Sunday 20 July 2014

TFTD - 19 July 2014 - Thoughts from Today's Bible Readings

19 July 2014

2 Samuel 3
Jeremiah 9
Matthew 20

“… BOAST IN THIS THAT HE UNDERSTANDS …”

In Matthew today we read of the friction among the disciples of Jesus; this arose after the mother of two of them “came up to him (Jesus) with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him … ‘Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one on your right hand and one on your left, in your kingdom” [Matthew 20:20-21] Why was this request made?

The desire for positions of honour always creates jealousy, this is provoked even more when there is boasting.  The request made the other ten “indignant.” [Matthew 20:24] Jesus called them to him and told them they should not allow themselves to be influenced by the spirit they saw around them “but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve … ” [Matthew 20:26-27]

These words are rather parallel with what we read of the words of the LORD to Jeremiah which we also read today.  “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD " [Jeremiah 9:23-24]

The book of Acts shows how the disciples learnt how to serve their Lord in the right spirit.  One of those two sons of the mother who made the request became the first martyr. [Acts 12:2].  Recall how Jesus described his followers as sheep! He then made the point, “I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” [John 10:10] Let us follow and serve the “good shepherd” and aim to do the things in which he delights.  The more we know our Lord the more all human forms of boasting will disappear from our thoughts and we will instead ponder in our deepest meditations what it is to “understand and know” the Almighty.
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- DC


Thought for the Day

19 July 2014

"Let us remember at all times that we are God’s people, not of the world; we are sojourners and strangers in it for a little time and must not imitate its modes of thought and life, but rather live as citizens of the heavenly country. Let us not love the unchristian, unsatisfying and perishing world around us, but rather let us seek to love the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts, remembering the solemn declaration: "the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

- Anthony Higginson
Love Not the World (1976)

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