Daily Bread 12-30-16
Matthew 8:11,12
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
ref. - Isa 2:2,3 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountains of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isa 11:10 - And in that day shall there be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Luke 13:29 - And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from he north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Matt 21:43 - Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth fruits thereof.
Luke 13:28 - There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
If we do not exhibit faith and follow Christ we are who this scripture is condemning. Christ was not put here for God's pleasure, he was here for a reason. He did not find pleasure and excitement in seeing his only Son die on that cross, but it was necessary to offer us a way to live in faith and bring forth fruit that is his pleasure. And yet, there are many who think that they are able to bypass salvation in Christ and faith and fear of God. Some are still trying to get justified by the world of the law in which the word of God says that no man will be justified. Others are trying to live under a manufactured religion that was formed by men whose minds had been left reprobate and their consciences seared. Changing the word of God into what they felt it meant or what suited them. This, also, is brought to lies and deceit as the word of God itself says that we mustn't add to or take away from the word of God and also that the scripture is not for any form of private interpretation. So, you see, the only truth is that which is in the word of God. In the word of God , Jesus told this centurion that he had not seen so great of faith in all Israel. This was only believing that Jesus could heal his servant. But God's people were lacking in faith and would not believe in any of what Christ was doing. Even though their own Scriptures and prophecies told them it was coming, they still would not allow themselves to believe. When we begin to serve God we believe that all things are possible in Christ, and they are. But as we grow older and sometimes see things not happen when and where we want, we start to doubt what Christ has to offer us. We believe in salvation, sanctification, and baptism of the Holy Spirit, but when it doesn't happen how we want, we begin to doubt. We start looking away from Christ. Still claiming to be of God but looking away from Christ. We are quickly becoming the kind of people that the Jews had become in the time of this scripture. Truth is, we have the only example and the only way that we need; Jesus Christ. He is capable of all things that are necessary for us to make it to the kingdom. Our goals are many times clouded with physical things and carnal desires but we must, first remain focused on what Christ can do in our souls, and our hearts, and our minds. We must remain constant in prayer and believe that he is the Son of God and what he says and does come straight from God. Remember, what is unexplainable to the world is simple in Christ. So, let us press on further in knowledge of Christ and faith in Christ so that, instead of looking in without hope, we can enter into the kingdom of God and sit amongst the saints. Not as spectators, but as fellow saints of God!!! Have a great day!!!