The Sabbath - The Sabbath was something that was important enough to be part of the 10 commandments. I have reflected on setting aside a day of rest and looking back I have not ever paid much attention to it. The next thing that this brought up was setting aside something as holy... Time, Money, how do we battle our flesh to set aside our own desires to give to God. I will ponder this some more as I dive back into Matthew.
Back to Matthew 13 - I like how Jesus uses parables to teach people. The fact that the stories are simple yet still have the ability to cause deep thoughts. These parables are simple but still can be missed and I wonder how much of the Holy Spirit has to enlighten us to truly catch the full meaning. I need more understanding.
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
"You have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance."
ReplyDeleteInteresting how much of this is about the kingdom when that's what we were talking about this week in class. I'm not sure what to make of it all though. It's a lot to take in.
It's nice that Jesus tells stories. I like that. I wish I were a better story-teller.
When I said in class that a worthy project for our city would be transforming the church body to be real, completely sacrificial, confident, bold, world-changers on an individual basis... what I was thinking was that I wished we could find the pearl and sell everything to buy it. I wish we, the Burbanks, knew for sure that we were giving everything, pouring it all out, and having no regrets because we know we have found what really matters. Do we live like that? Maybe we do in the everyday choices we make to put others first. I want to be sure! I want to feel like everything I do is SO worth it because of what a treasure I have received.
one more thing: Thank you, Scott. I agree with you. Holy Spirit, you are perfect, present in our lives, familiar with our thoughts and our ways, and wholly One--Oh God of Glory! Replace our thoughts with your thoughts. Steer us. Confirm in us our place in God's kingdom. Transform us. Make us One.
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