Trying to make this quick because we are all busy people…this is my second try…remember to hit ‘save’ every second word!!
Reading this morning in Luke 19 about Jesus cleansing the temple reminded me of a recent conversation with my five year old granddaughter. In discussing a story from scripture, she said “Oh, I know that one already.” Many times we feel that way, yet as I reread these verses this morning, I noticed something new.
Following a bunny trail of references to Jeremiah 7 which deals with ‘lying words’ and verse 5 begins ” For if you thoroughly amen your ways…6 and do not shed innocent blood in this place (the temple), or walk after other gods to your hurt “,… At first I thought it meant ‘in your pain’- no! It means if you turn to other gods (means putting your trust, finding your security, in other stuff instead of God) it will cause you hurt…damage to your well-being.
A long sermon could be made of this, but let’s just say it quickly as a reminder to chew on abit through the day…If you depend on your checking account, credit cards or savings( what’s that?), sexy ads or porn magazines, excessive caffeine, prescription oxycodone or methamphetimines sp? to get you through the day…they’s gonna be a problem. (poor grammar for emphasis 🙂 )
Christian or no, Jesus freak or not…this stuff will cause problems. We would all be wise to reevaluate where we put our trust from time to time. And I do speak from experience of putting mine in the wrong spots.
Thanks for joining me here.
Have a great day!
Beth's Blog 
Beth, yesterday was Yom Kippur. The 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the High Holy Days, is meant as a time of repentance. But not in the way you might think of repentance. It is a time to bring yourself back to G_d, back to what he wants us to be, to our true selves. Yes, that does mean thinking about and being sorry for any things we’ve done wrong to others, but it also means figuring out how we can give up those temptations and bad habits and get back to the true, honest, good beings that the Lord our G_d, King of the Universe wants us to be. In the same way you talk of not understanding the scripture right the first time, this time of repentance is often misunderstood by people who think of it as a confession of sorts instead of a time to reflect on how we can find our spiritual selves and bring ourselves closer to the beings G_d envisioned when he created man. Beings who are caretakers for the Earth, who live in harmony, and who read and learn the scripture. Sounds like you’re on your way! Thanks for taking time to post!
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Holly,
I appreciate your comments here. Words are so interesting and how others interpret them even more so, sometimes. I did not mean to put across that I, or anyone else who has studied the same scripture several times, was mistaken the first time (s) or more that we studied it. The faith life is definitely a journey and the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the scripture and any other education as is best. Many times I’ve heard people say, “I haven’t recognized such and such before and I’ve studied this several times!” It doesn’t mean the previous education was wrong, only that it builds on each learning experience. And none of us will have ‘arrived ‘until we are Home with our Creator. And yes, I’m in the Way!
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