Raca was an Aramaic term of contempt meaning stupid. But Jesus was more concerned here with the term Moros – You fool – being thrown around. Moros was actually a more serious reproach than Raca as it conveyed a person being morally worthless… a scorning of the person’s very heart and character. The Lord was warning of the dangers of character assassination…of killing the very spirit of a person with angry words.
Month: October 2016
Judges 21:25 ” In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”
Have you ever gone to a committee meeting that has no set head person? Lots of ideas get bounced around…many people express their opinions…emotions can run high, but without someone to run the meeting, not much gets accomplished. That’s what it’s like without leadership in our world today…we’re all just out there “doing our own thing”. But the problem with that is, what I think is just and prudent to do, you may think is inappropriate or outrageous. What happens in the end is chaos, conflict, and confusion.
Matthew 9:38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”
Send us O Lord. We are a complacent people, giving in to our comfort and self. We are filled with excuses and justification of why we can’t obey Your Word when You say “Go!” Show us Lord the way…direct our paths for Your glory…drive us out of the four walls of the Church into Your Church – the world. Give us Your passion for the lost…Your fire for the perishing. Send us O Lord.
Romans 12:2 ” Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Change us O Lord. We are a people more concerned with keeping up with fad and fashion than allowing our character to undergo a metamorphosis…a renewing of our minds to become more like You This corrupt world has us believing that we can’t do anything to change ourselves…that we are just victims with no hope. We need to become a radically different people…a people rejecting the status quo and reaching for Your plan and purpose for this nation and world. Change us O Lord.
Isaiah 50:4 ” He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”
Wake us O Lord. We have walked so far from You that many no longer hear Your voice. We are an apathetic and disengaged people…thinking someone else will kindle the fire within us. Our spiritual lethargy squelches our passion and excitement to read Your Word and obey. Lord, stir Your people…let us shake off our indifference and give you our undivided attention. Wake us up O Lord.
I Corinthians 3:11 ” For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Anchor us O Lord. We are flailing and thrashing alone in the ocean of life…about to go down for the last time. Rescue us Lord and support us with You love and mercy. Let us be grounded by Your Word and have security in Your promises. For the only firm foundation we have is a Christ-shaped one that the Church can be built on. Anchor us O Lord.
Colossians 3:12 ” Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Humble us O Lord. We are a selfish, self-serving generation. A proud and arrogant people who put themselves first in every vain endeavor. Lord show us how to be meek and gentle…respectful and unpretentious in our everyday interactions. Cause us to consider others and their needs before ours. Humble us O Lord.
Colossians 2:2 ” My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God…”
Unite us O Lord. Join us together as one Nation, one World. Let us stand together , oblivious to color, race or religious background. Lord help us to lock arms together for the good of all, and in one voice, declare that you are God. Unite us O Lord.
Mark 10:17 ” As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good Teacher,’ he asked, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ “
“What must I do?” The short answer to the question is that you can’t do anything. No amount of good works will get you any closer to the promised land and the peace you seek. The only thing you can do is to say Yes to Jesus, turn from your sinful life, and come into agreement with Him that you can’t run your miserable life anymore.
Psalm 44: 6-7 ” I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame.”
We can’t put our trust in others. Our security can’t be found in our shrewdness or the most noblest of acts. For the confident expectation we seek can only be found in God. Zechariah 4:6 states, ” Not by might nor power, but by My spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” Our victory can only be in and by the Lord.
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