His name is being trusted

While going house to house inviting families to church I met Tom. He vigorously mentioned that he is against organized religion and that he finds that all people are good irrespective of their faiths. I had a good time speaking with him and I shared my personal testimony about how I became a Christian. And spoke about how God's love was what attracted me to Jesus. We got to pray for him and left. In a way Jesus did the same during His days though I have much more to learn about His ways. Jesus also came against organized religion in His time of ministry. Jesus speaks here strongly to Pharisees.

Matthew 12:3-5

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?

In this chapter, we read about everything from the sabbath to the casting out of demons. Jesus spent time in the synagogue and outside. He spoke to all peoples. He spoke against the ways of the religion of the day. Though they had the holy scriptures, they did not follow them. He had strong words for the Pharisees when they questioned the source of the power He demonstrated through healing and deliverance. All Jesus was doing was fulfilling prophesy from the holy scriptures.

Matthew 12:18-21

“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

And in His name Gentiles will trust! This is taken from Isaiah 42:1-4. This is a prophecy of Jesus. There is nothing wrong with being organized as long as the Holy Spirit is honored in His unique work among us. Many times He will do something that is different and we are unfamiliar with it. But, it is always consistent with the Word of God. We need to hear and obey so that many will put their trust in Him.

Father, help me know what I should do each moment and in every occasion so that your Name is glorified.

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