THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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I remember grammar school. One day our bus dropped us off at school and it was sleeting and raining. Back then, there were no covered sidewalks for shelter. All the doors to the school were locked, and the "duty" teacher wasn't there.
Since I was in the 6th grade, I happened to know of a window in our room that couldn't be locked. By the way, our room was the principal's room. She also dubbed as the 6th grade teacher.
I crawled in through the window and opened the front doors. All of us kids sat down in the hall. When the principal showed up, she was hopping mad! She never said anything, but when it came report card time, she had written on my card (in the conduct section) "jumped in window of classroom."
I went home, explained to Mom, and she said she would explain to Dad. Dad came home early and saw the report card. Before Mom could talk to him, he took me in the bedroom and gave me a sound thrashing.
Mom explained to Dad later, and now he was hopping mad! Next day, when our school bus pulled up to the school, I saw Dad's car in the parking area for teachers. When we went inside, you could hear Dad's voice coming all the way from the other end of the school building. I wouldn't say he was REALLY loud, but the windows were rattling!
I got all A's the rest of the year!
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Matt 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
KJV
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The scribes and Pharisees cared about "legalistic" matters, but didn't care about people. They applied the law to others, but were not honest about personal application. Jesus' severe rebuke may not have been loud, but I can imagine the clouds dancing from the reverberations of His voice!
In our Christian walk, we must not allow one virtue to overcome another. For instance, mercy should not overcome honesty; nor should patience outweigh the discipline of conscience.
In our Christian duties, we cannot allow one responsibility to override another. For instance, public service should not outweigh personal devotions; nor should our church work keep us from family worship.
In our Christian public life, we should not allow personal prejudices to restrain ministry. For instance, if a person doesn't "measure up" to our standards we are not to withhold testimony and witness.
Oh Lord, let me walk an EVEN walk with You! Help me to not allow physical appearances of others to impune my spiritual integrity. In personal interaction with others, let me remember to have mercy with judgment, temperance with faith, and may all my witness be filled with grace.
Love ya,
Bruce