1233AFC081712 – Who are you targeting?
Read it online here.
Isaiah 55:6 – Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Dart Test…
A young lady named Sally relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith, a man who was known for his elaborate object lessons.
One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.
On the wall was a big target, and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.
Sally’s friend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved. Dr. Smith put up the first drawing over the bull’s-eye target hanging on the wall
The class lined up and began throwing darts. With each new drawing, Dr. Smith left the bull’s-eye in place, gave the student his or her drawing, and then the mounted the next drawing. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their target-drawings were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the bull’s-eye target from the wall.
Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face, and even His eyes were pierced. Despite all the damage, his serene face was still recognizable. Sally thought it even seemed to have an expression of sadness. Dr. Smith said only these words: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.“ Matthew 25:40.
No other words were necessary; tears filled eyes of the students who were focused only on the picture of Christ. They understood. Jesus is the hidden face of everyone you see. That is where God can be found.
Look beyond the face you see.
Look into the heart of me.
Look for Jesus everywhere
And you can find Him anywhere.
The invitation to seek the Lord in this passage from Isaiah is drawn from the references to the mercy of a God whose “ways” are completely mysterious. Just a few hundred words before this in 53:1 Isaiah said, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” Isaiah is telling us that what he has already said seems incredible, but what he is about to divulge is even more so.
The word used for seek in this passage means to seek a deity carefully in prayer and worship. It is to pay diligent, persistent attention to being in the presence of God. The word used for while (ἡνίκα) translates as “at which time,” as in “whenever it happens.” The implication is “when or where are you not in the presence of God?”
This Bible verse comes up during the Parable (or Discourse) of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) also called “The Judgment of the Nations.” It is a hard passage for many people because it quite clearly illustrates the value of meritorious action. Obey God’s command to love God and Neighbor, and eternal reward awaits you. The same passage illustrates the value of despicable action. Disobey God’s command to love God and Neighbor, and eternal punishment awaits you. At the very least, the division between blessing and curse might be based on one’s response to the people and message of the Gospel as presented by The Church. While it is true that Salvation comes only through Grace, it also appears that conduct has an influence on the outcome of Salvation, and for some folks this sets them up for a condition called scrupulosity.
Scrupulosity is an exaggeration of normal, healthy guilt. It is a pathological condition in which one obsesses about unworthiness about religious or moral actions and decisions. If you are mortally afraid that you might end up heading off with the Goats to eternal punishment because you didn’t give that inebriated panhandler a dollar, you are probably taking yourself too seriously. It’s really not all that complicated.
Be where God is and you will be near him. God is in your heart and in the heart of your neighbors. Acknowledge his presence by serving him and serving your neighbor. In this you will be honoring him by honoring his commands. Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When we understand that Jesus becomes the target of our anger, our snappish comebacks, our selfish and prideful arguments, then we understand that – although we think we are seeking God where he may be found – we are actually ignoring and sometimes even insulting him. It would be a wise choice to reject throwing darts in favor of catching hearts.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service beloved.
Share-A-Prayer
Please take up your role as intercessor and ask our Blessed Trinity to grant the prayers presented in the Daily Intercessory Prayer List.
To that list, this week we add CGR who recently had a very serious stroke. Pray for her to have the energy to work hard with the physicians, nurses, technicians, and therapists to regain her full functions and her always enthusiastic participation in family life and work.
Continue to prayerfully support one another, and to ask for wisdom when selecting candidates for public office.
chick
1233AFC081712 – Who are you targeting?
Read it online here.
Isaiah 55:6 – Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Dart Test…
A young lady named Sally relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith, a man who was known for his elaborate object lessons.
One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.
On the wall was a big target, and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.
Sally’s friend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved. Dr. Smith put up the first drawing over the bull’s-eye target hanging on the wall
The class lined up and began throwing darts. With each new drawing, Dr. Smith left the bull’s-eye in place, gave the student his or her drawing, and then the mounted the next drawing. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their target-drawings were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the bull’s-eye target from the wall.
Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face, and even His eyes were pierced. Despite all the damage, his serene face was still recognizable. Sally thought it even seemed to have an expression of sadness. Dr. Smith said only these words: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.“ Matthew 25:40.
No other words were necessary; tears filled eyes of the students who were focused only on the picture of Christ. They understood. Jesus is the hidden face of everyone you see. That is where God can be found.
Look beyond the face you see.
Look into the heart of me.
Look for Jesus everywhere
And you can find Him anywhere.
The invitation to seek the Lord in this passage from Isaiah is drawn from the references to the mercy of a God whose “ways” are completely mysterious. Just a few hundred words before this in 53:1 Isaiah said, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” Isaiah is telling us that what he has already said seems incredible, but what he is about to divulge is even more so.
The word used for seek in this passage means to seek a deity carefully in prayer and worship. It is to pay diligent, persistent attention to being in the presence of God. The word used for while (ἡνίκα) translates as “at which time,” as in “whenever it happens.” The implication is “when or where are you not in the presence of God?”
This Bible verse comes up during the Parable (or Discourse) of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) also called “The Judgment of the Nations.” It is a hard passage for many people because it quite clearly illustrates the value of meritorious action. Obey God’s command to love God and Neighbor, and eternal reward awaits you. The same passage illustrates the value of despicable action. Disobey God’s command to love God and Neighbor, and eternal punishment awaits you. At the very least, the division between blessing and curse might be based on one’s response to the people and message of the Gospel as presented by The Church. While it is true that Salvation comes only through Grace, it also appears that conduct has an influence on the outcome of Salvation, and for some folks this sets them up for a condition called scrupulosity.
Scrupulosity is an exaggeration of normal, healthy guilt. It is a pathological condition in which one obsesses about unworthiness about religious or moral actions and decisions. If you are mortally afraid that you might end up heading off with the Goats to eternal punishment because you didn’t give that inebriated panhandler a dollar, you are probably taking yourself too seriously. It’s really not all that complicated.
Be where God is and you will be near him. God is in your heart and in the heart of your neighbors. Acknowledge his presence by serving him and serving your neighbor. In this you will be honoring him by honoring his commands. Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When we understand that Jesus becomes the target of our anger, our snappish comebacks, our selfish and prideful arguments, then we understand that – although we think we are seeking God where he may be found – we are actually ignoring and sometimes even insulting him. It would be a wise choice to reject throwing darts in favor of catching hearts.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service beloved.
Share-A-Prayer
Please take up your role as intercessor and ask our Blessed Trinity to grant the prayers presented in the Daily Intercessory Prayer List.
To that list, this week we add CGR who recently had a very serious stroke. Pray for her to have the energy to work hard with the physicians, nurses, technicians, and therapists to regain her full functions and her always enthusiastic participation in family life and work.
Continue to prayerfully support one another, and to ask for wisdom when selecting candidates for public office.
chick
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
