Gospel gems – Jealousy breeds hatred

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, Matthew 21:15

Jesus was doing what His Father had sent Him to do, the children saw it and some adults saw it too. As a matter of fact, everyone who was in the area saw the wonderful works of Jesus.

The only ones who were upset and displeased were the chief priests and scribes, the religious leaders. Displeased in this verse means “to be greatly afflicted – indignant.”

Can you imagine being so angry that it greatly affected you? They were angry because the children were praising Jesus. The second reason they were angry was because of the “wonderful things” that Jesus did.

Their jealousy had turned to bitter hatred. They hated that Someone was doing more than them and getting and receiving praise. Remember these were the same ones who “loved to be seen of men”. (Matthew 23:5)

When a problem of jealousy, hatred or bitterness starts to well up, confess it and turn from it now before it controls your life. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Pitfall of Money

Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
 
Solomon,the richest man in the world during his time, would know about the pitfall of money. He knew money did not bring satisfaction. He repeats the same theme from Ecclesiastes 5:10-16.
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver;..."
Solomon tells us this is common among men, one receives riches, wealth and honor and he needs nothing or so he thinks. He obtains "everything" yet never gets to enjoy what he has. Solomon calls it an evil disease.

This week, after saving for this trip for many years, my husband and I are traveling. We are enjoying the beautiful sights of our country. During our travels we saw mansions of the very rich and shacks of the very poor. I do not know the hearts of either but I do know what Gods says, the more one has the more he wants. The more one has the more he needs to protect all he owns, it is a vicious circle.

When my son was young he had a paper route. His route was in a very affluent part of town, security gates and cameras surrounded the properties which bordered the ocean. One day as my son got into the car after delivering the paper to a wealthy family he said, "Mom, we are richer than the ___  because we have Jesus." Out of the mouth of babes (Matthew 21:16)

Are we concerned about our riches and station in this life? What would your attitude be if you lost everything? Do we realize that we are richer than the ____?

My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). It is not about how much money we can accumulate but how much Jesus accumulates of us.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Palm Sunday

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. Matthew 21:1-11

One week, only one short week and your entire life can change. In the life of Jesus, it was not only his life that changed but the lives of the entire world. Today is the start of Passion Week or Holy week. It is the week leading up to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

Jesus and his disciples had been walking for a long time, having left Jericho they were now coming to Jerusalem a journey of about 19 miles. Remember in Bible times there were no “superhighways” no express ways, no fast cars, or trains. They traveled on foot or rode on animals. The roads were not smooth but rough and dangerous.

As they entered the village Jesus told two of his men to go to a certain place and get a donkey with her colt. They obeyed and accomplished the job. The disciples started to prepare the animals, by putting clothes on them like a covering so Jesus would not have to sit on the bare back. By doing this they were “acknowledging him to be their king, for this was a custom observed by the people when they found that God had appointed a man to the kingdom.”-Adam Clarke

The disciples started the walk toward the city of Jerusalem. There were great numbers of people all around, some probably had followed from Jericho. The people threw branches of trees down for Jesus’ donkey to walk on. Albert Barnes says, “The palm was an emblem of “joy and victory.” It was used by the Roman soldiers, as well as the Jews, as a symbol of peace.”

As the garments and branches were thrown down the people began to praise Jesus. They didn’t just praise Jesus, but PRAISED HIM!!. They cried with loud voices, so loud that the whole city was saying, who is this?? The people were interested in what was going on. They wanted to know who was worthy to receive all this praise. All the people were more than willing to give the answer, Jesus the prophet of Nazareth.

Jesus is more than worthy to receive our praise. As you mediate on what this day represents praise Him for all He has done for you.


Psalm 150

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Cleansing of the Temple

Matthew 21:12-17
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. [14] And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. [15] And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, [16] And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? [17] And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus went into the temple of God to clean it of things that did not belong. I believe He did this with righteous anger. This was the second time during His ministry He overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and threw out the people selling animals for sacrifices. Jesus harshly rebuked the people with the declaration, My house is a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves.

Jesus continued to heal people in the temple. I’m sure the people followed Him wherever He went. As soon as He arrived at a place the word would spread, shortly thereafter the groups of people arrived. During this time of healing there were children in attendance. The children cried out in the temple praising God. Remember they were in the temple, the place where one is to praise and worship God.

Indignation rose up in the priests and scribes, Who did this man think he was allowing the children to praise Him like this. When they questioned Jesus, He answered the way He always answered skeptics, with the Word of God.

It appears that Jesus quickly left the temple and the city and traveled to Bethany. In a few short days His life would end.

What about the temple today? Where is it? Look at what the New Testament has to say about the temple of God:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? I Corinthians 3:16

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? I Corinthians 6:19

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. II Corinthians 6:16
There are some pretty sobering facts listed here, we are the temple of God. The Holy Spirit lives in us. This temple is different than the physical temple of Jesus’ day but it is where the Spirit of God lives.

What do we put into the temple today? Our temple is not meant to have “other things” clutter it up. Is the temple of our heart being shared with “idols”. An idol is anything we put before God. Do we make excuses for why we can’t read the Bible, but have time to read everything else. I know I have been there. Pray and ask the Lord to help you keep His temple clean.

Have a blessed day.
Donna