It's not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick.

According to my study Bible early church leaders believed that Matthew is the author of Matthew.  Now that sentence may sound silly but growing up I never understood how the books of the Bible got their names.  As a good little Lutheran/Pastor's kid I learned to recite the books of the Bible in order.  If you ask me to do it today I'd probably get about 75% of it right and forget a few.  But that's not important, just helpful when you are looking up a passage.

So, back to Matthew.  In today's reading Matthew 9, there are more accounts of Jesus healing the sick.  It also tells of when Matthew was 'recruited' as a disciple.  Matthew was a tax collector, a 'sinner'.  He was not considered a 'godly' man being a tax collector.  And this is where Matthew 9:12-13 comes in.  The Pharisees asked the disciples why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners and upon hearing this Jesus replied, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  To me this speaks volumes!  People at that time did not expect Jesus to associate with 'sinners', Gentiles, children, the sick, the uneducated, and so on.  To Him everyone was important no matter how big or small, how worthy or unworthy, status or no status.  He chose Matthew who was considered one of the lowest of lows as a tax collector.  Yet Matthew had faith and followed Jesus.  If you think you don't mean enough or aren't deserving of God's love it's not true.  You are exactly who God is trying to bring into his flock.

Matthew 8

Today's reading is Matthew 8.  And as much as I want to feel like there is something I learned from it all I can think about is that once again there is a phrase I thought was some crazy thing my dad always said that turns out to be from the Bible.  "You of little faith..."  turns out to be from Matthew 8:26. Any time there was doubt or something questionable, out came that phrase from my dad.  For those who may not know, Jesus joined his disciples on a boat, Jesus fell asleep, a big storm came and was tossing them around scaring the tar out of the disciples.  So they woke Jesus up saying, "Save us, we are going to drown!" For those that may not know my dad, Tommy Sparks, he was a Lutheran pastor.  To me growing up he was just a silly dad with silly things he would say.  As I age I've been learning which of those phrases were from the Bible and which were his 'old west Texas sayings'.

The rest of Matthew 8 has other stories of Jesus healing people and driving out demons.  When Jesus drives out the demons from two men into a herd of pigs, the pigs then run into the sea and drown.  If I owned those pigs I would not have been happy that I lost my whole herd.  The Jews consider pigs to be unclean and don't eat of them but I'm a bacon lover. ;o)  All in all, have faith.  Faith is what got a man with leprosy healed, a soldiers servant healed, demons driven out, and many others healed from their ailments.  So in the words of Jesus, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"  Just have faith.

New Testament in 6 Months

Today is January 5, 2015 and officially the 5th day of reading the New Testament in 6 months.  Today's reading is Matthew 7 Let's see if this link works since I really haven't done this before.  And in case you are wondering what January 1-4 readings were see below.

January 1  Matthew 1-2

January 2  Matthew 3-4

January 3  Matthew 5

January 4  Matthew 6

First part of Matthew 7 is about judging others.  I struggle with this.  I get bothered when I see others being Judgy McJudgersons and I hate it when I have done the same and can't take it back.  I will probably have to be reminded of this verse for eternity.

Next up, Ask, Seek, Knock!  I can remember since being a little girl my dad dramatically saying in a Baptist Preachery sort of way, "Ask! And ye shall Receive!!!" Little did I know till I was a full grown adult that he was actually quoting Matthew 7:7.  

The Narrow & Wide Gates

It's easy to go through wide gates and broad paths but that's not what Jesus calls us to do.  He knows the road and path to Him will not be easy and may be hard to find.  But when we do, it will be worth it.  

A Tree & Its Fruit

Ever wonder about these verses and it's connection with Adam and Eve?  I never did till just now.  God told Adam & Eve not to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.  Satan led them astray saying the would be like gods if they ate of it.  I think Jesus is saying to seek good in your life and don't be led astray by bad fruit (Satan).  If all you are looking for is bad fruit you will get nothing but bad fruit.  Adam & Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and they were banished from Eden.  I don't know about you but I would like to see heaven someday.  Thank God for sending Jesus to save us sinners!!  

Okay, who remembers the Sunday School song The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock??  Like many other things as a child I didn't really know that songs we learned came directly from scriptures.  My memories of Sunday School openings center around the time my mom was leading them.  Many others led before and after her.  Several of those have fond memories of Wilma Mason and Faye Miller being the ones that led them in song.  So stand up and sing it if you remember it!  I'm going to right now. :o)