Matthew 9 - Talk is Cheap

Here is a question.  Does your (my) actions back up your (my) talk?  I mentioned before about walking the talk.  In this chapter the people of religious law asked Jesus about the people that Jesus associated, they asked about the disciples not fasting.  They wanted to discredit him.  People do that today too, don't they?  People look to find the flaws or discredit a famous person, a politician, and even among our small circles.  I get caught up in it too.  However, I have learned in a very difficult way that I wind up hurting others even when I don't mean to, and I wind up hurting myself.  So that brings me back to my behavior and what is the best rule of thumb.

It is Jesus.  When we are out in the world, we should try our best to live as Jesus did.  And Chapter 9 gives us some valuable lessons.  Jesus confronted the issues with honesty.  Matthew 9:4-6 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say, "your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?  6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins."  Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"

If the man got up in front of you and started walking, what would you think? This man says he can forgive sins and he can do better than say that, he can tell a paralyzed man to get up, pick up his mat, and go home.  And the man does! 

Now please don't misunderstand me.  I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but it goes beyond the miracles that he performed.  There are many reasons, why I decided many years ago to take a "leap of faith" as some people say and say, yes, Jesus is my Savior and I believe he died for my sins.  The miracles that he performed is just one and (may I say a small component) of my belief. 

But for my purposes today in citing those verses, it is more to understand that Jesus confronted situations head on and with honesty and was able to prove his statement.

Matthew 9:13 ... "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture:  'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'  For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous , but those who know they are sinners."

I ask myself this question.  How am I doing with the above mandate from Jesus?  Am I showing mercy?  How about you?  How are you doing with that statement? 

We see so much heartache around us today.  What can we do?  Share the Good News with others, and I leave you with this verse.  Matthew 9:37-38 He said to the disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

I apologize for not writing for a week.  As soon as I can I will post the chapters that we have been reading.

Thank you for your patience, and I hope you have a blessed day.