~~~ Hosea 11:1-4, 8E-9 ~~~ Psalm 80 ~~~ Matthew 10:7-15 ~~~
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the farther they went from me...
Every parent can identify with these writings
of the prophet Hosea.
Kids can sometimes be hard
headed and stubborn.
They often choose
to ignore the calls of a parent.
Many times a child will inadvertently hurt their parents...
at times you will be ignored...or dismissed.
This is what is happening between God and Israel.
Israel is acting like a spoiled child...a regular brat.
God has provided everything...
he taught them, loved them, fed them,
even healed them;
they still act out, and turn away.
God is, understandably, not happy with Israel.
Many a parent has learned the hard lesson...
the more they do for their child the less
the child appreciates and the more distant they become.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger...
God is God. He responds as God.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
...let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Jesus sent the apostles out with nothing.
The knowledge they had learned from walking
among the people with him was all they needed.
He told them to take nothing
for the journey...no material items.
What they were to bring to the people
had nothing to do with tangible things.
He wanted them to bring his peace...
his love...his compassion...his promise of salvation.
The Good News was to come in the form of peace.
It was to settle over the house like a gentle breeze.
In a good house it would be well received.
If it came back to you then you would know
it was not a worthy house.
They were not to get angry or defensive
about their blessing of peace if it was not well received.
They were to simply move on to the next house.
Shake the dust from your feet...do not hold a
grudge against the person...move on.
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Stay in the present...let go of the past...
do not fret over the future.
I invite you to live in the present...
let the the peace of the Lord envelope you.
~~~Blessings~~~
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