Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Familiarity breeds contempt. It’s why lots of marriages die. The gratitude and appreciation that once sprung up anytime something thoughtful was done is replaced by a sense of entitlement.
It can be fatal…
It also is a danger for people of faith. We have become so familiar with the life and times of Jesus that we are no longer awed. Instead of gratitude for daily blessings our attitude becomes one of frustration that more isn’t being done to satisfy us.
Jesus offers us a warning. “Woe to you, Bethsaida!... if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Really? It will be more bearable for Charles Manson than for me, unless I acknowledge God’s gracious mercy every day?
How often do we catch ourselves thinking “it’s all about God?” Daily blessings and miracles…big or small…are designed to help us agree with God that we need to live in fellowship with him.
Have we missed any today? All we need to do is look at our sense of gratitude. It will tell us all we need to know.
Live boldly out there today…
No comments:
Post a Comment