[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟜
"Nevertheless
I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of
judgment, than for you."
There
are degrees of judgment! However, even the tiniest sin is vile enough to condemn
us! And even all the sins of all the earth put together are not weightier than
the grace of Jesus Christ!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟚:𝟝𝟘
“For
whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and
sister and mother.”
Indeed,
family relations and blood ties are insignificant in comparison to a spiritual
relationship that lasts forever!
Gospel
is thicker than blood!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟛:𝟝𝟠
"And
He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief."
What's
the point to go on when people are set to close their ears?
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 14:20
"And
they all ate and were 𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕗𝕚𝕖𝕕. They picked up what was left over of the broken
pieces, twelve full baskets."
Everyone
is happy and even satisfied when we received blessings from God, but like these
crowds, many people love the blessings and not the blesser; the gifts and not
the giver.
Actually,
Christ is both the greatest giver and the greatest gift, Himself!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟝:𝟚𝟟
"But
she said, ‘Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from
their masters' table.’"
The
cry of the heart. The faith in Jesus's Compassion. Oh! To be like this woman!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟞
"For
what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Take
care of your soul!
Obey
those who watch over your soul!
Remember,
your soul is more important than the whole world put together!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟟:𝟞
"When
the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were
terrified."
Naturally,
we are intimidated by things or people greater than us. God is absolutely
greater than us. And so, fear is appropriate before Him!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟛
"If
it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more
than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray."
Nothing
seems to bring more joy to the Father than the repentant soul.
Oh!
Conversion
Oh!
Evangelism
Oh!
Mission
Oh!
My soul, arise! Be arrested with this truth!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟞
"And
looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible.’"
Indeed,
anyone's and everyone's conversion is the supernatural work of God, not ours.
It's impossible, even our own!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟘:𝟛𝟛-𝟛𝟜
"They
*said to Him, ‘Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.’ Moved with compassion,
Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and
followed Him."
A
desperate request and a compassionate answer! God is near to those who call
upon Him!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟙:𝟜𝟞
"When
they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him
to be a prophet."
It
looks good that Jesus was not killed now, but actually what a tragedy! They
feared people (mere creatures) more than Jesus (the Creator). Isn't that kind
of sin present in our hearts?
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟚:𝟜𝟝-𝟜𝟞
"‘If
David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his son?’ No one was able to answer Him
a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question."
It
was Jesus's turn to question them and made them all the more bewildered!
Indeed,
this one is greater than the ancestors, even David, Abraham, and Moses!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟛:𝟛𝟛
"You
serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?"
I
know one congregation that tried to remove its pastor because one of them was
rebuked as "stupid." People often expect pastors to behave
"better" than Jesus. Jesus is both gentle and wrathful! He even
called his chief apostle "Satan"
Being
Stupid is better than being Satan, btw!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟜:𝟛𝟝
"Heaven
and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
Night
follows day; summer follows winter; major sports events happen after 4 years,
these are easily believable. Eternal things, things longer than our life span
are difficult to comprehend and are often subjected to doubt and unbelief!
We
are given and called to supernatural faith!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟝:𝟛𝟟-𝟜𝟘
"Then
the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You,
or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a
stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You
sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them,
'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of
Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"
Believers
should be delighted to read this section, not be distressed by the next
section. Believers are the righteous sheep!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟞:𝟝𝟞
"But
all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. Then all
the disciples left Him and fled."
Imagine
the guilt trip they would be walking through after this till the resurrection
of Christ!
𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟟:𝟝
"And
he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he
went away and hanged himself."
Indeed,
it is easier to die than to live. Respect life, the living!
[17:12,
16/11/2021] S.R: 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕨 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟟
"When
they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful."
Two
groups of people based on their obvious reactions: worshippers and doubters. Be
gentle to the doubters! They are still not the deniers nor the apostates!