“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." (Matt 23:13 NIV)
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we should or should not do here in this world, we forget all about the Kingdom of God. We forget to tell people that the door to the Kingdom is open to all who believe. If one doesn't even know that it's open, how will they know to enter through it?
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were like that. They were so busy worrying about appearances; they were so worried about looking good; they were so worried about making sure that every little ordinance that they came up with was obeyed to the letter that they either didn't know how or maybe they forgot to just "be" and "live" in God's presence. Consequently, since they did not enter into God's presence, they were not able to teach others this great mystery, either.
God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, so that we might be reconciled to God in His Kingdom and not just in the future life after death (as seems to be a popular notion); but, in the here and now. He desires that we should be reconciled; to "be" with Him; to "live life" in Him; in His Kingdom, even now.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." (Matt 23:37)
Will you enter through the door of the Kingdom? It has been opened for you, by Jesus Christ, our LORD.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we should or should not do here in this world, we forget all about the Kingdom of God. We forget to tell people that the door to the Kingdom is open to all who believe. If one doesn't even know that it's open, how will they know to enter through it?
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were like that. They were so busy worrying about appearances; they were so worried about looking good; they were so worried about making sure that every little ordinance that they came up with was obeyed to the letter that they either didn't know how or maybe they forgot to just "be" and "live" in God's presence. Consequently, since they did not enter into God's presence, they were not able to teach others this great mystery, either.
God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, so that we might be reconciled to God in His Kingdom and not just in the future life after death (as seems to be a popular notion); but, in the here and now. He desires that we should be reconciled; to "be" with Him; to "live life" in Him; in His Kingdom, even now.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." (Matt 23:37)
Will you enter through the door of the Kingdom? It has been opened for you, by Jesus Christ, our LORD.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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