The Words of Christ

Matthew 13:18-52 The video below only focuses on the latter part of these verses, but the spirit associated with all these verses is the same, so I've felt to include the full section of parables on the kingdom of Heaven in this study. These verses are truth, and though they are spoken in parables, this is the reality of the world in which we live and the kingdom of which we may all hope to be a part of.

Matthew 18:1-11 , Mark 9:33-50 I don't know where to begin, but because the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, I feel I should make record of it. So strong is the witness of what the Savior spoke in regards to our becoming like little children, that I need not to deny it. I've always found it interesting the pattern in which life is set out before us, that we are to end where we begin, and that the love, purity, innocence, hope, faith, friendship, happiness, and every other child-like quality are to be in our possession for us to find entrance into the Christ's kingdom. This is no easy task for an adult to accomplish. And there is great genius (divine inspiration) involved in the programs of the Church that afford us opportunities to work with the children and the youth. I also am brought to realize that I cannot force anyone to accept this way of life, and I can only teach it, point to it by example, and leave it in the hands of the individual to choose for one's sel...

Matthew 1 & 2 , Luke 1 & 2 These chapters entail the various accounts and testimonies of individuals who had direct interactions with the Savior during the season of his birth. I think what I find almost surprising about these accounts is the sheer number of witnesses: angels from heaven, Mary and Joseph themselves, Elizabeth and Zacharias, shepherds and wise men, and at the temple, Simeon and Anna. Each (except for Joseph) has a testimony recorded of the significance of the Savior's birth. Joseph's testimony is in his actions: he takes Mary (pregnant out of wedlock) to wife, he brings Mary with him to Bethlehem, he flees with Mary and the young child into Egypt, he returns to Nazareth with Mary and the child Jesus. Notably, all these actions came as direct result of angelic message. A seldom considered fact would have been Joseph's own personal integrity and worthiness to qualify for such communication. Clearly, the significance of the communication was prima...

John 6:25-71 This powerful reproduction of a rather decisive set of scriptures has for me a curiously strong spirit about it. And the Savior himself said as much after he delivered this passage to the multitude: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." ( vs. 63 , emphasis added) There is a phrase and a relationship that is concerning to me from this passage. Christ said: "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." ( vs. 65 ) He makes similar statements twice prior to this in verses 37 & 44 . The first passage states that "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." (vs. 37) This idea is reinforced in the other two passages of scripture, suggesting that unless God the Father chooses you through some random lottery of fate, that you cannot come unto Christ (at least, that is how some faiths would interpret this). Now ...

Luke 15:11-32 I have reviewed this video and the associated scriptures, and there are two points that stand out very deeply to me this morning: When the prodigal son returned, his father saw him coming home a great way off and ran to meet him in his return home.  There are those who will (more or less) always be faithful to the cause of the Father.  Theirs is the promise of inheritance. That may not be as readily apparent in this life, as is an immediate celebration for one who has returned.  The outward manifestation of temporal blessings are not an indicator of our progress that we've made or of promises that are still pending.

John 10:1-18 This reminder of Christ's Church and how Christ interacts with his faithful disciples has captivated my attentions these past several morning. There are several characters in the Savior's teachings about the sheep and the shepherd: the good shepherd - the Savior. the sheep - the disciples of Christ. the theif - opposite to the sheep, those that would not use the gate, but would try to come in some other way. the stranger - he who is not familiar to the disciples of Christ. the wolf - possibly the adversary, or others with destructive and malicious intentions. the hireling - paid supervisors or administrators.  the porter - a gate keeper.  The thief/robber is the first character introduced in this parable. The Savior introduces him as one who is trying to find admittance among the sheep by some other means other than using the door, and then calls him a thief and a robber.  The shepherd is then introduced by stating he uses the door. (There i...

Matthew 11:25 To understand the workings of God, there is a paramount and universal truth found in this expression of gratitude from the Son to His Father. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. For this troubled mind, there is a lot of clarification as to how God works among men, and always is it in ways that are imperceptible to the natural man.