Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It's About The Simple Things 7/20/97 Matthew 22:34-40

About The Simple Things 7/20/97 Matthew 22:34-40

We had a wedding here yesterday...

what is most important part of wedding? cake, flowers, dress, rings, music
everyone thinks what they are doing is important
payoff is when the vows are spoken
it is easy in life to get so lost in the details that we forget the core issues

The Pharisees are lost in the details of life
how many steps on the sabbath...angels on the head of a pin
the Pharisees want to catch Jesus and argue with him over some detail of the law
people like to make things complicated
sometimes they want to look at the details because the core issues are too much
in chapter 23 Jesus nails them for this
so lost the won't enter in, keep others from doing so
strain a gnat...swallow a camel
forgot about the greater issues of truth, justice, love & mercy

this is why some people hate to see Christians coming...
afraid you might nail them on something
I have a great time with some folks until they find out I'm a minister
then they shrink back...afraid that I will judge them on some part of their life
is this how we are suppose to realte to people outside of the kingdom?

the knigdom begins and springs from simple things
love the Lord your God, love your neighbor
learn to love, it will be enough...it will change everything else
on this hang all the law and the prophets
some say this is the easy way out...
what is easier...to follow some dogma? or learn to love

Let me ask you a question
do you love the Lord? do you wake up with a desire for him
do you love your neighbors? Do you learn to love

do the details matter...sure...but don't get lost in the details...
don't let them distract you from the core issues of the faith
In the K of God, love is central
if you can find and work on love, everything else will follow
if you can find and work on love, it will be enough
it will be well with your soul



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