Daily Reading

Matthew 25:31-26:13; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 8:12-13

Who remembers the two most important commandments?
1. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

These commandments sum up the Law, given to us by the Father. Today, Jesus tells us we will be judged according to how we applied these prophets. It's not enough to know the law, it's not enough to know of the LORD. You must have a relationship with Him & that relationship must spill over into other lives.

See, I know who Tenth Avenue North is - my favorite Christian band. I've seen their pictures, I've heard their music - in fact I can sing a lot of their songs from memory. But I don't know the band members. I know nothing of their lives or their families. I have no relationship to them. We are strangers. Don't let God be a stranger. For if He is a stranger to you, you will be a stranger to Him!

Next, Jesus tells the disciples He will be killed in two days time. The religious leaders are also meeting to discuss ways to kill Jesus - but not during the Passover. Do you know why? Passover is a celebration commanded by God. It is a pilgrimage feast - it must be celebrated in Jerusalem. So, every Jew in the world is making their way back to Jerusalem. Many have seen Jesus & believe Him to be a prophet of great wisdom. To kill Him when every Jew in the world is in Passover would be pure insanity.

Finally, a woman anoints Jesus with perfume. This is a symbolic preparation for His burial. How did this woman know to do this? Those that have a close relationship with the Father know His will. They listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit who whispers instructions in our ears. She faced ridicule & possible uncertainty that Jesus would reject her, but she obeyed the leading of the Father & she was blessed for it. It begs the question - do you have the gumption to follow through with what the Father has for you?

Are you noticing a pattern with our psalms? These writers, maybe the same writer, deals with many harsh trials and depressions. In these dark hours, what does he do? He cries out to the Lord, he puts his trust in God. We should be doing the same.

Now for our proverb. The world tells us that wisdom should be honored, it should bring wealth and power. Proverbs tells us that wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, & deceit. Wisdom is not about worldly or academic knowledge - it is about fear & respect of the Lord. Now, don't let that word "fear" bother you. "Fear" of the Lord is simply an understanding that He is in charge & more powerful than you.