Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 7
Thursday


READ:
Matthew 9:1-8
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My little children, let
us not love in word or
in tongue, but in deed
and in truth.'__1 John
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Irritated with a young athlete who had accomplished little yet boasted about his ability, a TV commentator said, "Don't tell me what you're going to do--tell me what you've done!" Actions speak louder than words.

This principle is seen in Jesus' life. In Matthew 9, a paralytic was brought to Him. Jesus' response? "Your sins are forgiven." When the religious leaders objected, He raised the question of the hour: "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?" (v.5).

The answer is obvious. To say He had forgiven the man's sins was simple, because it couldn't be proven or disproven. But, to say "Arise and walk" was different. It was instantly verifiable. So, to prove His authority to forgive sins, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" (v.6). And he did!

Jesus' actions supported His words, and so should ours. John wrote, "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18). What we say is significant to a watching world only if it's consistent with what we do. As we tell people about Christ's love, those words will communicate powerfully if surrounded by acts of love and kindness. Actions do speak louder! __Bill Crowder
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I'd rather see a Christian~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Than to hear one merely talk,~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I'd rather see his actions~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And behold his daily walk. __Herrell
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Our works and words should say the same thing.

**************Today's Bible REading ---Matthew 9:1-8**************

1 So He got into a boat,
crossed over, and came
to His own city. 2 Then
behold, they brought to
Him a paralytic lying on
a bed. When Jesus saw
their faith, He said to the
paralytic, "Son, be of
good cheer; your sins are
forgiven you."

3 And at once some of
the scribes said within
themselves, "This Man
blasphemes!"

4 But Jesus, knowing
their thoughts, said, "Why
do you think evil in your
hearts? 5 For which is
easier, to say, 'Your sins
are forgiven you,' or to say,
'Arise and walk'? 6 But that
you may know that the Son
of Man has power on earth
to fogive sins"--then He
said to the paralytic, "Arise.,
take up your bed, and go to
your house." 7 And he arose
and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes
saw it, they marveled and
glorified God, who had
given such power to men.
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Capernaum, the headquarters for Christ's Galilean ministry, was a small fishing village on the northwest shore of the sea of Galilee. It was in the land designated for the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matt. 4:13), and was the home of the area's vibrant fishing industry
that employed Peter, Andrew, the sons of zebedee--James and John, and many more. The name Capernaum means "village of Nahum," causing many to believe that it was the ancient home of the Old Testament prophet Nahum. __WEC