ALTHOUGH YOU CLEANSE THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND THE DISH, INSIDE YOU ARE FILLED WITH PLUNDER AND EVIL. (Lk 11:37-41) AFTER HE HAD SPOKEN, A PHARISEES INVITED HIM TO DINE AT HIS HOME. HE ENTERED AND RECLINED AT TABLE TO EAT. THE PHARISEES WAS AMAZED TO SEE THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVED THE PRESCRIBED WASHING BEFORE THE MEAL. THE LORD SAID TO HIM, OH YOU PHARISEES! ALTHOUGH YOU CLEANSE THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND THE DISH, INSIDE YOU ARE FILLED WITH PLUNDER AND EVIL. YOU FOOLS! DID NOT THE MAKERS OF THE OUTSIDE ALSO MAKE THE INSIDE? BUT AS TO WHAT IS WITHIN, GIVE ALMS, AND BEHOLD, EVERYTHING WILL BE CLEAN FOR YOU. FOR JESUS, RITUAL CLEANING IS USELESS WITHOUT THE TRUE PRACTICE OF VIRTUES LIKE PURITY, CHARITY...ARE YOU PARTICULAR IN CLEANLINESS OR SINLESSNESS? SINFULNESS IS LIKE A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE THAT IS SLOWLY OR KILLING US SOFTLY. SINFULNESS MAKES US REAL SICK. AND WHEN IT COMES TO DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO PANIC. TRUSTING GOD AND KEEPING HIS WORDS KEEPS US CALM, RELAX, PEACEFUL, BRAVE AND STRONG. JUST THIS MORNING WE EXPERIENCED BEING SHAKEN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE EARTH IS MOVING, LIVES AND PROPERTIES WERE TAKEN. EARTHQUAKES AND OTHER NATURAL CALAMITIES ARE NOT JUST SHAKING US FOR NOTHING. BUT IT HAS IN IT A VERY URGENT MESSAGE AND A REALIZATION THAT EVERYTHING IS PASSING AND THAT ANYTIME OR LIFE CAN BE DEMANDED OF US. AND SO WE SHOULD NOT FAIL TO FOCUS ON GODS MESSAGE AND HIS CALLING FOR REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION. WE SHOULD LEARN TO REALIZE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIALS IN LIFE AND THAT WE SHOULD LEARN WHAT TO PRIORITIZE IN THIS LIFE. A PRAYERFUL LIFE MAKES US CALM AND PEACEFUL YET BRAVE AND STRONG THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO SUBMIT EVERYTHING TO GODS WILL. IT IS NOT ABOUT PHYSICAL PREPAREDNESS THAT MATTERS BUT IT IS MORE ON SPIRITUAL PREPAREDNESS FOR NO MATTER HOW PREPARED WE ARE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND IF GOD ALLOWS THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN IT IS ALWAYS FOR A PURPOSE AND ONLY GOD KNOWS. YET WE SHOULD LEARN TO DISCERN AND REALIZE HIS MESSAGE BEHIND ALL THESE EVENTS IN LIFE. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO BE SHAKEN SO THAT THINGS CAN BE CLEAR TO US. WE NEED TO BE SHAKEN FOR US TO SEE BEYOND THIS LIFE. WE NEED TO BE SHAKEN FOR US TO HOLD ON TIGHTLY TO HIM AND BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WILL. YET IT IS VERY SAD TO HEAR THAT AFTER EVERY ORDEAL WE ONLY MAKE UP FOR THE PHYSICAL LOST AND REPAIR ONLY THE PHYSICAL DAMAGES IT CAUSED YET WE FAIL TO COMPREHEND GODS MESSAGE AND WE IGNORE THE LESSONS BEHIND IT. IT IS EASY FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO AVOID BEING VICTIMIZED YET WE NEVER ACT ON THE ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT KEEPS US UNITED AND STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH IN GOD. WE CARE MORE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED YET WE CARE LESS OF THE CREATOR HIMSELF. JESUS IS TRYING TO REMIND US THAT BUILDINGS CAN COLLAPSE EVEN CHURCHES DO BUT HE WANTS US TO REMAIN FIRM, STRONG AND CONSTANT IN OUR FAITH. AND JESUS IS REMINDING US THAT IT IS NOT THE OUTER CLEANSING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD BUT A CLEAN, PURE AND TRUE HEART HE WANTS FROM EACH ONE OF US. ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE IS NEVER A SAFE PLACE FOR US BUT JESUS ASSURES OUR SAFETY IF WE REMAIN IN HIS LOVE.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 05:36:32 +0000
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