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Post by Scott Ross on Apr 28, 2008 22:14:15 GMT -5
Howdy, Well let's move on to Matthew chapters 11 and 12. I think I will continue to list 2 chapters at a time. It will give a little more reading, and also a bit more subject matter to draw upon. Please feel free to post your thoughts about the subject matter in these two chapters. Scott
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Post by Scott Ross on Apr 29, 2008 0:24:50 GMT -5
Although I have been hearing these verses all my life, they have taken on more meaning for me in the last year or so: Matthew 11
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."It is interesting to note that Jesus is telling us that by taking a yoke upon ourselves, we will find rest for our souls, even though we are weary and burdened. In some ways that never made a whole lot of sense to me. I used to think that to put on a yoke meant to be more or less to become subjugated to pulling a load. Here are some definitions of 'yoke' that points out how being yoked makes perfect sense in making our burdens easier to bear. yoke stable gear that joins two draft animals at the neck so they can work together as a team yoke, coupling a connection (like a clamp or vise) between two things so they move together yoke become joined or linked together My thoughts are that when we accept the yoke from Jesus, it not only puts us in a position to do the will of God, but it also joins us together with our fellow Christians in such a manner that we are able to work together (members linked together -yoked- in the body of Christ), and we become able to help our brothers and sisters to carry their burdens in times of difficulty Because it is the yoke of Jesus we have the power of the Holy Spirit joined with us in bearing our collective burdens. Scott
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Post by degem on Apr 29, 2008 15:10:33 GMT -5
This should keep me busy with reading over these 2 chapters plus our Wednesday Bible Study. PS I am envious Scott of your green stars! Gemster
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Post by Scott Ross on Apr 30, 2008 22:59:03 GMT -5
Howdy Ran! Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
unity is a great thing.I agree with the unity statement. I see an awful lot of bickering between those that I consider Christians. I wish that we were able to accept each other as brothers and sisters in Christ more often. Especially when our differences are about things which are non essential to our salvation. In the verse you quoted, I always try to remind myself that even my thought are known. It is not just what we do outwardly that matters, and in fact I think that our inner self is more important. Our fellow man can see what we do, but God sees how we truly feel. Thanks for joining the discussion bro! Good to see you posting here.. Scott
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Post by Katie on May 3, 2008 21:53:19 GMT -5
I love both of these chapters! But something new popped out at me today - in the 11th chapter...
First, John was in prison, he heard about Jesus, and sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you He that should come?" Are you the Christ? Jesus confirmed himself to John, by the very evidence of His works.
THEN... I love this part... Jesus turned around and confirmed John to the multitudes as His messenger... the very one who was sent to go before him, proclaiming the good news!
When we confirm Jesus in our lives, then Jesus will confirm US as being His child, His messenger, His disciple. And we have the privilege of sharing the very same message to the world that John proclaimed... Jesus, the Saviour is coming. John was sent to announce Jesus' first coming... we can tell others about Jesus' second coming!
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Post by Star Welters on May 6, 2008 8:25:02 GMT -5
A couple of things came to mind this morning as I read these passages:
First of all, the above statement from Jesus (and Jesus' whole ministry for that matter) flies in the face of contemporary thought. It's just so counter-intuitive. The hearers of Jesus must have been so bewildered upon hearing these statments for the first time.
The other thing that I was so struck by is the wisdom of Jesus. He responds to every problem that is placed in front of him with such clarity and in such a poignant manner that his opponents have to abandon each of their false presuppositions. (11:19, 12:3-8, 12:11-12, 12:25-37, 12:39-45, and 12:48-50)
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