Thought for August 20

 History:

• 1619: First known African Americans arrive at Point Comfort Virginia - sold into slavery
• 1741: Vitus Bering sights Alaska
• 1882: Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" debuts
• 1896: Dial telephone patented
• 1913: First pilot to parachute from an aircraft
• 1920: American Professional Football Association forms--later NFL
• 1940: Churchill--Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few
• 1965: Rolling Stones release "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
• 1968: Russia invades Czechoslovakia
• 2019: 22 small Texas towns have computer systems hacked and held for ransom
• Born: Benjamin Harrison, Jacqueline Susann, Jim Reeves, Don King, Ron Paul, Isaac Hayes [Shaft], Connie Chung, Robert Plant, Rudy Gatlin, Al Roker, Amy Adams, Andrew Garfield [Hacksaw Ridge], 
• Died: Bernard of Clairvaux [preached sermon advocating Second Crusade], Aefgen Listinck [Dutch anabaptist burned at the stake], Charles Floyd [only casualty of Lewis & Clark Expedition], William Booth [founder of Salvation Army], George Adamson [Born Free], Fred Hoyle [coined "Big Bang"], Phyllis Diller, Jerry Lewis, Tom T Hall

Thought:

Reading the last verse of Matthew 7 today. Jesus has completed the Sermon on the Mount and now the crowds react. Think back to Chapter 5. Multitudes were following Jesus. They had come from everywhere--Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and Perea [beyond the Jordan]. Jesus goes up on the hillside and sits down with His disciples. The crowds gather round. Most scholars place this event on the shores of the Sea of Galilee near Capernum. Picture in your mind the entire hillside covered with people sitting quietly listening as Jesus teaches. I really want to be there--God Himself sitting in His creation; the voice that caused there to be light and brought all into existence speaks. And what amazing things He said--want to be blessed? Mourn over your sin, recognize your need for a Savior, hunger after righteousness, crave to be satisfied by the Bread of Life, seek the living Water, be merciful, be gentle, seek peace and bring peace, rejoice in persecution, pray for the persecutors. How different than the world's ideas!

Be more righteous than the Pharisees. But they are the most righteous people we know---they follow all the rules, they pray and give and look so good. But then Jesus tells us what it means to murder or commit adultery or bear false witness. Then tells us to love our enemies and do good to those that mistreat us. Seems like what He is saying is impossible--how can I do that? 

Then He says do not worry or doubt, but life is difficult and things seem uncertain. Don't judge/condemn others, but rather consider your own sins and faults. Choose the right path and the right foundation for your life---that foundation is Jesus and His words. Lord, how can I build a life on these concepts---they are so different from the world. Be wise and listen and obey. Perhaps I should just sing "Trust and Obey."

Now notice, the crowds reaction is similar to mine--amazement! I am amazed at this teaching, amazed with the teacher, amazed at His authority. And then it dawns on me---He is amazing and He is all authority. I stand amazed in His presence. I am amazed at His wisdom and power. I am amazed at His love and grace. I am amazed by His mercy and forgiveness. He is amazing--nothing has changed in the years since that Sermon--He is the authority. He is amazing! Lord, let me live every day in a constant state of total amazement---You alone are worthy!

Blessings

Larry