Living in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 18, 2014
Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.— Matthew 22:15-16
I like to call the Pharisees and the other from the temple that continuously challenged Jesus the “religious leaders”. Although the stories recorded in the Gospels refer to the Jewish leaders, I think the moral lessons these stories bring to us refer to “religious leaders” of all ilk, including those of us who call ourselves Christian. The interesting thing about our story today is it starts with the Pharisees basically recognizing that what Jesus lived and taught was the way of God. Isn’t that interesting?
Reading on you will see that these religious leaders apparently thought Jesus was naïve to the ways of the world and that life was a whole lot more complicated than his simple message of showing deference to no one could address. These Jewish people had to deal with the big bad Romans. Little did they know that three hundred years later those big bad Romans would be having to deal with the influence of those who then called themselves Christians.
Power and greed, evil of all sorts, have existed since the beginning of the world. We do battle with them on every step of our journey on the way of God. Faith groups throughout history, too, have gotten caught up in them. Jesus said the way was simple; he never said it would be easy. He did say, if we choose to follow it, we will never be alone.
Oklahoma Fact: 35,000 Children or 3% were affected by foreclosure from 2007-2009*
Prayer: Lord, we know your way is the better way, give us the courage to live it every day. Amen
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.