Good morning to all from Portland, Oregon! We are spending some quality time with Melanie, Don, Audrey and Vincent in the great Northwest! Waine's niece is getting married on Sunday in Seattle so we used this occasion to visit our daughter Melanie and her family. We had a delightful day yesterday with Vincent at the Oregon zoo. He is an amazing 4 year old and the things that he comes up with, crack us up. We bought fresh vegetables yesterday and the quality of the fresh fruits and veggies out here is noticeable. We are also on the count down for Hailie Christine Kong joining us, so the next two weeks is going to be exciting! Pray for our traveling mercies; my brother Koichi said that I am wearing his knees out with requests for traveling mercies and I can't help it because your prayers work for me!
I am continuing my journey through Matthew 19, verses 13-30, Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there. Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Why do you ask Me about what is good? Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments. Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself. All these I have kept, the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Amen!
Children are very central to the heart of God and as His stewards it is our job to ensure that children are protected and cared for! Not just your own offspring but the children of the world. There is so much exploitation of children; there are obvious evil doers who exploit children for sex and drugs--they will see hell and will deserve it. There are also not so obvious exploiters of children--those of us who allow children to fill their minds and hearts with violence, sex and drug use on TV or see us partaking of behavior that does not honor God. I know I made great mistakes with all of my children; I could have loved them more and been more kind to them and for these mistakes I ask God's forgiveness. God, however saw my heart and knew that I loved and wanted the best for my children and my children heard me. If you could see the kind attention and love they show their children I am humbled and awed because I know that it is only the love of God that allows my mistakes for not affecting my grandchildren. If you ever needed a reason to be diligent about your affect on children these verses will hold you in good stead!
Christ is also teaching us about our hearts and what we store in them. Christ certainly does not withhold riches and wealth to those that love Him. Having money and wealth is not a sin; there are certainly wealthy Christians however money and wealth can have a tendency to become demi-gods to alot of people. The pursuit of wealth and the propagation of wealth is a full time job; it can consume you and your thoughts. Christ wants to ensure that what consumes us is our faith in the Love of God and our mission to assist Him in Kingdom building for the eternal life that all will share. His desire is that people of the world hear and accept the Good News that will allow them to spend eternity with Him as opposed to without Him. If our minds and hearts are on the accumulation of wealth then there is little room to pursue the Love and Commitment we must have as Christians for the work of the Kingdom. I think what Christ was telling the rich, young ruler is that it was not enough to display the acts of righteousness, we had to be righteous! What the rich young ruler would have found out is that the act of obedience of selling his riches was what Christ wanted. The rich young ruler would have been restored in his life time, ten fold just as Job was. Its the OBEDIENCE that matters!
As you go through your day, keep your mind and heart on Christ. There are so many distractions that can rob you of your happiness. One thing is assured, your obedience will make you rich. Christ loves you and is in love with you this day! Be about Kingdom building and be blessed.
Stephanie
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