Hosanna Restoration Church

I don’t know about you, but as I read through these chapters in Matthew the passage concerning our eyes being a lamp for our bodies almost seem like they are dropped out of no where. Why, in the middle of teaching them about being blessed and prayer and giving and money and possessions, did He stop and tell them this?

I think it was probably because He knows us all pretty well. In all of this teaching, there is some that is pretty easy and enjoyable and a lot that is not so easy. No doubt He saw some looks from people that ranged from, “I don’t get it” to “I don’t want it.”

He may have even seen some folks getting up and heading out. He cares so much that He wanted them to understand that everything He was teaching them would feed their souls if they would just hear Him out and then put the word to work for them.

There is no doubt that some of the things that Jesus tells us are hard to swallow. When He is pointing out that we must forgive, and we have some folks that we just don’t want to forgive; that is a struggle. Then He makes it even worse by telling us that if we don’t forgive, then He will not forgive us. Now, the same person we don’t want to forgive could cause us not to be forgiven. This either gives us to reasons to wish bad things for them, or it sets us free to forgive them!

I believe that Jesus was also making it very clear that if they refused to receive what He was teaching them they would plunge themselves into darkness. It is amazing how some people just seem to grope in the darkness and misery, when all they really have to do is let Jesus shine light on their souls. It is difficult sometimes, but it is worth the effort.

Believe me, I understand the battle, but I also understand the freedom that the Light of the Word brings into a life. I have experienced the peace that passes understanding when it did not even make sense to have peace. I have seen God heal impossible situations when people would allow His light to shine in their souls. I have also grieved as I watched people plunge themselves into the dark rather than even try what Jesus says.

Not only that, but I have found myself suddenly frantically looking for the light switch, when I did not even see the darkness coming. I have felt that emptiness and I hate it so much that I pray and ask God to never let me get there again. Understand, that it does not take some huge and gross sin to plunge us into darkness. If anything, those kind will often send us screaming toward the light. It is the little places where we refuse to allow the word to light our path, or the places where we choose to doubt. Remember, it was the sin of unbelief that kept Israel in the wilderness.

I pray that we will all resolve in our hearts that we want light for souls, and that we will resist any and all things that plunge us into darkness.