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Matthew 7:24-27 (PHILLIPS)
To follow Christ’s teaching means the only real security
24-25 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a sensible man who builds his house on the rock. Down came the rain and up came the floods, while the winds blew and roared upon that house—and it did not fall because its foundations were on the rock.
26-27 “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not follow them can be compared with a foolish man who built his house on sand. Down came the rain and up came the floods, while the winds blew and battered that house till it collapsed, and fell with a great crash.”
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Strict sabbatarianism is again rebuked (Luke 14:1-11 (PHILLIPS)
14 1-3 One Sabbath day he went into the house of one of the leading Pharisees for a meal, and they were all watching him closely. Right in front of him was a man afflicted with dropsy. So Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees and said, “Well, is it right to heal on the Sabbath day or not?”
4-5 But there was no reply. So Jesus took the man and healed him and let him go. Then he said to them, “If an ass or a cow belonging to one of you fell into a well, wouldn’t you rescue him without the slightest hesitation even though it were the Sabbath?”
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A lesson in humility (Luke 14:7-11)
7 Then he gave a little word of advice to the guests when he noticed how they were choosing the best seats.
8-11 “When you are invited to a wedding reception, don’t sit down in the best seat. It might happen that a more distinguished man than you has also been invited. Then your host might say, ‘I am afraid you must give up your seat for this man.’ And then, with considerable embarrassment, you will have to sit in the humblest place. No, when you are invited, go and take your seat in an inconspicuous place, so that when your host comes in he may say to you, ‘Come on, my dear fellow, we have a much better seat than this for you.’ That is the way to be important in the eyes of all your fellow-guests! For everyone who makes himself important will become insignificant, while the man who makes himself insignificant will find himself important.”
Like virtually all churches, our local church members are following the news about the rapidly spreading and contagious deadly virus sweeping the world. No one says that since this is God’s Country, we are blissfully protected by Him so the findings of science are just politically motivated false news. That is, this unromantic and ruthless march of death contagion does not allow us to hug our childhood teddy bears--idealism, prejudices, or even our deepest convictions about God's love-dovey nature. Rather, we follow the news and do not shun the responsibility to be alert to the insights of science and the medical profession. We must steer by the objectivity and integrity of science, not by the obfuscating haze of spin doctor drivel. In this war, God will surely favor the earnest players--those ready to challenge a deadly foe in a very high-stakes competitive game.
It’s enough to make us hope that someday many other matters—such as saving our planet from human abuse; the proper size and role of government in democracies--could be clarified by common but less sensational revelation.
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He thanks you guys
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