LGLO

Matthew 22

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.

35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:

36 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"



  37 Jesus replied, 

"'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'

38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 A second is equally important: 

'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."



There you have it - the whole enchinlada  summed up by Jesus into 2 statement.

And that can be boiled down to 4 words...

Love God, love others.

LGLO


And we white middle class evangelicals have missed the mark on this by about 100 million light years

testing

Until the time came to fulfill His word, 

the Lord tested Joseph's character. 

Psalm 105:19



I think we always think that Joseph had his act together.

I'm not sure about that.

But here it is suggested that God put Joseph in situations that intentionally  would grow him up, & prune away al lot of that pride Joseph had.

Like the pride he had to tell his brothers & dad not once but twice that one day they would all bow down to him.

Not a smart move, you'd think?


Maybe that would explain why we go through some of the stuff we do?

Maybe God is trying to make some character changes in us, in preparation for when He wants to use us for something?

It's just a thought...

Come

Then Jesus said,

"Come to me,

all you who are weary

& carry heavy burdens,

& I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28



Who out there is weary...

or toting a heavy, heavy burden...

or is at the end of their rope...

or is in an impossible place...

or is just at the point of despair..

or just doesn't know what to do...



Jesus says to us, 

"C'mere..."



The God of the universes says to nanospecks in the cosmos,

"C'mere..."



Think about that today in whatever situation we find ourselves...

remember...

Let's remember this as we gather for worship today...


Psalm 103

8 The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
  slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
  nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
  he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
  is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
  as the east is from the west.
13 The LORD is like a father to his children,
  tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
  he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
  like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
  as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the LORD remains forever
  with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children's children
18   of those who are faithful to his covenant,
  of those who obey his commandments!

weak vis a vis strong

This is Paul, writing to the followers of Jesus in Corinth...




1 Corinthians 12

7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God, 

to keep me from becoming proud, 

I was given a thorn in my flesh, to keep me from becoming proud.



  8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

9 Each time he said, 

"My grace is all you need. 

My power works best in weakness." 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, 

so that the power of Christ can work through me.

10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, 

and in the insults, 

hardships, 

persecutions, 

and troubles that I suffer for Christ. 


For when I am weak, 

then I am strong.




"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." 


For when I am weak, then I am strong.



How do those 2 statement apply in your life?

I've got to think about how they apply to me in my present paradigm...

2018 verses

Just a remind of what verses I feel like God has given me to hold on to.

If you see a connecting thread, tell me what you think it is.

With this many verses, 2018 surely is gonna be a humdinger...



If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

No matter what happens, always be thankful; For this is God's will for you who follow Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18

Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you or forsake you. Deut. 31:8 Don't throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Hebrews 12:12-13
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble & always be prayerful. Romans 12:12

what do you benefit...

Matthew 16

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 

"If any of you wants to be my follower, 

you must put aside your selfish ambition, 

take up your cross, 

and follow me.

25 If you try to hang on to your life, 

you will lose it. 

But if you give up your life for my sake, 

you will save it.

26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 

Is anything worth more than your soul?



what do you benefit if you (get the opportunity to play for your 6th Super Bowl ring) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you (will one day be the king of the United Kingdom) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you (are the head of state & the leader of a nation) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you are drop dead gorgeous, are filthy rich, & just got nominated for an oscar) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you (have pecs big enough for a bra, a 12 pack of abs, a jeep lifted 6", & 6 deer heads on the wall in the den) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you (have a kool job, a kool spouse, a kool house, lots of kool stuff, fill a square each week by going to church & dozing off) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you (spend your whole life thinking only of yourself, making yourself the center of your universe) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you (think you're a hot mess for God, that He should be glad you're a Christian, & wisdom drips from your lips) but lose your own soul? 


what do you benefit if you...? 



Well, you get the idea...


So many of the things we think are important really aren't

So many of the people we think are so grand & wonderful really aren't.

So much of what captures our attention & time doesn't amount to a hill of beans.



 if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

yep...

just think about what He's saying here

Just think about what Jesus is saying here...



Matthew 5


3 "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.


4 God blesses those who mourn,
  for they will be comforted.



5 God blesses those who are humble,
  for they will inherit the whole earth.



6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
  for they will be satisfied.


7 God blesses those who are merciful,
  for they will be shown mercy.



8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
  for they will see God.



9 God blesses those who work for peace,
  for they will be called the children of God.



10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
  for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.


  11 "God blesses you when people mock you 

and persecute you 

and lie about you 

and say all sorts of evil things against you 

because you are my followers.

12 Be happy about it! 

Be very glad! 

For a great reward awaits you in heaven. 

And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

2 verses

Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it.
2 Corinthians 8:11



So don't get tired of doing what is good.
Don't get discouraged & give up,
for we will reap a harvest of blessing
at the right time.
Galatians 6:9



Who needs to hear this today, besides me?

yeast

Matthew 13:33 Jesus also used this illustration: 

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. 

Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, 

it permeated every part of the dough."



So, we're supposed to be like yeast?

Although not very big, 

by being who we are, 

we slowly, 

gently, 

& methodically spread the reality of who Jesus is 

& what His identity means 

& does 

for humankind?


So it's not campaigns or gimmicks that spread this connection to God?

Nor is the furthered by going whoring for political power & influence, or by being moral policeman?


Hmmm... I must ponder the implications of Jesus' words...

a special message

This is for someone who especially, desperately needs to hear this...



God is ready to help you right now. 2 Corinthians 6:2b (NLT, 1st ed.)



God is ready to help you right now.


God is ready to help you right now.


God is ready to help you right now.


God is ready to help you right now.


God is ready to help you right now.



Whoever you are, let Him help you - He wants to.

Rest in that thought & open up your heart & life to Him...

& let Him help you, right now.

operative word: come

The operative word here is "come" in these translations from Biblegateway.com...


Jesus, the God of the universes, says come...



Then Jesus said,

Come to me, 

all you who are weary & carry heavy burdens,

& I will give you rest. (NLT, 1st ed.)

Matthew 11:28

KJ21

“Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

ASV

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

AMP

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].

AMPC

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

BRG

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

CSB

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

CEB

“Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

CJB

“Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.

CEV

If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.

DARBY

Come to me, all ye who labour and are burdened, and *I* will give you rest.

DLNT

Come to Me, all the ones being weary and having been burdened, and I will give you rest.

DRA

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.

ERV

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.

EHV

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

ESVUK

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

EXB

“Come to me, all of you who are ·tired [weary] and ·have heavy loads [overburdened; T heavy-laden] and I will give you rest.

GNV

Come unto me, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease you.

GW

“Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

GNT

“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

HCSB

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

ICB

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.

ISV

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.

PHILLIPS

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest!”

JUB

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

KJV

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

AKJV

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

LEB

Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

TLB

Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.”

MSG

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”

MEV

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

MOUNCE

Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will refresh you.

NOG

“Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

NABRE

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

NASB

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

NCV

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

NET

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

NIRV

“Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.

NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

NIVUK

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

NLV

“Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.

NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

NMB

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

NRSV

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

NRSVA

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

NRSVACE

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

NRSVCE

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

NTE

‘Are you having a real struggle? Come to me! Are you carrying a big load on your back? Come to me – I’ll give you a rest!

OJB

Come to me, all you who are burden-weary and heavy laden, and I will give you Shabbos menuchah.

TPT

"Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis."

RSV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

RSVCE

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

TLV

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

VOICE

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

WEB

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

WE

All you who work hard! All you who carry heavy loads! Come to me! I will give you rest.

WYC

All ye that travail, and be charged, come to me, and I shall fulfill you [and I shall refresh, or fulfill, you].

YLT

`Come unto me, all ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest,