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34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, " "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." 43 He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, 44 "The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet" '? 45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:34-46 NRSV)
A gracious Monday be yours, dear << Test First Name >> I pray the weekend blessed you with rest and rejuvenation and that you face this new week with new strength in your faith, and a deeper commitment to serve God in ways that God may offer you! I ask for continued prayers for the ex-husband of my first cousin as he battles for his life in ICU. Pray for those whom need God's blessings, and if you're one of those, pray for yourself!
The study of God's word should be a deliberate stroll of awe and wonder as if one were in a forest or woods of tremendous beauty, and not a jog through a familiar neighborhood. One tends to be blessed more and learn more as one seeks to draw closer to God. The truth is the more we know, the more is our strength to battle against doubt, fear, and temptations from Satan. When I was on the SMU campus many years ago in the early 70s, a local talk radio station sponsored an on-campus debate between Madalyn Murray O'Hair, noted atheist activist, and Rev. Bob Harrington, known nationally as the Chaplain of Bourbon Street. As the debate began, Rev. Harrington presented Mrs. O'Hair a red Bible, loudly declaring that "all Bibles should be read!" But, as the debate began it was clear that Mrs. O'Hair knew just as much Bible as Rev. Harrington. Both knew their scriptures, but one chose not to follow it, just as those who tried to trap Jesus in today's passage.
Jesus is asked by a Pharisee what is the Bible's greatest commandment? Jesus knew that answer easily, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." And He also responded with a "second commandment," that of "love your neighbor as yourself." Both of these commandments are the foundational stands of all the law and the prophets.
Jesus then asked them what they thought about the Messiah, and also whose son they thought He was. They reply that the Messiah is the son of David. Jesus, knowing His scripture, then asks how it was that David would, under the influence of the Spirit, call the Messiah Lord, if He was truly David's son? This is what trapped the Pharisees. And they have been silent since then; because the Messiah is the Son of God, for it is through God that He was born as Messiah and Savior of you and me.
As righteous and well-educated the religious leaders presented themselves, they did not know as much scripture as Jesus. Talk about joggers not knowing the scenery; these were they. And worse than just casual joggers, they did not know the author of the word. Jesus knew both the Author and the love behind the sacred word. And, if we say we know the Lord, we seek to know Him in ways that can bless our walk with Him and our walk through life. Life brings enough challenges that without the proper preparation and equipment we can suffer if not outright be defeated totally. Why risk it? Let us instead prepare ourselves for a faithful walk in the hands and care of the Lord Jesus.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we lace up our shoes, help us lace us our faith, for we want to walk snugly on sure footing, for the pushes and pulls and strains of life try to knock us off course; steady our walk. Prepare our minds with the prompt and proper response against evil; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Bless someone who might need help with their unsteady walk with Jesus!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio
