dollars that day. The Lord had truely blessed me.
I cleaned my moma's lincoln up, vacumed it out, and washed it at the car wash next door. The money that remained went mostly to different ministries, as I realized that I wanted to bless others because I had been blessed. I've always been a tightwad, but I knew then that the Lord would provide my every need, whether great or small if I had enough faith. While I was in MO this happened again and again, and my faith has greatly grown. The Lord answered prayers concerning weather, transportation, freedom, and openness.
Now I am yard saling again, trying to make enough to help pay the bills, but I know that the Lord is in charge of everything, great and small, and nothing will happen that wasn't in His plan first. God truely is in control. And His blessings are ALWAYS worth the wait.
Thankyou for reading today.
God bless you, shalom.
I'd been setting up a yard sale around our area for a while, every Friday for that matter, to help clear out the clutter from my house and to help pay the bills. But I'd hardly made anything at the corner of 9 and 10. Nobody wanted to stop because it was hard to pull in, and there wasn't much traffic anyway. When there was, people were in a hurry to get home. So I was sitting out in the wind, watching everything blow over every ten minutes or so like clockwork. And like clockwork, or rather a working clock, every ten minutes I got up and set everything back up. And on top of that, I wasn't making much at all. I wasn't having much of a good day. My faith was not what it sould be, but I prayed anyway.
"Lord You know all this stuff belongs to You, and I know like You do that I can't do anything on my own, and everything I have I have because of You. Please Lord, do with this stuff whatever you will. in Jesus' name, amen."
Later on in the afternoon, I still hadn't sold much. I was about ready to pack up when a car pulled up into the lot. Inside was a woman and her daughter. The woman got out and approached me, and handed me a twenty dollar bill. "I was driving by and the Lord laid it on my heart to give you this." She said with tears in her eyes. "I don't know why, but I do know that it was the Lord, and I want to obey Him. I haven't always, and I know that I should. I hope the Lord blesses you." Then with me in shock still, she went back into her car, and began to drive away. I woke from my stupor and grabbed a picture from the front seat of my moma's Lincoln and ran after her waving my arms and yelling. Once I had caught up to her, she rolled down the window and I gave her the picture of a girl praying that I had drawn a long time ago. It was messy looking, and smudged where I erased lines, but I gave it to her. I had loved that picture more than any of my others. The girl in the picture looked so peaceful with her head bowed in prayer. I thanked the woman for her gift and gave her the picture. "I feel led to give you this as my way of saying thank you for listening to the Lord. May He bless you abundantly. Any time I think of you, I will pray for you." The woman looked like she would cry, said thank you, and we parted ways. With tears in my eyes I packed up my things and went home. That woman was why I had been there that day. It was worth the wait.
When the Lord laid it on my heart to go to MO, I hesitated. I'd be alone, with no way of getting home for one whole month, and with people I didn't know if I could trust. So I laid it before the Lord and told Him that if He really wanted me to go, He'd sell everything I had in the Lincoln so I could leave it cleaned out and neat for my moma while I was gone. I didn't h ave much faith, but that was alright. God did.
I was set up at a gas station, and again hadn't made much at all. But it was better than the last time. Again I'd prayed and given everything I had to the Lord, and asked Him to sell it for me because obviously I was doing a lousy job.
At two pm, the time that I usually have the least business, a man stopped by the 'booth' in his noisey diesel truck. Looking around, he asked me what I was selling these things for. I answered him, saying that I didn't really have much of a reason except to clean up and to make some extra cash. He shook his head and looked at me. "I don't know why the Lord had my stop here today, but He's got a reason. Would you take a hundred dollars for everything you have here?"
I was shocked. "For everything except the wedding dress, poster and shelves." I said in surprise.
I still couldn't believe it had happened while we loaded up everything into his truck, but it had happened. We talked about the Lord, and he explained that he was planning to donate everything to his church, which had a clothes closet and a closet for everything else a family would need. "And anything that we can't put away, we'll sell to make money to help those in need." Greatly encouraged that the stuff was going to bless somebody, I continued to help him load his truck.
He couldn't get everything into his truck. Scratching his head he asked me in amazement, "Surely you didn't get all this into that lincoln did you?"
I nodded and laughed at his expression. "Yes I did." I was slightly embarrased then and told him, "I come from a long line of packrats. If it can be packed, we can do it." It wasn't a really good testimony I realized, but it was the truth, and was sort of funny. In the end, I ended up with $120 dollars that day. The Lord had truely blessed me.
I cleaned my moma's lincoln up, vacumed it out, and washed it at the car wash next door. The money that remained went mostly to different ministries, as I realized that I wanted to bless others because I had been blessed. I've always been a tightwad, but I knew then that the Lord would provide my every need, whether great or small if I had enough faith. While I was in MO this happened again and again, and my faith has greatly grown. The Lord answered prayers concerning weather, transportation, freedom, and openness.
Now I am yard saling again, trying to make enough to help pay the bills, but I know that the Lord is in charge of everything, great and small, and nothing will happen that wasn't in His plan first. God truely is in control. And His blessings are ALWAYS worth the wait.
Thankyou for reading today.
God bless you, shalom.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Luke 6:17-49
LUKE 6:17-49
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
I really, REALLY like how Luke puts things down here about the Beatitudes or the 'Be attitudes' as many today call them. And appropriately so. For in these scriptures, Christ first meets their needs as you see further up up in the chapter, and then He seeks to teach them how to live a new life. A life that would be more pleasing to the Lord God and much better for everyone around them. (verses 20-38)
And in verse 39, He cautions us to make sure we know what we are talking about before trying to teach somebody else. One blind person leading another can get BOTH in a lot of trouble....and possibly a meal for a hungry lion.
Verse 40 reminds us that we arn't the masters...but Christ is the Master, and we cannot be greater or wiser than He- He has been here since before time began, He made all things.... doesn't He then deserve the glory that is so due Him rather than anybody else?
But then our Lord warns us to make sure we have 'cleaned our own doorstep' before trying to help somebody else clean theirs. Actually, the Master uses the example of a splinter in somebody's eye, versus a big LOG in your own eye. You won't be able to help them much then would you?
"41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."
Verses 43-45 again bring great wisdom that reminds me of the Fruit of the Spirit that Paul refers to in Galatians. Jesus says very simply that a good tree gives good fruit. You can always tell one tree from another if you can't tell the difference in the leaves by the fruit they bear. Plant a apple tree next to a pear tree, and you will know which is which come Fall, when the trees bear fruit...and then there's no fooling the gardener! And just like a tree brings fruit, a man (or woman) will bring fruit from their hearts, and show whom they serve by their actions and deeds. There's no way that a fake Christian can hide their fakeness when one bites into one of their fruits to find it not nurturing fruit, but a glob of plastic or sour goo. There's no guessing then which is a true believer and which is the pious church goer that goes to look good. Jesus goes on in other scriptures to go into much more detail than is recorded here in Luke. But now we get to the really REALLY good part!
Verses 46-49 Jesus continues with this theme of good, bad, fruit and followers. He wraps it all up with rocks and sand....foundation rock that is.
To paraphrase: "Why do you call me Lord when you don't do the things I say? if somebody does these things (which I have spent a LOT of time trying to teach you all through this chapter here) then this is what he is like. Whoever listens and obeys these words of mine, is like a wise man that built his house on a rock. And when the storms came and the waves crashed against it, it stood firm. And whoever hears my words, and DOESN'T obey them, is like a foolish man that built his house on the sand and when the storms came, the house fell, and great was the fall of it!"
if that don't say it all.... I don't know what will. Comments are welcomed just please no lewd comments?
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
I really, REALLY like how Luke puts things down here about the Beatitudes or the 'Be attitudes' as many today call them. And appropriately so. For in these scriptures, Christ first meets their needs as you see further up up in the chapter, and then He seeks to teach them how to live a new life. A life that would be more pleasing to the Lord God and much better for everyone around them. (verses 20-38)
And in verse 39, He cautions us to make sure we know what we are talking about before trying to teach somebody else. One blind person leading another can get BOTH in a lot of trouble....and possibly a meal for a hungry lion.
Verse 40 reminds us that we arn't the masters...but Christ is the Master, and we cannot be greater or wiser than He- He has been here since before time began, He made all things.... doesn't He then deserve the glory that is so due Him rather than anybody else?
But then our Lord warns us to make sure we have 'cleaned our own doorstep' before trying to help somebody else clean theirs. Actually, the Master uses the example of a splinter in somebody's eye, versus a big LOG in your own eye. You won't be able to help them much then would you?
"41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."
Verses 43-45 again bring great wisdom that reminds me of the Fruit of the Spirit that Paul refers to in Galatians. Jesus says very simply that a good tree gives good fruit. You can always tell one tree from another if you can't tell the difference in the leaves by the fruit they bear. Plant a apple tree next to a pear tree, and you will know which is which come Fall, when the trees bear fruit...and then there's no fooling the gardener! And just like a tree brings fruit, a man (or woman) will bring fruit from their hearts, and show whom they serve by their actions and deeds. There's no way that a fake Christian can hide their fakeness when one bites into one of their fruits to find it not nurturing fruit, but a glob of plastic or sour goo. There's no guessing then which is a true believer and which is the pious church goer that goes to look good. Jesus goes on in other scriptures to go into much more detail than is recorded here in Luke. But now we get to the really REALLY good part!
Verses 46-49 Jesus continues with this theme of good, bad, fruit and followers. He wraps it all up with rocks and sand....foundation rock that is.
To paraphrase: "Why do you call me Lord when you don't do the things I say? if somebody does these things (which I have spent a LOT of time trying to teach you all through this chapter here) then this is what he is like. Whoever listens and obeys these words of mine, is like a wise man that built his house on a rock. And when the storms came and the waves crashed against it, it stood firm. And whoever hears my words, and DOESN'T obey them, is like a foolish man that built his house on the sand and when the storms came, the house fell, and great was the fall of it!"
if that don't say it all.... I don't know what will. Comments are welcomed just please no lewd comments?
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