Matthew 18-22; Proverbs 10:12-21

Saturday's Bible Reading: Matthew 18-22; Proverbs 10:12-21

Excerpt from a sermon by Michael Catlett at McLean Baptist Church, published in The Washington Times (22 January 2007):

The way of peace is littered with hurt and anger, with violence and horror. I wish it were not so, but wishing does not change it. Turning the other cheek can leave one bruised and battered. Loving one's enemies can make one a victim of one's enemies. Loving one's neighbor as one's self can provide one's neighbor an opportunity to take advantage. Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind can consume one so that one overlooks other responsibilities and needs. Treating all people as God's children will anger some who think all are not. Working to eradicate injustice will upset those who cannot or will not see injustice or will profit from injustice. Asking those who have to give to those who don't have will sometimes upset those who are asked to give and those who are asked to receive. Yet isn't that the way of peace: to love those who are not easily loved, to care for the downtrodden, to offer justice and mercy, to eradicate physical and spiritual poverty? [emphasis added]

To support those who are on the front lines of this type of peacemaking, consider the work of Erich and Candice Strehl in Bethlehem. Click here for more information about Paidia.

Relevant (and convicting) passages from today's Bible reading:

The Little Children and Jesus

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
###Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
###When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Rich Young Man

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
###"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
###"Which ones?" the man inquired.
###Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,'and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
###"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
###Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
###When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
######—Matthew 19:13-22

And of course this . . .

The Greatest Commandment

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
###"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."