WOYWW: The Separated Ones

 I woke up to this on my desk this morning.

I was trying to do some work with a white Uniball Signo pen,

but my head kept nodding, and my hand was 

drawing marks my mind did not tell it to write!

I gave up and went to sleep.

 See the white marks? That's what I was drawing. 

I went to sleep at 8 pm!

And woke up at 3 am!

 "Practice and obey whatever they say to you but do not follow their example." Matthew 23:3

This is what Jesus said to the disciples about the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees. He most probably would say the same about me! I am constantly conscious of the things I write because it says in James 3:1, "We who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness."

Who were the Pharisees? "The Pharisees," as I read from pencilled notes on my Bible (probably from The Word Among Us) "got their name from the Hebrew word "Perusim", meaning the separated ones- and they really did try to live up to their title. They were primarily a lay renewal movement that arose from a group of pious Jews who resisted pagan influence during the Greek occupation of Palestine in 4th C BC."

 They wore phylacteries (prayer boxes) on their forehead or left wrist, which contained parchment with texts from the Torah, "in such a way that it hung from in front of the eyes! Thus the injunction to keep the law as a sign on the hand and as a memorial between the eyes was literally observed." (Jerome Commentary)

How about me? A lot of people have a junk drawer to keep their mess out of view. I have a junk ROOM! My spiritual mess is not on display either! So do not follow my example!

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!

"Promise me that these sons of mine will sit, one on your right hand and the other at your left in Your Kingdom." Matthew 20:21

Jesus is like a flashlight. When we read about His life, and the lessons He teaches, our inner life is exposed. The mother of James and John asked Jesus to promise a prominent position for them both in His Kingdom. We can laugh at her OR we can shine the light on our own life and see the ways we desire to get ahead of others, feel entitled or privileged. I can't say I wouldn't have pushed myself to confront Jesus if I wanted something for my son!

Salome, the mom, obviously did not grasp Jesus' purpose and mission on earth. Neither did her sons. They were not called "Sons of Thunder" for nothing. They were impetuous, selfish, and had a fiery temper, wanting to rain fire down on an unsuspecting people. Just like many of us, when we do not get our way!

But they were both transformed. Walking with Jesus and listening to His words does that to a person. James became the first apostle to be martyred for the faith. Herod had him executed by the sword in AD 44. John, on the other hand, lived a long life and was the only one not to die a martyr's death. He was the only one to remain at the foot of the cross, along with the women, and he was tasked by Jesus to take care of His mother Mary. He wrote many books.

We have two examples of men who were called by Jesus, and slowly but surely transformed. Lord, mold me and transform me! Make me into the person You created me to be. Help me to live my life with a passion for the purpose You've given me!

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Blessings!

Patsy