It's Time

Psalm 140; Matthew 13:44-58

Psalm 140 is a prayer that is not only for protection from enemies but is also a prayer that is adamantly against enemies. Matthew 13 is filled with parables and the final fourteen verses contain parables regarding the kingdom of heaven. This final section also speaks of the welcome a prophet can expect in their own home town.

Reading the prayer in Psalm 140 I was surprised to hear the fire and passion in writer's voice. This was not just a prayer asking God to "please protect me from those who don't like me". Instead it was a prayer for destruction and violent events to occur to those people considered to be enemies. I am not sure if God honours this style of prayer. It seems to be in contradiction to the whole idea of love your enemy and love your neighbour as yourself. I mean I believe that we are able to have a relationship with God that allows us to be very open about how we are feeling and to say things that we really mean. I am just not sure that God will grant prayer requests such as these. Although now as I explore it I wonder if this is not just a venting session for the writer. I wonder if the writer is telling God what he would like to see God do to these people not so that He will do it but rather so that He knows exactly how the writer is feeling. This could just be anger overflowing. Regardless it is a passage of scripture that seems to be in contrast to a somewhat peaceful feeling that comes from the passage in Matthew. It speaks of how once the kingdom of heaven has been found then the search is over and nothing else needs to be pursued. If you have found the kingdom of heaven then you have all you will ever need. There is only a glimpse of the very serious nature of Christ that is found when he describes how the kingdom of heaven will separate the righteous and the wicked. So there is still no messing around when it comes to Jesus. The key point here is not that when you have found the kingdom of heaven you have all you need but rather once you have all you need in the kingdom of heaven you have a responsibility to share that with everyone.

After having been shown by God how real, serious and life-changing Jesus is I am at a place now where I have to take hold of my responsibility to ensure that others know about the kingdom of heaven. This does not mean that I have to stand on a soap box in the middle of down town and preach from the top of my lungs. True preaching and sharing of Jesus does not come from the top of my lungs but rather from the top of my heart. It is my responsibility to demonstrate the love and life that is in Jesus in the kingdom of heaven through my actions towards those who I like, who I dislike, who like me and who dislike me. I have no right to decide who gets to hear about the kingdom of heaven. I must ensure that all I come in contact with know through the way that I live my life that they are loved and precious to Jesus and that the kingdom of heaven is available to them.

Dear God

Thank you so much for allowing me to have a relationship with Jesus and allowing me to glimpse the kingdom of heaven. I ask that you will keep me from being selfish with that love. Instead guide me in every thing that I do, say or even think so that the kingdom of heaven and your love is reflected in my life. Not so I can be identified as a great follower of you but so you can be identified as a great Saviour of me and of all those I meet. I am ready to listen. Direct me I pray.

Amen.