#Matthew 9:11

[walkswithmyfather]

“Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts” By Michael Wilson (in God Thoughts, God is Good, Book):

“Jesus gets in trouble a lot. The religious elites do not like who He spends time together with.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” —Luke 7:39

They let Jesus know. They let the disciples of Jesus know.

And … Jesus wants to sit down and eat with us. Jesus wants to sit down and eat with you. Jesus is smiling and in a good mood. Jesus has good news for us.

It is time to listen.

“When the religious elites and leaders (aka Pharisees) saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and those who have missed God’s goal (aka sinners)?” —Matthew 9:11

There is good news that Jesus came to save me, a sinner (aka someone who misses God’s goal). Jesus seeks me out. Jesus wants to sit down and eat with me.

Criticism of Jesus the Messiah’s choice of company: Who will I seek out to tell the good news of Jesus to? Is my message for the religious elites or those who need God? Will I be criticized for who I am spending time together with? Are they the “wrong people”? Are they broken hearted, the sick, the homeless, the poor?

Jesus wants to know!”

Luke 7:39  — “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Luke 19:7  — “When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

[https://quotesthoughtsrandom.wordpress.com/]

[kjzlstuio]

Im coming out

Runs away in shame

[adventism-atheism-orthodoxy-me]

This Verse Secretly Undermines All of Christianity...

I just saw this and thought I would process it on my own.

This YouTuber doesn't sound like he's explored much beyond mainstream Western Christianity. He makes the bold statement that EVERY Christian sect finds indispensable the idea that Christ died on the Cross "for our sins". Period.

For the longest time I found that challenging too. He goes on to talk about many of the same things I've asked, "Why couldn't God just forgive us outright? Why must he go through a generational pageant to do something the God of the Universe could have done of his own accord in the first place?"

You can say this is a dumb question. I've been told this many times.

Yet I have never been the only one asking this.

Many, if not all Atheists ask this question. Frankly, many "Christian" answers sound a little unhinged.

Now, I don't think that his examples necessarily contradict the prevailing point of view though. All anyone has to do is look at the banking industry to see that credit on future earnings is a valid payment method. Now it's true that modern banking, and especially credit, wasn't developed until the European Jews, unable to make a living any other way, started lending during the medieval period. Jesuits came up with the idea of insurance, which didn't technically fall under the prohibition against usury. And with ongoing innovation, modern financial markets developed.

None of these, of course, would have been understood by the local people of Jesus' time and place.

What was understood was life and death.

And this is where I found my peace.

Sins can easily be forgiven, but sickness and eventual death? That's a whole other nut to crack. Now, to be clear, unfortunately even the most traditional Christian communities have started to obsess about how SIN must be atoned!

But there is a strain in the oldest Christian traditions that it wasn't primarily sin that was destroyed on the cross, but rather death, disease, corruption (of which sin is a derivation to be sure, but not the point).

Now it's easy to look around and say - "Look! it didn't work." I myself have had to say good bye to both my parents over the last several months.

However, there is a resurrection that is promised. And if Christ has done what he said he did, then there WILL be a general resurrection.

The key is to be prepared for that resurrection. Now we could go on about which denomination is best prepared, but I have little faith in denominationalism. I think it's a means to conquer and divide the faithful, pitting follower against follower. Soon the God who's being worshiped isn't the most High God, but the Deceiver who encourages us all to call each other heretics. I do not think most "Christians" are Christian, but rather following their own wisdom (1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 24:11).

Now I may be a false teacher myself for thinking such a thing and putting it out there, but I have faith that God will know his own. And while he loves the rest, and has given them life, that life will be so much less for the fact that they reject what he's given them.

I find the idea of a river of fire helpful - Moses and the Glory of God (Exodus 33:20-23), speaks to the idea that to human senses, God is Fire. The Story of the Three Holy Youths (Daniel 3) has also been seen as an illustration of man abiding in the presence of fire, as a proxy for God, unharmed. Pentecost is God's fire experienced by the faithful after his resurrection. How will Gods fire be experienced by the unfaithful?

I have no idea, but I doubt that it will be pleasant (Luke 16:19-31).

In short, I feel this video failed to land it's point. There's enough diversity in Christianity to survive this argument, though I do not think that most modern Christians are open to my resolution.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy upon me, a sinner.

[redscrawl]

everyone is talking about how the plane reflection is foreshadowing to them dying in a plane crash, but meanwhile i was thinking they were foreshadowing 9/11 part 2 kills Logan

[peridotamethyst]

[jumioxox]

drdttober day eleven - games/late night

[inthegardenpraying]

"Don’t get me wrong, I did meet many warm, caring, and friendly pastors. It’s not an easy role to assume—whether you’re a pastor, a priest, a mullah, or a rabbi—if you’re a teacher of the law. Too many pastors are comfortable putting their followers into a state of shame and guilt if they don’t follow the law, which entails that the pastors, too, have to restrict their freedom and follow the law. If they, the representatives of the law, break the law, then they are riven with shame and guilt. If you preach Turn the other cheek, you better take the slaps. If you preach Drinking alcohol is a sin, you better not imbibe." | "For some reason, perhaps since I was an outsider, in my one-on-one conversations with pastors, they would often confess their transgressions that were keeping them up at night. This would range from one confessing he would sneak off into the woods to enjoy his cigar to another pastor who cried when he confessed he was addicted to porn. And they have to hide it. Come on, guys. Light up and lighten up. The appeal Jesus had for me was that he was someone who rejected the religious establishment and hung out with society’s rejects, those labeled as sinners." | "“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’ ” (Matthew 9:11–13 NIV)." | Hassan Yousef, Mosab; Becket, James/From Hamas to America: My Story of Defying Terror, Facing the Unimaginable, and Finding Redemption in the Land of Opportunity.

[disneynerdpumpkin]

~ Scriptures about forgiveness ~

Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:13 "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him."

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."

Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Luke 17:3-4 "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Isaiah 1:8 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

[bojackson54]

Words Matter. Read These and See If You Don't Agree

Read every word of this quote, and see if it sounds sane, or crazy. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me.'” (John 14:6, NIV) This short statement is amazingly full, and it’s worth challenging. It’s also worth considering. Depth Not Length First of all, consider the first two words: Jesus SAID. The spoken word is incredibly important in the…

[martyschoenleber]

Jesus is Coming

Some years ago I was walking around the reception tables after a wedding I had performed. An older woman approached me with a question. Almost everyone present at this particular wedding had come from a high church liturgical tradition. In their tradition, they had sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly recited either the Apostle’s Creed or the Athanasian Creed. But apparently, she hadn’t been…

[walkswithmyfather]

John 3:26-31 (NASB). “And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. “He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”

Matthew 11:9-10 (NASB). “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’”

John 1:29 (NKJV). “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

“Faith to Be Less” By In Touch ministries:

“Smaller roles in God’s kingdom don’t have smaller joy.”

“In today’s passage, we see the disciples of John the Baptist showing concern for their leader, or perhaps for the viability of his ministry. “The one you identified as the Messiah is also baptizing people,” they said, “and everybody is going to him instead of coming to us” (v. 26 NLT). They knew John wasn’t the Messiah, or at least that he said he wasn’t. Perhaps they hoped his ministry would continue to be relevant, and that he’d receive the respect he deserved as a prophet. For these reasons, John’s response may have surprised them.

“This joy of mine has been made full,” he said. “[Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (vv. 29-30). John’s faith in Christ enabled him to handle being less. His faith meant stepping from center stage into the shadows. But John had no sadness or regret; he felt only complete joy.

The Baptizer understood his role. His faithful service—which Jesus acknowledged after Herod had John arrested (Matthew 11:9-10)—was just that: service. John recognized that his primary work was to set the stage for the Messiah.

Our role in God’s work is similar. Like John, let us find our fullest joy in bearing witness, embracing the lesser role that points to the Savior and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29).

[inspiredbyhisword]

Bible Study: Building Deep Roots

This journal entry captures a heartfelt reflection on your spiritual and professional journey. It highlights your desire to deepen your relationship with God, find balance, and discern His will for your future. Let’s analyze the themes, provide biblical context for study, and offer guidance for further reflection and prayer.

Analysis and Context for Bible Study

Mark 4:17 – Spiritual Roots and Endurance

The verse reminds us that faith needs deep roots to endure trials and challenges. Your reflection ties beautifully to this truth: moments of spiritual immersion, like church summer camps, filled your heart with joy, but the pressures of life distracted you from fully applying His Word. This echoes the rocky soil, where joy is temporary without depth to sustain it. Developing deep roots requires consistent exposure to God’s Word and persistent prayer, as you noted.

Your desire to integrate prayer into every aspect of your day and approach Bible study with intentionality demonstrates a commitment to spiritual growth. This is a powerful way to build endurance, ensuring your faith isn’t easily shaken by burnout, career uncertainties, or worldly distractions.

Faith Without Works is Dead (James 2:26)

You rightly connect your reflections to the idea that hearing God’s Word isn’t enough—it must inspire action. Faith becomes alive through obedience, whether by prioritizing prayer, seeking clarity in your career, or pursuing opportunities that align with His plan. Your approach to actively applying for positions, researching social work fields, and seeking volunteer opportunities demonstrates a willingness to put your faith into action, trusting that God will guide your steps.

Matthew 7:7 – Seeking God’s Direction

The verse you chose, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7, NLT), offers encouragement and a roadmap for discernment. It affirms that persistence in prayer, research, and action will lead to clarity. God’s answers may not come instantly, but your active pursuit shows faith in His timing and trust in His plans.

Professional Reflection in Light of Scripture

Your career path reflects a mix of diligence, uncertainty, and burnout. Balancing a calling to help others with the practicalities of work-life balance and financial stability is a common struggle. Jeremiah 29:11 also resonates here, reminding you of God’s good plans for your future. Trust that He is using this season to prepare you for what’s next, even if the final picture isn’t clear yet.

Your plan to volunteer as a domestic violence/sexual assault advocate shows wisdom. This step aligns with Proverbs 16:9: “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (NLT). By seeking experience and networking, you are positioning yourself for clarity while leaving room for God to guide you.

Spiritual Insights and Next Steps

Deepening Spiritual Roots: To build a strong foundation, keep incorporating prayer into every aspect of your day. Use scripture meditation and journaling as tools to internalize God’s Word. Reflect on how each verse applies to your life and transforms your perspective.

Trusting God in Career Decisions: Lean on Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (NLT). Surrender your uncertainties to Him while continuing your diligent research and efforts.

Managing Burnout: Seek moments of rest and renewal, remembering Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (NLT). Find ways to recharge spiritually and physically so that you can approach your current role and future goals with clarity and strength.

Prayers for Guidance and Strength

For Deep Roots: Father, help me develop deep roots in Your Word. Teach me to prioritize prayer and Bible study so that I can grow in my faith and stand firm through challenges.

For Clarity in Career Decisions: Lord, guide my steps as I navigate my career path. Help me to seek Your will above all else and trust that You are leading me toward Your good plans for my life.

For Renewal and Rest: God, give me the strength to persevere and the wisdom to find balance. Help me to trust in Your provision and find peace in Your presence.

For Faith in Action: Holy Spirit, empower me to put my faith into action. Let my decisions and efforts reflect trust in Your promises and obedience to Your Word.

Closing Reflection

Your journal entry reflects a genuine desire to grow in faith and seek God’s direction. Remember, God doesn’t waste any part of your journey—every step, even the challenging ones, serves a purpose in His plan. Continue to knock, seek, and trust, knowing that He will provide clarity in due time. Keep anchoring yourself in His Word, and He will lead you to a fulfilling path aligned with His will.

[fardell24b]

Church notes - 15th December 2024

15th Joy Isaiah 11:1 - 10 Wonderful Counselor

Luke 4:22 - 38 Jesus' ancestry traced all the way back to Adam.

Isaiah was convinced by what he knew of God.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding.

Matthew 9:1 - 8

Spirit of counsel or might.

Matthew 8:28 - 31 Swift, powerful and complete

Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

Deny yourself, follow Jesus

[touchofgoddotworld]

Knowing the Father’s Heart Removes Doubt and Unbelief (275) – December 7 2024

Choose your Podcast App to Play this episode It is the Lord’s desire, His Will, that you would experience what He has already promised you in His Word. That you would experience Him, to come to Know Him, to remain in divine health, to have your soul prospering amongst other promises.  God didn’t give us all an equal measure of faith just so that we could believe in His Son and receive eternal…

[jessielefey]

tl;dr here it is in nifty song from AS IT WAS HAPPENING, please note how it posted on youtube -- a site that existed to be posted upon -- *before* the US finally got off its ass on the national level instead of us having to chip off state by state.

This is what the fight is like

Sooo, apparently the extremely tenuous and recent nature of the LGBTQ+ community's legal right to exist was not actually super widely known to a lot of people on Tumblr?

Which clarifies some stuff in retrospect. I have so often wanted to grab people by their lapels and shout, "Stop picking on someone for not meeting your entry requirements! We need everyone we can get, you asshole! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THEY HATE US OUT THERE?"

Aaaapparently... no, they did not know. Or they knew and were a conservative psyop preparing the ground for our loss of legal rights. Fun times!

So: Look, it is bad. Shit is scary. They really do hate us out there. You're not wrong.

But: This is what we've always fought. This boat we're in with its antique fittings and strange markings on the floor is a battleship. Work has always been going on in the basements, and when shit gets tough, we clear away clutter and roll out the cannons.

I found this chart a couple weeks ago and hung onto it because it felt like the map to my first 25 years on this earth:

[Image description: A graph titled "Same Sex Marriage: Public Polls since 1988." It is from FiveThirtyEight's NYT column. It records the percentage of US Americans polled who would say yes or no to legalizing same-sex marriage, from 1988 to 2011.

The two lines begin with roughly 10% saying yes in 1988, and 70% saying no; the two lines gradually draw closer over the years, until by 2011, the percent saying finally dips under 50%, and the group saying yes makes a tentative reach for the majority. End of image description.]

After some great social change has happened, when everyone has admitted that gay marriage is very cute and Pride is a colourful parade, hooray, people like to pretend that it was just natural and inevitable and happened on its own. People just became less prejudiced! Courts just decided on a case! Governments just passed a law!

In reality, it was a vicious fucking fight, every fucking time. Every fucking where. There are a lot of people who deeply, sincerely believe that a hundred years ago, society had good rules about sex and gender and intercourse and marriage, and that changing those rules has made the world worse. They don't always agree on the specifics, but they can work together far enough to fight anyone with new ideas.

This is why we are a community. Even when we don't have the same experiences of attraction or identity, even when we don't do the same things, even when we have wildly different ideas of a good time. Because when these groups take aim, we're all under fire, and none of us is responsible for why they hate us.

In some ways I think it's a miracle that there seems to be a generation that did not grow up, as I grew up, constantly glued to news reports about What Percentage of Society Hates Us this month. I can't imagine who I'd be if my brain and heart and soul hadn't been tied up, that whole time, in the political question of whether I'd get to dream of a decent future.

I think that it will give us strength to have people who can imagine a world where no one hates us. Who believe in it so strongly they can taste it. That's my prediction: If you didn't know this was coming, you'll be a boon to us, because we have always needed joy so fiercely, in this fight, to keep us going on. We have needed drag queens and punk bands and "her wife" and safe space stickers. Parade floats and wedding days and little dogs with rainbow collars, badges and banners and meetups, because more than anything else we need to fight our own despair, and our fear that the world will never get any better than this.

It will. We know it will. We can taste it.

Look up to the history, organizations, and people who've got us this far for information on what forms of activism will actually advance our political goals. Look to the side to make sure the comrades within reach are keeping their heads above water, and that you're keeping enough joy going to stay alive. Look back to see who's more vulnerable than you are that you might have forgotten or been tempted to leave behind. Look after each other. Look after yourself.

We can do this.

To your battle stations.

[hmdavis02]

Jesus Didn't Come for the Righteous

. . .He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”(Matthew 9:11-13) The above statements by Yeshua (Jesus) were made shortly after He called a man named Matthew to follow Him. Because Matthew was both Jewish and a tax collector employed by…