Stick to the Word of God

It is very easy to do things because we have always done it. Here in my house, Lori will cut up cucumbers for us to have, either in a salad or as a side all its own. She seems to take time to peel stripes on them prior to cutting them up. This does nothing for them, yet she does it because that is what she witnessed in her house growing up. It was thought to be of necessity when in fact, it was just a tradition.

This morning I was reminded that we are tasked with sticking to God’s Word and not tradition. Jesus said the following to the Pharisees and scribes as they questioned the actions of the disciples.

“⁵But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”a ⁶he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. ⁷You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

^‘8This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

⁹in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

— Matthew 15:5-9 (ESV)

The Pharisees and scribes had good intentions it seems, as they were following he law, but that is the thing, it was the law as written, not the Law of God. God’s Law stated the following:

“⁴For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’” – Matthew 15:4 (ESV)

God gave His Word to say to “Honor your father and your mother”. Not to speak of your father and mother as you command people to do as you say. It is the Word of God that should be followed and not the law.

I know, there is the thing that if not following the law, one might be held to account and be considered as breaking the law. The consequences of that can be severe, and I for one, would not want to be punished for breaking the law. But, the consequences of not following the Word are much more severe. Remember that this world is temporary and our final home is in heaven and to get there we are held to honoring the Word of God, not the law of man. The punishment for not following the Word of God is documented well in God’s Word, death.

Again, it is easy to fall into tradition and follow the law of man. Yet, that is the way to miss the greatness that comes from the LORD. When we look to tradition, we miss the point of it all as we are simply looking to an end. By sticking to the Word of God, we are opened to the possibilities that He has for each of us.

What traditions are you holding on to? Are you missing the greatness of the LORD for stability in this world? What if you held to the Word of God and allowed Him to guide you?

Jesus’ Mother

I was caught a bit off guard this morning as I was studying. You see, I have been reading and studying the words “father” and “mother” and have been found, and worked to fully understand, that the LORD is the Father and Mother that I should be leaning on as I progress in my relationship with Him. And then I read the passage below and I am caught taking stock in it all.

“⁴⁶While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. ⁴⁸But he replied to the man who told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ ⁴⁹And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” – Matthew 12:46-50 (ESV)

I know that Jesus had a mother and brothers in this world. Here we find that they have come to visit with and speak with Him. Jesus, in true Jesus fashion, finds this opportunity to teach. He acknowledges them and then proceeds to add them to the group. Jesus knows that Mary and his brothers are important, yet they are no more important in the kingdom of heaven than any other. In fact, they, the group, fall into the same importance of being heirs with Him to the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus sees His earthly mother as an important person in His life and upbringing. He loves her dearly and she does Him as well. But, both of them know that she is just an earthly figure in the plan of God. Mary was the chosen one to bring Jesus into this world and then she turned Him over to God and took the place of a follower of Christ as she knew the greatness that He was.

My mother is my sister in Christ and where she cared for me when I did not know how to care for myself, she eventually turned me over to Christ and stands beside me as my sister. I love her dearly and she me, but we are now the brother and sister of Christ and we stand together serving Him.

I opened this post indicating that I was caught off guard this morning. This was quite the good thing as it drove me into more thought and study. What I know in this world is just that, in this world. The kingdom is heaven is my home and I have a whole slew of new relatives there. I am now the brother of Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, and Shirley, my earthly mother. Each of them as well as I have taken our place as the sisters and mothers and brothers of Christ.

What is your relationship with Christ? Are you now the brother, sister, or mother of Jesus? What if you were to live as adopted brother, sister, or mother of Jesus in the kingdom of heaven?

Mothers are from God

“¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 1:18 (ESV)

Jesus’ mother Mary was made a mother, not from some act of this world, but from God. It was not something that was manifest from anything that Joseph did, or the government did, or even the church did. God made it happen.

As I was reading and studying this morning, I was reminded that all mothers are so thanks to the LORD. Regardless of the circumstances, all children are gifts of God and are a product of His plan.

I know, what about those pregnancies that are the product of some heinous act? Well, where they are heinous and may seem to come from evil, I have to remember that all mothers are from God’s great plan. I am not defending any of these heinous acts. I am simply pointing out that all things are done in God’s plan. We may not understand His plan and may be, and have a right to be, angry with God in the moment. But I also have to remember that His plan is greater than anything that I can even conceive. In fact, just the pregnancy of Mary with Jesus was quite the controversy in the day. She was not married to Joseph, only engaged to be married.

Mothers are from God. They are gifts to the world as comforters, guides, and nursemaids. I have to remember this everyday and know that regardless of the circumstances, God makes mothers with purpose. I may not understand the purpose and as Joseph did in considering everything, we should as well. All will be revealed in God’s time, but the one thing we should not question is whether it is in God’s plan, because it always is.

What are your thoughts on mothers? Are you looking at them as just a birther of people? What if you considered that all mothers are from God and that everything is in His plan?

The LORD Comforts as Mothers Do

I remember as the boys were growing up and running around with reckless abandon. They would go 900 mph (seemed like it at least). All was well until that inevitable fall and scraping of the knee and palms of the hand. Out came the waterworks (at least when we were watching), and they would come over to the parents. And who more importantly would they come to, the momma. And what would she do, hug them and kiss it and suddenly it was all better.

“¹³As one whom his mother comforts,

so I will comfort you;

you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

— Isaiah 66:13 (ESV)

My knee scrapes may not be much on the physical side any more, but I still need comfort, the hugs and the kiss to make it all better. The LORD is here for that now. I can go hard for the LORD and know that when I fall, He is there to comfort me and hug me and kiss the wound to soothe.

Who are you leaning on to make it better when you fall? Are you out there trying to do it all on your own? What if you were to come to the LORD for comfort, hugs, and kisses, as He is always there?

Only the LORD is Our Father

“⁹And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” – Matthew 23:9 (ESV)

I do not want to get into the argument over religious or denominational customs. I am looking here, as I have said before, at the words and their meanings. I will speak to the way the words are written and point out what my thoughts are when seeing them.

These are the words of Jesus. These are not from man, but from the LORD Himself. He points out as He speaks to crowds and His disciples, as noted in the beginning of the passage, that religious leaders are quick to make sure that they are recognized as being something. And then He indicates that they are just men and that they are not to be referred to as something that they are not, fathers to all. They are just men and really do not understand all they claim to understand as Jesus points out in the balance of the passage. They are not to be revered as bigger than they are.

I guess that I have always considered this as I have but two fathers ever, my earthly father and heavenly Father. As I look back sitting here this morning, I am not sure that I have really considered the words of Jesus here, even as I know that I have read through and studied this passage before based on the notes I have in the margin of my bible.

I am grateful for the LORD’s guidance in drawing me to the passages and learning He would have for me. I am not young in years, but still consider myself young in knowledge and take the approach of being a lifelong learner who is determined to grow each day.

The LORD led me to this particular passage as I study the word “father” to ensure that I would learn, even in the face of having been introduced to the passage before. Just because we have seen something in the past, does not mean that we have learned all we can from that past. There is always something more to learn and that is why we study.

I have learned this morning that I have two fathers, one on earth and one in heaven. My earthly father is the only one to be called father as he was the one who gave of himself for me to become. My heavenly Father is the only one to be called Father in any other situations. He is the one who provides for me and the one who guides me and the one who comforts me and the one who teaches me. And He is your heavenly Father also as noted in the instructions from Jesus as He teaches us to pray. And we should take note of the reverence associated with Him as “hallowed”.

“⁹Pray then like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.’”

— Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

It is easy to get caught up in the social construct of things and allowing others to impact our thoughts and ways of doing things. It is hard to go against the grain. I choose to go against the grain and only recognize God as Father.

How are you referring to others around you? Are you aware that you only have one Father and He is in Heaven? What if you went against the grain and referred to only the LORD as your Father?