When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses. – Ex 14:30-31
fear of the Lord
prevents the doing of bad things
dreading judgment day
“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother.” – Mt 12:50
love of the Lord
encourages doing good for goodness sake
and looking forward
to the homecoming embrace
And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” – Ex 14:11-12
we are faint of heart
at the first sign of trouble
we cower and complain
we fear not death
for all shall die
what we fear is the unknown
the anxiety that it brings
the suffering:
imagined and real
that may or may not come
the uncertainty of it all
what we want is assurances
and signs of faith
since we have none
all we really need
is to remember your promise
made long before
the foundation of the world
when we were chosen
and called to be:
you have plans not for our harm
but our prosperity
and a future full of hope
all we have to do
is calm our faint heart
and stay resolute
in trusting and following you
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.- Mk 6:34
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me. – Jn 10:27
He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. – Eph 2:17-18
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake. – Ps 23:3
Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD. – Jer 23:1
the good shepherd
feels compassion for all
who come to him
he regards not
their birthright
he considers not
their social class
he judges not
their worthiness
under the law
he welcomes all
who choose to repent
and follow him
woe to those
false preachers
who turn away any
who hears his voice
woe to those
false shepherds
who mislead his flock
woe to those
false teachers
who scatter his followers
the Kingdom of God
is here
And in his name the Gentiles will hope. – Mt 12:21
hope of the ages
shared with the entire world
God is with us
“I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.” – Mt 12:6
what is it that makes
a temple a temple?
it’s not the location
it’s not the architecture
it’s not the stone and mortar
it’s not he wood and nail
it’s not the stained-glass windows
it’s not the curtains
it’s not the candles
it’s not the incense
it’s not the pulpit
it’s not the statues
it’s not other religious icons
it’s not the inner sanctum
it’s not the sacrificial altar
it’s not the turtledoves, lamb, or bull
it’s not the priests
what makes a temple holy
is the presence of God
where God is present
even the ground is holy
Longing For Water 