Gospels Matthew 17-19
Last week, we read this passage in the PBJ:
§ Isa 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin;
§ Isa 30:2 Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
§ Isa 30:3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.
The thought that hit me was, “Military Industrial Complex.” I had just listened to Tucker’s Putin interview and whether or not one agrees with Putin, the President of Russia drew a very different picture of the world. He called it correct that we are paying more attention to our military strength (Pharoah) than doing good.
My brain continues to wrestle with our fourth major constitutional crises, Putin’s assertion that our dementia addled elected President is not running our country, and our government’s ‘continuous war’ approach to international problems.
What to pray for today’s fasting time? Here’s a thought from God’s word as we think on the Transfiguration in Matt 17:
Exo 22:20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
In other words, Love the Lord your God with all your heart. And…
Love your neighbor as yourself:
Exo 22:21 “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exo 22:22 “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23 “If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry;
Exo 22:24 “and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
What about the poor? Here is what Scripture tells us we should do in the very next verse:
Exo 22:25 “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.
I am a capitalist and believe people should work for what they receive, but Imagine If… Young families could afford homes in my school district, including the teachers who teach in my school District? Because the Usery of Developers and Banks did not impose tyranny on their finances?
My firm belief is that this is not pie in the sky. A nation that Loves God and Loves their neighbors as themselves would have VERY different hearts from the hearts we have now.
Jay
Last Week was no fun. Dentist had to pull a molar then remove an abscess under the tooth in my Jawbone. I needed that like another hole in my head… But that’s why I missed last week.