Daily Reading

Matthew 12:22-45; Psalm 16:1-11; Proverbs 16:1-11.

Jesus is getting fired up! He's spent time and energy preaching to the pharisees & they just dig in deeper in their refusal to listen to him. He has some harsh words for them today: "broad of snakes" "evil men like you" "an evil, faithless nation." Are you listening to His Words? "Anyone who isn't helping me is harming me." (vs. 30)

So are you looking for ways to continue in your own way? Are you denying the life-giving words of Jesus Christ? Are you asking Jesus to prove Himself over & over again to you? OR are you truly listening? Are you truly learning? Are you ready to come under ALL the teachings of Jesus? Jesus says those who seek Him out will find Him - are you seeking?

I had a morning where everything went wrong - got out of the house late, had to turn around & go back, missed my turn not once but twice, was charged more for an item than I was told, and to top it all off I'm having a bad hair day. Normally any one of these things would be enough to set me off. As they continue to pile on, my attitude would go from bad to enraged. Not today. By the time I got to work, the smile on my face was huge! You want to know why? It's all because of Jesus Christ and His Words. I'm not just reading them. I'm not just memorizing them - I'm letting them change my life. Like these words in our reading from Psalms:
"The Lord Himself is my inheritance, MY PRIZE. He is my food and drink, MY HIGHEST JOY! He guards all that is mine. He sees that I am given pleasant brooks and meadows as my share! What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who counsels me; He gives me wisdom in the night. He tells me what to do. I AM ALWAYS THINKING OF THE LORD; AND BECAUSE HE IS SO NEAR, I NEVER NEED TO STUMBLE OR FALL. Heart, body, and soul are filled with JOY." (vs. 5-9)

I've come to realize that none of these little annoyances matter - so why let them ruin my day? Instead I took them in stride & spent the time praising Jesus Christ. I turned up the worship music & sang out to God. The more I did, the better my attitude. When you're locked on to Jesus, when you have a Friend in Jesus - you have someone to shoulder your burdens with.

So stop being a pharisee. Stop trusting in your own ability. Stop digging in to a life full of shallow relationships built on judgment and pride. Let go & trust in the One who Made you. Get to know Him & watch what He does.