Few are ChosenS - Scripture: Matthew 22:1-46
"Come unto the marriage ..." v.4.
"For many are called, but few [are] chosen." v.14.
"God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." v.32.
The Shema
Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. v.36-40 (quoting from Dueteronomy 6:4-9, specifically vs.5)
O - Observations:
After the initial parable about the wedding in the beginning of this chapter, the rest of the chapter is filled with questions from the Pharisees and Saducees. I think perhaps in reading these and in thinking about us today, how trivial they were being, and how trivial we must seem. Finally towards the end of the chapter Jesus turns the table and asks them a question which basically "shuts them up" as it states "and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions ..."
Here Jesus reminds us that many (for God so loved THE WORLD ...) are called, but few are chosen ... in Noah's time how many people entered the ark? This to me is one of the clearest examples of the "few" and the "narrow road" ... If in a world with untold numbers only Noah and his family are "saved" what makes me so "proud" to think I would be one of the few in my day? We are in an era where the word "Christian" is more or less assumed. You hear people talk about our "Christian nation", churches are filled each week with "Christians". We have mega or super churches that meet weekly with memberships in the thousands, but then you look around and see how not-Christian we are. Few are chosen.
After I had seen how "few" were few in Noah's day I really began to see the graveness of my salvation which we are told to "work out with FEAR and TREMBLING" ...
Short of stepping on toes, and yet not to be neglectful of right handling of God's WORD ... I have heard too many people preach a "get your ticket" type of message. For people to say a little prayer and "poof" you are "saved". I do not mean to speak lightly in this matter or to make light of it for our salvation is a serious matter. Jesus and the prophets alike preached a message of "Repent and be saved". When we come to Him in humbleness desiring His Salvation, His YESHUA, that is the first step. The rest is a lifetime process (I think) and it is a daily, and often minute by minute, working out of our salvation. It is a life demonstrated by keeping His commandments (John 14:15, 21; I John 5:2-3; II John 1:6) and a broken and contrite heart that is broken over the sin(s) we commit. Paul talked about the sin(s) that so easily beset us. I think, in my own life anyhow, there are things that keep me on my knees before the Father, that keep me humble. I'm not sure we will ever, on this side of Heaven, be totally free of sin(s), but we do not have to continually walk in them and be held captive by them. My salvation is a daily thing for me. When I speak rudely or in irritability with my children or husband I see an abundance in my heart that I need His loving correction and if I continue to walk contrary to that correction and continue to do those things which displease my Heavenly Father and ruin my testimony and His name then whose child am I? Whose works am I doing? (see John 8:44, I John 3:8) Let us not therefore think so highly of ourselves and our salvation especially we who have "grown up in the church" or who "got saved" at age 3 or 4 or 7. Let our thoughts and focus therefore be on God, the Author and Finisher of our faith, for it is by looking at Him and His Glory that we, like Isaiah, say "Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)
Keep us humble LORD of hosts ~ Adonai T'savaot.
A - Application for me today:
I want to be at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb with my wedding garments on (v.11-12) ... I want to be one of the few chosen. I want to love Him with all that I am ~ heart, soul and mind.
P - Prayer in response:
Thank you for sending your Son Yeshua to die in my stead. May I not take lightly the gift so freely given. May I open the gift and apply it to my daily life by loving you with everything I am and everything I am not. Teach us, teach me, what it means to TRULY love you and to love others. I desire to do your will, to be apart of the pure spotless Bride for you ... continue to bring before me the things in my heart that are hidden and dark that I might empty them before you and repent and be changed by the power of your resurrection. Keep me humble before You.
Make me to be a good wife, a good mother to my children and moderate in all things.
In your Saving Name,
Yeshua
Amen & Amen
THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE
Valentine's Day may be over with, but that is no reason to stop loving those God has put in your live, especially your spouse!
We are on Day 7 - let's review for a minute:
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is not selfish
Love is thoughtful
Love is not rude
Love is not irritable
And today's challenge?
Day 7: Love believes the best
[Love] believes all things, hopes all things. —1 Corinthians 13:7
TODAY’S DARE
For today’s dare, get two sheets of paper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose and plan for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.
No comments:
Post a Comment