Thought for April 6

 History:

  • 1652: Cape Colony South Africa founded
  • 1830: Joseph Smith and 5 others form Church of Latter-Day Saints in Fayette NY
  • 1862: Battle of Shiloh
  • 1889: George Eastman begins selling flexible rolled film
  • 1893: Mormon Temple dedicated
  • 1909: Robert Peary reaches the North Pole
  • 1917: US declares war on Germany
  • 1930: Hostess Twinkie invented
  • 1934: 418 Lutheran ministers arrested in Germany
  • 1958: Arnold Palmer wins his first of four Masters
  • 1980: Post-It notes introduced
  • 2020: Tiger in the Bronx zoo tests positive for Covid
  • Born: Raphael, Donald Douglas [Douglas DC 3], James Watson [DNA], Andre Previn, Billy Dee Williams, Merle Haggard, Janet Lynn [5 time US Figure Skating champion], Raul Rudd
  • Died: Richard the Lionheart, Thomas Green Clemson [Clemson University], Chiang Kai-shek, Isaac Asimov, Greer Garson, Jack Kent Cooke, Tammy Wynette, Thomas Kinkade, Mickey Rooney, Merle Haggard [on his birthday], Don Rickles
Thought:
Reading Luke 6 today. This chapter is Luke's account of the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew was present at the sermon and his account is more extensive. In my Bible, the pagination makes for interesting reading. On the same page [1060] the two columns provide a really clear picture of following Christ. In the left column I read:
  • Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you. [27]
  • Bless those who curse you [28]
  • Give to those that ask of you. [30]
  • Treat people as you want to be treated [31]
  • Love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return. [35]
  • Be merciful as God is merciful. [36]
  • Do not judge or condemn. [37]
And these commands come with promises: your reward will be great [35], you will not be judged or condemned [37], you will be pardoned [37],  you will receive abundantly [38]. Wow! Instructions on how to be like Jesus and blessings that will follow. But then I look over at the right column where I have underlined, "why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say." There it is. The light of the word shines into those dark places in my life. My problem is not that I don't know what Jesus said, my problem is not obeying. Sounds like many of our health issues--we know what we are supposed to eat and what we should avoid or minimize. We know about exercise. But the problem is the bag of Oreos or that ice cream in the freezer. The problem is the wearing out of the chair and not the walking shoes. 

Lord, thank you for being so clear about what our walk should look like if we are following you. Forgive my disobedience. Help me in the power of the Holy Spirit to walk worthy of Your calling. 

Blessings
Larry

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