January 29, 2008

Read Exodus 21-22 and Matthew 19

2 comments:

Chris said...

I hope everyone got out and voted today. :-)

Exodus 21:6 I find it interesting that ear piercing was a sign of slavery. I wonder about nose piercing...

21:9 What does "He shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters" mean?

21:12 & 14: God obviously has no tolerance for violent rage. I can relate. Angry people make my tummy hurt. Go figure....

21:23 God obviously holds all life sacred, even the lives of unborn children.

21:28-29 The first animal control!

22:2 Tell that to today's society! These days people have broken into someone's house to rob them, gotten hurt, sued the homeowner, and won. ?????

I think overall this passage shows us how fair and just the Lord is. He gave laws that were straightforward, cut and dried. He didn't leave folks guessing. I appreciate that.

Matthew 19:13 I remember feeling hurt and betrayed when I read this passage as a child. I had always pictured the disciples as loving, happy, easygoing, jovial guys. How could they not be? They were with Jesus all the time! Ooh, time for a little self-examination here. I'm a disciple, Jesus lives in me and is with me all the time, and yet...guys, we are Jesus's disciples. People expect us to mirror Him. How ya doing with that? (I'm asking me first!)

Matthew 19:17 Someone recently wrote something very flattering about me, and although I was extremely honored to be spoken of so highly, I had to go to this person and tell them essentially the same thing Jesus said: "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. The goodness you see in me has nothing to do with Chris; I am a moody, self-absorbed jerk a lot of the time; that's all Jesus." It was an open door to witness, and praise God, I finally walked through one. :-)

19:21-22 What an amazing opportunity this guy threw away. I find myself wondering what happened to him afterward. Did he change his mind later and do what Jesus asked? Did he live out the rest of his life frustrated and empty? Did he brush the encounter off and live in false happiness the rest of his days? I hope one day I get to ask him, though I suppose at that time the answer would be fairly obvious. :-)

19:29 This verse gave me great hope. Everything we walk away from for Christ will be restored to us many times over. How cool is that? He gave up everything for me. Am I willing to walk away from anything, anyone, any comfort, for Him? Yes. Absolutely. Did it take a lot of time and lot of pain to get to that point? Oh yeah. But I wouldn't trade it, and I wouldn't go back.

You guys are awesome. Thanks for reading.....please chime in!!!!

January 30, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Anonymous said...

God is wise, right? He gives law to the people, via Moses, because he knows us so well! The last verse is key to me...You are to be MY holy people! Our lives are not our own...but would we really want them to be?!

have a great one~

February 1, 2008 at 8:36 AM

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