Are you listening to the prophets?

       The information had been there for centuries. The prophets and Scriptures attested to what was going to occur. A descendant of David, would be the redeemer, the Saviour, the Christ! The words were repeated for eons in the daily services of the observant religious. John came along and spoke all the more, attesting to the coming of the Christ, the one whose sandal he was not fit to tie.

       What signs are you willing to accept? What signs do we overlook with willful ignorance? I guess the question might really be, do we try at all? Do we test ourselves as much as we might at the gym, pushing to the point of pain. No pain, no gain!

        Are we willing to listen to the voices of those that we least admire, that might hold a kernel of truth for us while we are repulsed at everything else they say and do.  Think of those people we detest, are we willing to accept that they hold a sincere and holy message for us? When we view the justice of the world versus the justice of God, are we willing to accept that message from God?  How do you feel when some Johnny come lately at work gets paid the same as you for a mere portion of the entire work day? (Mt. 20:1-16)   Is that an injustice? Is it God's justice? How do we handle all the discrepancies in our lives that we want to make sense of. Perhaps we demand things be changed to follow our own idea of justice?  Perhaps we tag along and adopt someone else's idea of justice.

          The question really is, do we accept the teachings and life of our Saviour because they are more often than not, in direct contrast to what we want or proclaim by our actions.

Would you, are you, listening to the prophets?

Acts 13:26-43

 ‘My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him. Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have him killed. When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people.And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm,
“You are my Son;
   today I have begotten you.” 
As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,
“I will give you the holy promises made to David.” 
Therefore he has also said in another psalm,
“You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.” 
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, died, was laid beside his ancestors, and experienced corruption; but he whom God raised up experienced no corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.Beware, therefore, that what the prophets said does not happen to you: 
“Look, you scoffers!
   Be amazed and perish,
for in your days I am doing a work,
   a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.” ’

 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath. When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.