Matthew 6:22-23
All of us find ourselves cleaning our glasses or sunglasses from time to time. Dust and dirt particles accumulate on our glasses over time and they have to be cleaned. If we try to see through dirty glasses our vision gets blurred.
So also in our spiritual lives the eye through which we see ourselves and perceive others will depend on state of our eyes. They can get clogged with hatred, anger, prejudice, jealousy, pride, self centeredness and many other thoughts and emotions that cloud our vision and upset our judgment.
Jesus says beware of becoming like the hypocrite (Matthew6:1-6), who prays in public so that all may see how holy he is. Jesus exhorts us to be private and personal about our prayers. Beware of spiritual pride or self-righteousness. What are our motives when we pray or observe lent? Are we looking for resonating admiration from others? What do we really mean when we say, “I am a Christian?”
There may have been times in our lives when we have made poor choices or acted unwisely. But it is what we do when we realize that we made the wrong choice that makes the difference in our lives. We live in this tension, where we do those things we should not do, when we know fully well what we should do. Is this hypocrisy or is it or human nature drawing us down? As Jesus told his disciples in Gethsemane (Matthew26:36-41) the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Christ on the Mount of Olives (1604-1606) was a painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
Lord Jesus we know you love us, and gave your life for us. Keep us as the apple of your eyes; hide us in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). May your Spirit encompass our lives and inspire us to do your will.
6 comments:
What is genuine conversion?
It is change in thought, word, and deed.To constantly beseech God for guidance.
The assurance like the prodigal son you can always go to God. He will wipe away all your transgressions. In the meanwhile for the wrongs done you may have to suffer.
Unlike the lost lamb, the father watches and waits for the sons return.
Paul on the other hand had wrong ideas about God, so God confronts him.
Whose painting is that?
Christ on the Mount of Olives (1604-1606) was a painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
The subject of the painting is -
Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45)
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Good one. I liked it.I may use this some time for our dept prayers with your permission.
Binu
Please do by all means.
There are times when we hide the fact that we are christians. Other times we try to portray to those around us that we are christians. We live fickle lives switching from one to another depending on life's circumstances and mostly to our advantage.
However will living our lives selflessly every day as Christ would have us live; make the light truly shine out from within us? I don't think so because we are bound to fall short if it is our own efforts.
In the end it is only by His grace that the light will truly shine from within us and be seen by the world. Our own works will never get us to be right all the time in the eyes of man or God; but through Christ we are and will be His light.
In the story of the prodigal son both sons were weak. We all know about the prodigal son but the good son thought by being good he would win his fathers wealth and affection. Yet in the end the father gave abundantly to both. God the fathers love is not dependent on our good deeds or works. It is purely an endless grace.
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