The Archives Devotional Magazine June 2015

DAY 7 The people in the towns where Jesus had performed most of his miracles did not turn from their sins, so he reproached those towns. “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins! I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to the people of Tyre and Sidon than to you! And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would still be in existence today! You can be sure that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to you!” At that time Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned. Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen. “My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will ﬁnd rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.” Give Me Jesus (African American Spiritual) In the morning when I rise In the morning when I rise In the morning when I rise Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You may have the world Give me Jesus “OUR LIFE OF POVERTY IS AS NECESSARY AS THE WORK ITSELF. ONLY IN HEAVEN WILL WE SEE HOW MUCH WE OWE TO THE POOR FOR HELPING US TO LOVE GOD BETTER BECAUSE OF THEM.” ―MOTHER TERESA Commentary Jesus was an extreme reformer. He came to people who had preconceived notions about the world and culture and class, and basically ﬂipped their world upsidedown. The rich may not be wealthy; the powerful aren't so powerful; the intelligent may not be that smart; it's okay to be weak and persecuted; love your enemies; secrets don't stay secrets forever. The list goes on. How relevant these revelations still are! And how hard to wrap our minds around! The rich and powerful of H o l l y w o o d o r Wa l l S t re e t o r t h e government may have nothing to look forward to in the afterlife. The academics creating new ideas or technologies may not be able to grasp God’s mercy; Being feeble or oppressed is an opportunity for God to show his splendor. The people who hurt us the most may be the ones who need the most prayer and love. And those secrets we've all been holding on to? God already knows them, and he loves us still. I guess the whole point of this is to say that God knows better than us the workings of the world, what’s in the human mind, and the happiness he wants us all to experience. He knows we have heavy loads, stress, and fear; and he also knows that having the creator of the universe as a best friend alleviates all of it.

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