"It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices. I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts."
Passages like these fill me with hope, but I had a hard time reconciling it with both today's passages from Genesis, and the Psalm. This vengeful God scares me. I want so much to give myself over to the Lord whose son does all these merciful things.
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
One of my favorite passages, mostly because I need the reminder that Jesus came to earth for me and all the rest of the sinners. It's easy for me to forget that I go to church every week because I NEED to! Every day and every minute I am a sinner at heart, I'm one of those tax collectors who needs to spend some time with Jesus! I also love it when Jesus gets "sassy" with the Pharisees. I can just hear his tone when saying this. "Of course I'm hanging out with these weirdos, they WANT my forgiveness! You guys don't even think you have a problem!". Love it.
I find allot of comfort knowing that Jesus came to sit with the sinners. I am in need of a doctor and am sick, sin is evident in my life and boy, do I need my Jesus. It is comforting to read Matthew after reading Genesis. Reconciling that God can be vengeful, jealous and harsh and then in the same breath; loving, merciful and tender is tough. But the back to back nature of today really is helping me to see that we serve a BIG God, one that is multi-faceted and unchanging.
"And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing [14] their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?"
This reminded me of my own cynicism and judgmental habits. It meant a lot to me to see Jesus asking why these people had to try and find evil in a positive situation. Here he is healing someone and they are all caught up in semantics. I think he's dismissing the old idea that you can only be a good person if you seem a certain way. He's saying that if you want to be a good person and you come to God, you can be. No one is barred from it. I find myself feeling self important and judgmental sometimes, and this reminded me that I am no better than anyone, we are all equal and thinking you're better than someone immediately means you need to reevaluate.
Jesus brought a newness that couldn't be contained in the old ways of doing things. He was the new wine, and those who received Him were preserved. Those who tried to fit Him into the old customs and ways were totally missing it. The newness burst them open and spilled right out of them.
Also, the story of the woman reaching out to touch the cloak of Jesus nearly breaks me in half every time I read it. Oh, to be like her!!
"Those who are well and have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous , but sinners."
What hit me the most about this passage is the "Go and learn what this means". Jesus could have put the Pharisees in there place right then and there, exposing there sin and condemning them. He chooses to call them to go and reflect. Any way who takes the time to reflect long enough about there own life will come to the acknowledgment that they are sick and in need of a physician. Jesus is calling out pride in the most gentle and merciful way. Beautiful!
"Do Not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Genesis 15
This very short passage spoke to me the most out of all of today's readings. I always need to be reminded that God is my reward. I do not deserve Him in the least little bit, but He is my shield, and my reward and in today's world, that is such great comfort. It makes me feel like God is my great big comfy mattress at the end of the day, you fall into it and just feel safe and happy. (cheesy, but the closest description I could come up with).
The sick woman touching Jesus's cloak has always been one of my favorite stories of healing. She didn't need to bring a crowd or proclaim loudly in front of one; her quiet faith healed her. He knew the desires of her heart!
I'm a skeptical person, and I've always wondered how I would perceive Jesus walking among men if I were living then. Would I really KNOW him? By his love and the glory he gave to God? There are so many fakes and scary people out there. What would I DO if I found myself in the presence of God on earth? Would I dare to run up and touch his robes, or would I be standing in the back of the crowd, afraid?
i really loved reading a TON to catch up, and now i'm caught up. i write a lot in a notebook as i read, maybe i'll eventually put some of it here. questions or thoughts, you know...
wow laura..what you said nearly brought me to tears! i always wonder what i would've been like in Jesus' days. would i have run into his arms or stood back afraid as you mentioned? oh Lord, help me to know you too! thanks for that!
also, emery..i was so confused about the whole wineskin analogy, but you made it make so much sense :) awesome.
i loooove reading all of your thoughts on these everyone! i look forward to it everyday :)
"Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you."
That stuck out to me the most while reading, because Jesus shows just how powerful having faith in God can be. Its so important that when you're in a rut to never lose faith in God, because He can glorify himself in ALL situations.
Psalm 7--this is probably my biggest hurdle in my faith. God sometimes intervenes and stops evil...but other times, for reasons unknown to me and only known to Him, evil is allowed to continue. How can God let evil acts happen to innocent people? I understand that evil will destroy itself in the end--but how can I accept all the innocent victims along the way? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
Hey Carolyn... That's a heavy question and I don't think anyone has the answer but my thoughts are that if only good things happened to good people and only bad things happened to bad people, no one would do anything bad... We'd lose our freedom, the choice that God gave man. It would be as if he never planted the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Who would know if someone was being good only so that good things would happen to them or because they truly loved God? And how would people be refined without trials?
It's so hard to see someone righteous go through any amount of suffering but I can only hope and trust that the Lord has a greater plan that extends far beyond what I see.
15 comments:
"It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices. I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts."
Passages like these fill me with hope, but I had a hard time reconciling it with both today's passages from Genesis, and the Psalm. This vengeful God scares me. I want so much to give myself over to the Lord whose son does all these merciful things.
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
One of my favorite passages, mostly because I need the reminder that Jesus came to earth for me and all the rest of the sinners. It's easy for me to forget that I go to church every week because I NEED to! Every day and every minute I am a sinner at heart, I'm one of those tax collectors who needs to spend some time with Jesus!
I also love it when Jesus gets "sassy" with the Pharisees. I can just hear his tone when saying this. "Of course I'm hanging out with these weirdos, they WANT my forgiveness! You guys don't even think you have a problem!". Love it.
I find allot of comfort knowing that Jesus came to sit with the sinners. I am in need of a doctor and am sick, sin is evident in my life and boy, do I need my Jesus. It is comforting to read Matthew after reading Genesis. Reconciling that God can be vengeful, jealous and harsh and then in the same breath; loving, merciful and tender is tough. But the back to back nature of today really is helping me to see that we serve a BIG God, one that is multi-faceted and unchanging.
"And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing [14] their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?"
This reminded me of my own cynicism and judgmental habits. It meant a lot to me to see Jesus asking why these people had to try and find evil in a positive situation. Here he is healing someone and they are all caught up in semantics. I think he's dismissing the old idea that you can only be a good person if you seem a certain way. He's saying that if you want to be a good person and you come to God, you can be. No one is barred from it. I find myself feeling self important and judgmental sometimes, and this reminded me that I am no better than anyone, we are all equal and thinking you're better than someone immediately means you need to reevaluate.
I love the bit about new wineskins.
Jesus brought a newness that couldn't be contained in the old ways of doing things. He was the new wine, and those who received Him were preserved. Those who tried to fit Him into the old customs and ways were totally missing it. The newness burst them open and spilled right out of them.
Also, the story of the woman reaching out to touch the cloak of Jesus nearly breaks me in half every time I read it. Oh, to be like her!!
"Those who are well and have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous , but sinners."
What hit me the most about this passage is the "Go and learn what this means". Jesus could have put the Pharisees in there place right then and there, exposing there sin and condemning them. He chooses to call them to go and reflect. Any way who takes the time to reflect long enough about there own life will come to the acknowledgment that they are sick and in need of a physician. Jesus is calling out pride in the most gentle and merciful way. Beautiful!
I've been wanting to join in. I may be 7 days behind... but I want to start. I NEED something to motivate me to read my Bible. So... I'M IN!!!
"Do Not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Genesis 15
This very short passage spoke to me the most out of all of today's readings. I always need to be reminded that God is my reward. I do not deserve Him in the least little bit, but He is my shield, and my reward and in today's world, that is such great comfort. It makes me feel like God is my great big comfy mattress at the end of the day, you fall into it and just feel safe and happy. (cheesy, but the closest description I could come up with).
The sick woman touching Jesus's cloak has always been one of my favorite stories of healing. She didn't need to bring a crowd or proclaim loudly in front of one; her quiet faith healed her. He knew the desires of her heart!
I'm a skeptical person, and I've always wondered how I would perceive Jesus walking among men if I were living then. Would I really KNOW him? By his love and the glory he gave to God? There are so many fakes and scary people out there. What would I DO if I found myself in the presence of God on earth? Would I dare to run up and touch his robes, or would I be standing in the back of the crowd, afraid?
Oh Lord, help me to KNOW you.
i really loved reading a TON to catch up, and now i'm caught up. i write a lot in a notebook as i read, maybe i'll eventually put some of it here. questions or thoughts, you know...
Katy: I, for one, do not find the "big comfy mattress" cheesy, I think it's perfect.
wow laura..what you said nearly brought me to tears! i always wonder what i would've been like in Jesus' days. would i have run into his arms or stood back afraid as you mentioned? oh Lord, help me to know you too! thanks for that!
also, emery..i was so confused about the whole wineskin analogy, but you made it make so much sense :) awesome.
i loooove reading all of your thoughts on these everyone! i look forward to it everyday :)
"Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you."
That stuck out to me the most while reading, because Jesus shows just how powerful having faith in God can be. Its so important that when you're in a rut to never lose faith in God, because He can glorify himself in ALL situations.
Psalm 7--this is probably my biggest hurdle in my faith. God sometimes intervenes and stops evil...but other times, for reasons unknown to me and only known to Him, evil is allowed to continue. How can God let evil acts happen to innocent people? I understand that evil will destroy itself in the end--but how can I accept all the innocent victims along the way? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
Hey Carolyn... That's a heavy question and I don't think anyone has the answer but my thoughts are that if only good things happened to good people and only bad things happened to bad people, no one would do anything bad... We'd lose our freedom, the choice that God gave man. It would be as if he never planted the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Who would know if someone was being good only so that good things would happen to them or because they truly loved God? And how would people be refined without trials?
It's so hard to see someone righteous go through any amount of suffering but I can only hope and trust that the Lord has a greater plan that extends far beyond what I see.
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