Have the Heart of Christ to obtain the Power of God!

Good morning to all from Runaway Bay Jamaica! Waine brought me to this resort to celebrate my birthday and I have been having a blast! Last night was capped off by a performance with a fire eater. A good time was had by all.

I wanted to continue my travels in Matthew 23 verses 1 - 12, "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi. But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and He is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Amen and amen.

I had to think about this passage for a minute. There are those occupy places of power and authority, perhaps in your home, place of work in government. The heart and soul of these people may be questionable however we are to be obedient to the position and not to the person who may occupy that seat, believing God for the outcome. I know Christian women in very bad marriages; they are obedient to their husbands however pray for their salvation constantly. The prayers of the righteous do more good than all the criticisms one can amass. Likewise, you may work for a boss that does not have the love of God in their hearts. Again obey the position and do not mimic the person. The opposite is also true. I have found Christians always "using" the scriptures to criticize their bosses, or judging  their fellow workers. Christ would seem to say that this is the behavior of the Pharisees; "false" prophets as it were. The love of Christ commands uf to be obedient to the people who have been put in positions over us as our reasonable service to God. The love of Christ also commands us to let our light so shine that even the lost husband, or the lost boss can see the Love of God within us.

If you find that you have not been elevated or exalted then search your heart and repent. The natural order of things is that Christians will be lifted up like the serpent in the desert. Our life is not of struggle or turmoil. If you are living a less than abundant life, search your heart for the love of Jesus the Christ and repent.  Amen and amen. May the Power of Jesus rule your life today.

Stephanie