I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Memory of the Month: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Today's reading: GENESIS 29-30 MATTHEW 9:1-17
Go And Learn
Pride is a great source of heartache and trouble and has been through the ages. When someone's authority is challenged, pride raises its fury and there is conflict.
Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds correction is honored. (Instruction here is also translated 'discipline'.)
The old Danish story of the "Emperor's New Clothes" comes to mind. The king listened to his new clothing designers and believed he was in beautiful clothing when he was wearing nothing. How could this happen?
The king had surrounded himself with people of wisdom-that is what you do-even the best of leaders surround themselves with wise counselors-The king was the king and his pride told him that whoever he hired would always be the best. There he was wearing nothing-listening to the people who were afraid to tell him differently, agreeing with everyone else that the king's new clothes were radiant.
A child finally says, "Why is that old guy in his underwear?".
Jesus told the Pharisees basically the same thing. When you wear nothing but power, people can see right through it. They knew the law of Moses up and down and treated people with harsh contempt. They used their position to elevate only themselves.
Jesus said, "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
"Mercy? We, the all-powerful, keepers of the law do not know mercy? Who is this peasant who tells us we are 'naked'?"
"The righteous? We are the righteous-we don't need your answers-we have our righteous answers to everything"
The next time someone tells you that you are wrong and you allow it to make you angry, think about that anger you feel and know that some of that feeling, that comes from the enemy-that nailed Jesus to the cross.
Color it anyway you want, but anger, left unchecked is pride out of control.
Our hope is always in the 'self-control'(or self discipline) and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, 23. Why do you think Paul tells us to put on Jesus?
Romans 13:14 ►Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
With anything else but Jesus, we are all naked, foolish emperors. But, clothed in Him, we have a life worth wearing-God's righteous life for us-life eternal.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
I confess I lose my temper. Thank you for self control but I need to live more for You and less for me. Teach me, oh Lord, I will learn.
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