Go And Learn

Thursday, ‎January ‎12, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Psalm 118:5-6

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 verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Readings: 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.

Tell any man or woman of position that they should go and learn something they think they already know and you have their anger against you.

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-if you are not great at something you hire people who are good at whatever it is and they handle it all. The king was the king and his pride told him that whoever he hired would always be the best. There he was wearing beautiful nothing-listening to the people who were afraid to tell him differently.

A child finally says, "He's wearing nothing at all".

Jesus told the Pharisees basically the same thing. When you wear nothing but power, people can see right through the facade. 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 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 same feeling, that comes from the enemy, nailed Jesus to the cross. Color it anyway you want, but anger, left unchecked is pride out of control.

The hope is always in the 'self-control' 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-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.

Merciful, merciful, forgiving, Lord...

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen