Bible
Study: Isaiah 7, 1 to 9 and Matthew 11, 20 to 24.
In today’s Gospel passage, we can
obviously see that Jesus is not happy at all. Why is he not happy? Because the
towns where his mighty miracles took place refused to change their ways and
repent. They had received the miracles without allowing these miracles affect their
relationship with God and the manner of their lives. Jesus goes as far as
saying that if the people of Sodom had been privileged to witness such
miracles, they might have repented.
What does this passage teach me? When
I go to church specifically to seek miracle, to seek God’s favours in my life and
answers to my prayers, I must be ready to repent as well. Why do I keep asking
God to change my situation (make me richer) when I am not ready to change from
my sinful habits? Why do I challenge God to show me the extent of his power by
giving me a breakthrough when that which is in my power to do, I refuse to do
it? Isn’t it a shame that I accuse God of not been very generous to me when I am
so stingy to him by my refusal to surrender my freewill and my body to him?
Jesus is not happy when I try to use
him. And the funny thing is that He knows when I try to use him, I cannot
pretend or lie to him. He knows everything. I use Jesus when I relate to him as
though he was my errand body, I keep asking him to do this and do that but I don’t
even listen to him. All I want to hear from Jesus is: “Yes, Sir!” Just as I use
my house-help or my staff sometimes (by sending them series of errands without
ever asking whether they have eaten for instance), I use Jesus when I don’t even
try to read the bible or change my evil ways.
Jesus deserves more. He deserves
better than being used and I know I am capable of doing more than merely demand
this and that from him. Jesus deserves my worship, he deserves my total
surrender, he deserves taking the position of Master in my life; he deserves
the driver’s seat in my life. It is not for me to make him do my will (give me
what I want), rather it is for me to do his will even if that means giving up
my dreams, my desire and love for material success.
If someone tells me he is still
learning how to drive, I will not sit comfortably in a car and allow him to
drive me from Benin to Sokoto. No way. I will be so nervous in the car that I may
suffer a heart attack. So I ask myself, why am I nervous in this life when I have
sang this song many times: “All to Jesus, I surrender…” You remember that song?
Each time I sing it, I sing it with all my heart. For me to say: “Jesus I surrender
everything to you,” it means I am saying: “Jesus, you take the driver’s seat in
my life.” Yet, why is my heart still full of worry and nervousness? It simply
shows I don’t trust Jesus.
Forget the many times I have recited
the creed, so long as fear lurks in my heart, it means I am not living by the faith
I profess with my lips. I am just like King Ahaz in today’s first reading. I look
around me and see two kings coming to fight against me, I see danger on every
side, I look at these two kings and I realise that one of them alone has enough
army strength to defeat me not to mention that they are two sets of armies now
coming against me. But as I look at them, I forget to look at God, I forget that
the God I serve created the heavens and earth simply with a word of mouth. I forget
that when I look too much at Goliath, he seems too big but when I look at God,
Goliath becomes too small in my eyes.
Dear friends, Isaiah tells Ahaz today
and he is telling you and I as well: “if you will not believe, you will not be
established.” If only I allow myself look at God the way he deserves, if only I
increase my respect for him and stop treating him like some house-boy, then I would
see that all my problems are just like pieces of sand to him. I would relax, seek
first his righteousness and let him do the rest.
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, increase my
respect for you so I will not only seek miracles from your hand, but honour you
with my body and my very lifestyle. Amen
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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