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Personal Reflections
Well, to say the least, things here have not been very good. In fact, I've been running from this Bible study--putting it off and procrastinating reading and blogging. I've been reflecting on why I haven't wanted to read the Bible or blog about it, and, after thinking about it for a while, I think I'm still depressed. I do not like having to write or admit that fact here on my blog. I feel embarrassed and disappointed in myself. I should be over this by now. What's wrong with me? I also know that I'm opening myself up to judgment and that people form perceptions of me when I make such admissions. But if you are going to know why I haven't posted lately, then that is why. I just have been wondering lately about the point of it all. And I recognize that this attitude is that comes from depression.
It's interesting to me that when people are suffering we have the tendency to turn away from God. For me, I haven't wanted to do what would draw me closer to God, even though I'm aware that going to him could help me feel better. It's just so ironic that when we need God the most, we don't seek him out. So that's where I'm at. Hopefully, I'll post again soon.
Matthew's Account of the Beginning of the End
Day 229: Matthew 26
A lot is going on in Matthew 26. This chapter marks a major shift from an emphasis on Jesus's teachings to the events leading up to the end of his life. By the end of this chapter, Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, arrested, sentenced to death, and denied by Peter. Matthew spends much more time in his book about Jesus's life and teachings; the end of his life only takes up three chapters. Other gospel authors take longer.
This chapter makes me sad. Poor Judas made a bad decision to betray Jesus, and Jesus condemns him for it. Peter betrays Jesus. The Council sentences Jesus to death. Things do not appear to be going the way of the Kingdom. And this is how this chapter ends, so, for today, I'll leave it here today.
Helping "The Least of These"
Day 228: Matthew 25
Whenever I see a person on the street corner holding a sign asking for money or for a job, I admit, I do not know how to respond. On the one hand, I feel pity for this person and want to help them in some way. Then again, I'm selfish and want to keep my money for myself. Other times I think that there could surely be better ways for this person to spend their time and cast judgment on them. Even when I do give them money, the thought is in the back of my head about how they will spend it.
I guess what it boils down, too, is that I don't want to be taken advantage of. I feel like I am always giving to something, and when I meet a person I don't know asking me for money, I wonder if I should give it to them. I want to do so, but I also don't. It's a weird feeling, but I do think that scripture is clear about what we should do in these situations. We should give. And keep giving--no matter what this person does with this money and no matter how often we have to give it.
In Matthew 25, Jesus reminds us that any time we do something "for the least of these," we are doing it for him. When we take care of sick people, give food or money to people begging on the side of the freeway, meet someone's physical needs, invite someone into our homes, or visit people in prisons, we are following the will of the Father.
But knowing the right thing to do and doing it are two different matters entirely. They do not always work together (as we all know). Regardless, we should consider Jesus' words here. Whenever we are helping the weak, we are doing it for Jesus. The focus is not on ourselves but rather on Jesus. It's a way to say "thank you."
Perhaps we are motivated to help others out of fear of disobedience, for Jesus says that when we refuse to help the weakest members of our society, we are refusing to help him. Or maybe we will actually respond to people because it's the right thing to do, the moral thing to do. Maybe we are compassionate people and do so out of the overflow of our hearts. Regardless of what motivates us to help others, Jesus shows us how and why it's important to take care of people--not just people we associate with on a daily basis but also people we don't. Thinking of people the way that Jesus did will also change our own hearts and minds. May we all be more conscious of ways we can help "the least of these."
Left Behind?
Day 227: Matthew 24
I'm sure many of you are familiar with The Left Behind series of books, which is based on the notion of the rapture. My church denomination does not preach about the rapture because they don't think it will occur. And I don't really either, but I can see where they might get this notion from. Right here in Matthew 24. In this chapter, Jesus is talking about the end time when he, the "Son of Man," will return to earth.
Matthew 24:36-41:
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
Right there in the last two sentences--one will be taken; the other left behind. I'm not sure what to make of this discovery.
Practicing What We Preach
Day 226: Matthew 23
Wow. Matthew 23 was very eye-opening for me. I mentioned in a previous post that Jesus really gets on to the religious leaders because of their hypocritical ways, but in this chapter, wow, he is harsh. He tells the people and his disciples that they should follow the teachings of the religious leaders and the Pharisees but that they shouldn't follow their example because they don't practice what they preach. They are hypocritical--appearing to follow the laws but in reality being hateful and despicable. Jesus argues that the Pharisees and the religious leaders are clean and pretty on the outside, but their hearts are filthy and dirty.
And what will their punishment be? According to Jesus, sorrow awaits them. He says this phrase over and over again. He even says that these religious people will be held responsible for the deaths of all godly people OF ALL TIME (v. 35), including Abel who was killed by Cain. Wow. Jesus is serious about one thing: he wants us to practice what we preach.
Of course it's easy to think, "Those Pharisees. Those hypocrites." and not to see ourselves in them at all. But it is the religious people Jesus is addressing here and it would do people who consider themselves religious to consider how we might be like these people Jesus condemns. Are we hypocritical? Do we want others to see our good deeds, even though our hearts are evil and hateful inside? Do we have unpure motives? How are we like the Pharisees? What might Jesus be saying to us?
For me, he's reminding me that purity begins in the heart. Outward deeds that are good do not mean that they come from a pure heart, and a pure, clean heart is really what God wants from us. He doesn't expect perfection by any means, but he does expect us to practice what we preach--not to deceive and be hypocritical. This lesson is one we've heard over and over in our lives, but it's obviously a very important one to implement. The kingdom is at stake when we don't practice what we preach, and for unbelieving people, hypocrites are what they simply find unbelievable.
God's Will
Day 225: Matthew 22
So often we ask ourselves, "What is God's will for our lives?" "What does he want me to do with my life?" "What is his will?"
It is important to ponder and reflect on the answers to these questions. But it strikes me that somehow these questions have already been answered. We know what God's will is. Jesus says in Matthew 22: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Jesus has already answered these questions for us. He wants us to love the Lord with everything we have in us--to give our all to love and honor him; he also wants us to love others, those who we consider our neighbors and those who we don't. Love God and love people. That sums up what God's will for our lives is. When we are considering and contemplating what specific career we will have, we should think first about how we can have a profession where we can love God and love people. In order to live a fully integrated life where our faith isn't separate from our work, we should choose careers that allow us to first love God and love people. Our wills and desires should come after God's will and should still align to these two commands.
