8/7/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 2. 5-6)

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19.14)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Jesus reminded the disciples of the true purpose of His ministry in this short vinette as recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). We know that Jesus says in Luke, “I have come to seek and to save those who are lost.” As many are watching the movie “Sound of Freedom,” I pray we are very aware of those children who are considered lost. I am grateful for those parents and caregivers who nurture and follow their children to maturity. Yet, we know there are many who do not. In Roe v Wade, recently overturned by the United States Supreme Court, the ruling of the court originally hinged on the non-entity identity of the fetus, partially born or born with physical deficiencies. Such legal definition of “non-entity” dismissed any accountability of “taking a life” since it was not a life. In some instances, as we see in many places in this country and around the world, the determination is that is not “taking a life” since it was a life not worth living. This is, of course, the lie which Satan proposes and uses to convince people to willfully and purposefully take the lives of others. The tragedy is that many times the one who has determined that the other lives not worth living is himself or herself one who has put on the mantel of identity which says “I am not worth living.”

We certainly walk a fine line of decision-making when we execute this crooked path of destruction. In the life and ministry of Jesus there were only “straight paths” and “straight ways.” Jesus did not beat around the bush. Jesus went straight to the heart of such matters. He did so with the disciples, who for their own reasons, had decided Jesus had had enough for the day. It was as if they were saying the children and their caregivers were not worthy of such opportunity with Jesus. Maybe they held them back with words of encouragement to see the priest in the own hometown’s synagogue. Maybe they directed them to go to Jerusalem and present them in the temple for the price of a few sparrows. Regardless of what they said, Jesus said more and was direct about it. “Don’t hinder them. Let them come directly to me. They are worthy of blessing because to such as these belongs the Kingdom of My Father in Heaven.” Talking about being stopped dead in your tracks; well I would imagine the disciples’ heads snapped nearly clean off their shoulders. I can even imagine that Jesus used one of “those” tones with the disciples while stretching out His arms to invite the children to come without hesitation. I can see a few of the children, and some of their caregivers, looking at the disciples as they passed by to the feet of the Messiah.

But, Jesus’ message was not merely for those children who had been brought to Jesus. The greater application was like an arrow shot straight from the bow of Jesus’ spirit. Who was, after all, not a child of God? If God is our Father, as He was Jesus’ Father, then we must be God’s children just as Jesus was God’s Son. The logic cannot be lost on us. And regardless of age, we are all children growing and fostered into maturity reaching it when we have attained to the full measure of Jesus Christ Himself. How often have you seen that mark on the door jamb or laundry room wall? When are we supposed to stop measuring in comparison to the gospel requirements which Christ Himself established? It takes great effort to be a disciple of Christ. It has no stopping point this side of Heaven. When we stop learning, we start dying. Our God is a God of the living. He sees us as “entitites” worth of honor, praise, love and life. It is time we get this straight in our heart, mind, soul and spirit.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed Yourself to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.