The greatest cause of atheism in the world today ...

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." - Brennan Manning

I first heard this quote about 30 years ago, when it was used in a song by the band DC Talk. It struck me as being deeply profound then, and it still stings my heart even today. 

Is it true that the way I speak and act, as a follower of Jesus, can turn people away from the love of Jesus? Wow, that is a great burden to bear and something that we all need to ponder. 

Of course, Jesus said something in a similar vein many years before Brennan Manning.

“If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree." - Matthew 12:33

Living in Grace

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Blessed are the sat upon, spat upon and ratted on.

I was intrigued to find out that Paul Simon wrote a song called Blessed many years ago. The opening lines of the song are profound:

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
Blessed is the lamb whose blood flows
Blessed are the sat upon, spat upon, ratted on
O Lord, Why have you forsaken me?
I got no place to go” – Paul Simon

The crowds that came to hear Jesus often felt like they were 'sat upon and spat upon' in a religious sense. They were hungry for the things of God, but had been overlooked and ignored, until Jesus showed up and changed all that.

If you are feeling a little 'sat upon' at the moment and that no one seems to care, why don't you turn to Jesus? Listen to his words of hope and consolation and remember that you always have a home in Christ.

Matthew 12:21 - "In his name the nations will put their hope."

Living in Grace

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Supreme happiness comes from this ...

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that one is loved; loved for oneself or better yet, loved despite oneself." - Victor Hugo

These words ring true for the Christian as we remember that we are the 'beloved of God.' We are God's children, not because of anything we have done, but thanks to God's boundless mercy and love. It is from this starting point that we recognise that we are loved beyond measure. 

Matthew 12:18 - “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

Thought: 

Beloved means 'loved much' or 'greatly loved.' However, if we split the word into two, then it could read "Be loved." This is perhaps the hardest thing for most of us to accept - that we are truly loved by God. Our sin sometimes prevents us from accepting our belovedness.

Living in Grace

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12

"I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. ⁷ If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” - Matthew 12:6-8

I was struck by the first words of today's scripture....
Something Greater than the Temple is Here!

Jesus is speaking about himself, so why does he seem to speak in riddles? 
Perhaps it is because he only wants the spiritually hungry to be satisfied in him. Or maybe he knows that the Pharisees can't see beyond their laws, religiosity and the buildings. Or maybe there is another bunch of reasons we just don't know as yet.

Whatever the reasons, let us remember that SOMEONE greater has come to offer himself to us. He has come to give himself for all who will receive him.

Living in Grace
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