We have had some 90 degree days this past week, with 40 degree nights.  Had to put the heater on for a couple hours in the morning a few days ago and then the air conditioner that afternoon.  Leaves are just starting to turn colors, they will be more vibrant within a week or two.

I ‘think’ we will be putting the canning supplies away in a week or so, unless Carla has some more gifts of fruit.  Harvest is winding down.  Oops, almost forgot the chicken we will be canning later this month, so I guess it will stay out for a while longer.

Apples are crisp and juicy, thinking of making some cider and having some donuts – homemade of course.  This time of year just calls for that combination.  Apple Crisp, pies and fresh apple cake is also on the calendar.  Quite a versatile fruit, the apple, and one that can be enjoyed at a moment’s notice – who doesn’t like a bite of a nice fresh crisp apple?  Even Blaze enjoys the slices we give him.  

Mathew 23:27-28  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

²⁸ Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Touching a dead body is one of the most defiling acts committed by Jews.  It requires a cleansing and a time of separation from the rest of the people.  They were considered unclean for a period of 7 days, during which time they were to undergo certain procedures to make them clean.  Failure to follow these procedures would make them outcasts.

The scribes and Pharisees already had reason to be upset with Christ, the condemnation He charged them with was serious and a direct blow to their egos.  Then He compares them to those that handle the dead and are unclean.  He calls them hypocrites, not a term of endearment. 

I am trying to think of an accusation in today’s world that would compare.  But as I am doing so I am also aware that the charges were specific and struck at the very base of these men’s credibility.  Outwardly they appeared pious and well groomed.

They took great care in showing the Jews a demeanor of service to God – they took pride in their positions.  We all know people like that, people who have attained a certain status – who dress and act as if they are above reproach, but when we observe them we find them to be hollow and without substance.  They say one thing but they live completely opposite to their sayings.

We read these verses of condemnation and think “Good for Jesus, He sure put them in their place.  He called them out and they deserved it!  They couldn’t stand the truth so they killed Him, but he showed them for what they were!  These men got their comeuppance from Christ and they earned it!”

And we puff up our chest feeling good about ourselves, because we would never do that nor would we fall for the false teachings of men over the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Nope, not us.

Philippians 3:12-14   Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

If any man could stand proud in what he had accomplished, in how many people came to know Christ because of his teachings, it is Paul.  Yet, he knew that he was not perfect, he had not done all he could for Christ, he could not rest on his laurels. 

We may relish the whip lashing Christ gave the leaders of the Jews, but we can be very much like them if we are not careful.  We must guard against saying one thing and doing something completely opposite.  We must be careful that we do not proclaim our life in Christ, yet, we fail Him at almost every turn – but we pretend we don’t. 

Our walk with Christ is ongoing, we do not attain until He takes us home.  Our mission may change as our circumstances change – when Paul was incarcerated he could no longer travel to these communities, but he could write to them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  In so doing he provided us with insights into the early Christian church and to the people who were in them.  We can see their struggles are just like our struggles.  As he gave them written instructions in the proper behavior as Christians, we too read them and learn what we must do to serve God.

The leaders of the Jews that Christ chastised became more enamored with their role as leader and less dedicated to being a leader.  Their position in the Synagogue was important and they allowed that importance to drive them; their ambitions were to be recognized, not to serve.  They liked the trappings of their position, the respect of the people – but not the dedication to serve, that was beneath them.  They had positions of power and authority which were more important than performing their functions with a heart towards God.  They were playing the role as religious leaders, but not fulfilling their responsibilities as leaders.

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players;”   Wm. Shakespeare

I am an introvert.  I have a difficult time coming out of my shell and mixing with others.  However, my choice of professions, law enforcement, required me to be assertive and be able to work with people.  I realized the way to do that was to put on a persona of a police officer, like the uniform I wore, that was my public face.

Actors do the same thing.  They get into their role and become the person they are portraying.  Once the play is over, they revert back to their regular selves.

However, most police officers are on alert 24 hours a day, particularly in the jurisdiction they serve.  Off-duty they may have several functions; parent, hobbyist, member of an organization – but they still are police officers.  Their training becomes part of their personality.  They see things differently than others see them because they have been trained to look for symptoms of criminal behavior.  AND the public expects them to act as police officers – if they see something wrong the public expects them to take action.

Although I have been out of law enforcement for over 17 years, many of these traits are at work in the way I live. 

As Christians we know that we are supposed to act in a given way.  We take on the persona of a Christian – but how often and where does the inspiration come from?  We all know of Sunday Christians, they go to church and are pious, giving money and making sure that they are seen, they take on the role of a Christian.  But after church, during the rest of the week they put their acting aside and live a life that is not pleasing to God.

We have all heard statements that amount to religion has no place in my work.  Yet, for a Christian to actually serve God and not just act like one, He must be immersed in the Holy Spirit.  He must strive to serve God even as Jesus served Him, not just act the role of a Christian, but be one.  Christ must be an integral part of who we are, and we must display Him in all we do.

Christians should not be acting the part, they should be the basis for which the part is written.

As Paul was not perfect, we are not perfect.  We will make mistakes, we will sin – but we can strive as Paul strived to be perfect.  We can strive to serve Him and display not the trappings of Christianity, but the reality of being a follower of Christ.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again