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Home Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. July 9, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Bad Alliances)
July 9, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Bad Alliances) PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Bobot Apit   
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 02:04
When God calls us into a walk of faith, we can expect to be tested in this walk.  If we enter into alliances that God has not ordained, it will only bring heartache. Such was the case for Israel. "But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace" (Is. 30:3).

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5
Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21

Matthew 10:7-15 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9 Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, salute it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town.
 
 
Meditation by Tamora Whitney

In the Gospel today Jesus indicates that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand and tells his disciples to go out and do his good works.  I'm sure these early Christians thought when Jesus said the Kingdom of heaven was "at hand" and that he was coming back, he meant soon, like within a few months or years or something.  They thought he meant within their lifetime for sure.  But here we are almost two thousand years later, wondering what "at hand" means. But are we really still waiting?
Perhaps he meant exactly that when he said the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Kingdom of heaven is here and now, and like the disciples, we need to go out now and do his good works. This advice is as good now as it was then.  We should be helping people without thought of reward. We should be blessing the good and those in need and turning away from those who would keep us from the good we can do. Waiting for some future event to motivate us or save us is counterproductive.
Now is the time. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.  And we are disciples. Our job is to do his good works now. We can't wait for a second coming. We can't wait for the Kingdom of heaven. It's here and now.

 
 
Supplementary Reading
Bad Alliances

''Woe to the obstinate children,'' declares the Lord, ''to those who carry out plans that are not Mine, forming an alliance, but not by My Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without  consulting Me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge.'' ~ Isaiah 30:1-2

Have you ever entered a business relationship with someone you knew you were not supposed to? Throughout the history of Israel, the people were called to come out of an old way of life. Egypt represented that old way; when things got tough, the Israelites reverted to what was comfortable. They always knew they could take a trip to Egypt and find what they lacked. Perhaps this was their reasoning: "If we can't get it accomplished under the new way, why not go back to the way we used to do it? At least we know we can get it there."

When God calls us into a walk of faith, we can expect to be tested in this walk.  If we enter into alliances that God has not ordained, it will only bring heartache. Such was the case for Israel. "But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace" (Is. 30:3).

Beware what you perceive as an alliance that may advance your business. It may actually bring you great distress if God has not directed you to align it. Ask yourself what the motive is behind this possible alliance. Make sure that it is not based on fear or a quick fix. Get confirmation that God is leading you to make such an alliance. Then you will not end up in the way of Israel, experiencing shame and disgrace.
 


GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.


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