Do we judge the book by its cover?

 Sometimes as people, we tend to look down on others, be it because of their social standing or their appearance.

This happens naturally even before we have even listened to the person. Sometimes this is because of our preconceived ideas on how a perfect human being should be.

We always pray, "Create in me a Clean Heart Mighty God" but just after the prayer, we are again back to our old ways.

The judgemental

When are we going to learn to respect people not based on what they have but on the fact that we are all created equal.

When are we going to accept not everyone wants to be addressed on a title but on first name?

When are we going to engage with those that we tend to look down upon?

When will we realize that we are all dependent on one another?

When are we going to learn to listen without the urge to respond but to listen-to-listen?

When are we going to STOP being cold to others and learn to embrace one another.

 

So many things in this world at times can go wrong with people and our reaction and engagement can add more fuel to fire.

 

For today only, let us go out and let love lead.

Never look down on anyone, unless you are willing to help them up.

 

SO many questions ... SO little answers ...

The irony of our times

Since our daily COVID19 infection rate is increasing rapidly in South Africa, the President recently announced that we will move to what we call Alert Level 3 Lockdown, in order to curb the spread of the Corona Virus or that’s what we made to believe...

Now Alert Level 3 Lockdown has its own regulations with the following restrictions, amongst others:

Gatherings restricted to no more than 50 indoors and not more than 100 outdoors.

Only 50 people following all COVID19 protocols can attend funerals

Alcohol sales restricted from Monday to Thursday from 10h00 till 16h00

Then there is a curfew where we are all supposed to be locked in from 22h00 till 04h00.

The irony though, one is still allowed to consume alcohol in a public establishment without following the COVID19 protocols, I mean who will drink through a mask, who will use sanitizer whilst eating, who will distance themselves from other patrons whilst visiting a drinking spot?

My questions: Why didn’t the President instead promote offsite alcohol use instead of being locked down into a confined space (for a lack of a better word) for a period of time?

This morning I tuned into radio, catch a conversation where one caller phoned in on Radio and share the daily routine, immediately when the caller mentioned Church visits, the talkshow host questions the caller, why are you still visiting the Church, what the host might have overlooked, is that we go to work daily, we visit shopping malls frequently, we attend funerals as and when required, some go to drinking spots frequently.

Why do we overlook all other functions but are concerned about the Church?

Are we not following the same COVID19 protocols at Church?

Are we even following COVID19 protocols strictly at other places of gatherings? Are we mindful how many people we interact with at our workplaces, at our shopping sprees, at our drinking spots? If we know, why are we so concerned about what happens at the Church.

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SO many questions ... SO little answers ...

Did we forget the poorest of the poor?

Some would ask... What are you getting at? The question however remains; Did we forget the poorest of the poor?

I am not asking this question because its nice to ask, I am asking it because I see no improvement, 1) In the lives of our poor people 2) In the conditions 3) In the delivering of services!!!

Where did it all go wrong though? It went wrong immediately after those in power decided to ignore their plea. One would recall during this year's municipal elections when prominent leaders were on the campaign trail most of them were lambasted. There was even a time where the ruling party and the official opposition had a toilet fight, yes they tried to compete as to who was better or worse when it come to the issue of sanitation.

Today however is not to talk about toilets or the provision of services. Today I want to highlight the importance of a caring government. I'm not saying that our Government in South Africa is not caring, what I am saying is that their programs is not beneficial to the poor. What a contradictory statement some would say?

Let's do some quick mental maths. Exempt taxi's and some busses (in fear of a revolt) who doesn't contribute to the GDP (with the exception of refuelling) or paying taxes, from paying of tollfees. Building or procuring a highspeed train that doesn't serve it's purpose (which was to reduce traffic congestion and provide alternative means of public transport). Then force the already cashed strapped public to pay for tollfees in excess of more than R50 per single trip from one city to another.

I am convinced that this wasn't thought through as the very means of fuel or food transportation are charged almost R100 per single trip from one city to another. This has resulted in regular and uneven increases on food and fuel prices.

The poorest of the poor therefore suffers the most when it comes to the availability of essential household items. Paraffin which is use at almost every informal settlement is priced at more than the price for petrol or diesel. To buy a loaf of bread is almost also equivalent to the price of these fuels.

My question therefore remains...

SO many questions - SO little answers...

Today's Message - The Greatest Commandment

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? -- Romans 10:14

Today’s Scripture comes from the Book of Matthew Chapter22 verse 34-40 it reads as follows:

The Greatest Commandment

 ³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[c] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[d] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Which bring us to today’s passage of scripture: A question was asked by a teacher of the law and an answer was given by a Teacher of the Word.

Let’s look at our questions 1) What is the Greatest Commandment and 2) who is our neighbour? Verse 35-36: When one of these Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him the question it was not just a general question but it was in order to trap him, He asks which one is the most important Commandment?” This question was asked in order to try, not so much His knowledge, but Jesus’ judgment? Jesus in His infinite wisdom already knew that this question will be asked and He also knew the answer.

Today our Commandment (instruction) is to Love God with all our being and Love our neighbour as we Love ourselves.       

Instead of doing this task: We create division in the form of our own clicks (groupings); we are looking down on people based on their status, material wealth and maybe some other form of human measurement -  Today we judge people according to what they have or not have?  How many times did we prepare huge meals for a family of 2 or 4 only to throw the rest of the leftover food in the dustbin? How many times did we walk past people in the street, even if they serve with us in Church, without greeting or sharing a thought of encouragement? How many times did we do voluntary work, visit a hospital or prison to share GOD's Word? How many times did we visit the sick and elderly in our congregation, when they might just need a word of encouragement or know that someone is praying for them. How many times did we know our neighbour; or even those closely related to us are unemployed; yet we're not telling them about available opportunities at our workplaces. How many times did we fought with our brothers and we're not willing to forgive yet we claim that we love God?   Can we love our God sincerely if we hate our own brothers and our neighbours? The Word of God teaches us in: 1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  How many times did we make time to listen to the youth and or our children? Do we listen to them?  ) In our midst here today there might be someone sitting nexto you that is really having a difficult time, but because of fear of being ridiculed we're not willing to share our problems/weaknesses/fears/worries.  How many times did we gossip about people? How many times did we judge people. How many times did we create divisions amongst ourselves, be it at home, at work, in church, in our families?            

During the week of Pentecost we learned a few things from the Book of Matthew
1) we’ve learnt in Chapter 5: 13-16 that we're the salt of the earth.  (if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way that we can use it).
2) We’ve learnt that our light must shine so that others (those not yet converted) those lost; they must be able to see our good deeds and give God the Glory! (Love for our neighbours)
3) We’ve learnt in Chapter 7:12. Do for others what you want them do for you: and again from verse 24-26 (A house must have a solid foundation – build on a rock).  Love God because HE is our rock, Love your neighbour then there is some form of foundation to Love GOD                4)We’ve learnt in Chapter 28:16-20, Jesus met with His disciples, but some have doubted Him (they were not convinced that it was Him –how many times do we doubt God and his greatness.) That all Power was given to Him! Our instruction was to go out and make disciples baptizing them and teach them. It simply means that we must spread/preach the Gospel.                                                                                                                                                         5) I’ve also observed during the week of PenteCost; that we doubt God’s blessings; we don’t want someone to pray for us. (We either doubt Prayer or the Power of Prayer) Let me read James 5:16 I quote “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed – The Prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.”  If you doubt someone it means there is no trust and where there is no trust,there is no love!!!
 

VERSE: Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.-- 1 Timothy 5:3


Yesterday after posting this verse on #facebook one of my friends challenged me His words were: As we are celebrating MANDELA DAY and do something for 67 minutes, I challenge you as your friend base on #fb and #twitter to challenge us as your friends in line with the word you had today with widows, to do a good deed daily for 5minutes a day and then put what they did on #fb,not mentioning the names of those they helped,e.g reading a chapter from the Bible to a person who is blind, lost vision, hearing problems, but just mention the deed. Where you,we see the problem is more prevalent in your area,call on #fb peeps to create an assistance programme, that does not discriminate against anyone, religion,race,c​lass or politics and no political affilliation, but to do good as your religious word guide you as a person.
You could open a new group for it or run under your name. The feedback on the deeds will be welcome and the glory goes to GOD. I know you involved in many things, but challenge you on this.
I trust you will pray on this and be guided by what GOD, has laid upon your heart! Every year we boast about doing/sharing Good deeds on Mandela Day – what are we doing for God? This is a challenging question as God knows our thoughts and hearts.

Beloveds, if I had to challenge you today or let me ask If God had to challenge us today: with a simple request: Amongst all of us present here today: Who would be able to make a commitment to at least do one good deed, for someone you don’t know… (Regardless how small the deed).

Love prove discipleship, the mark of any Christian is Love.  Our love for God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only because he loves us first. He gave His Son to die for our sin. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him. To love our neighbour as ourselves is the second great commandment.  And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. We also read in 1 Peter 4:8-9 that above everything, Love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. Open your homes to each other without complaining.

Today there is a sense in which God loves everyone in the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; Romans 5:8).This love in not conditional—it is based only on the fact that God is a God of love (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love for all of mankind results in the fact that God shows His mercy by not immediately punishing people for their sins (Romans 3:23; 6:23). God’s love for the world is manifested in the fact that He gives people the opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:9). However, God’s love for the world does not mean He will ignore sin. God is also a God of justice (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Sin cannot go unpunished forever (Romans 3:25-26). So let’s Love GOD and Love our neighbour!

Beloveds, we had lots of questions; in conclusion.
1) God's word, God's instruction is clear - LOVE GOD with your all and your neighbour as yourself.
2) Do not doubt God as His mercies and promises are forever.
3) He says in His word John 14:15 If you love ME you WILL obey My commands.
4) For this new week let's go out; as Revived, Refreshed; Christians whose lights are shining
5)Let's go out and make disciples
6)Let's do some introspection and check where we have shortcomings
7)Let's take these tests and make them testimonies

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Amen