07/08/2011 - THE LORD SHALL OPEN HIS MOUTH TODAY

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And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Matthew 5:1-2

Here are some important questions on which we should ponder: what did Jesus feel when He saw that crowd? What do you feel when faced with the lost ones? Are there any parallels between the feelings of your heart and the Lord’s feelings? Do the teachings of Christ occupy your thoughts or don’t you give proper attention to what He says?
We are at the prime of our life because although we live in a world full of mistakes and temptations we have many opportunities to do the Father\’s will. However, our choice will determine whether the desires of our hearts will be supplied or not. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).
Why did the Master go all the way up to the top of the mountain instead of just standing at its bottom when He saw the crowd? After all, couldn’t the King of Kings have opened His mouth and delivered the Sermon on the Mount at that very moment? But He climbed the mountain to seek God\’s guidance, which led Him to make the right decision. This shows us that we should act in the same way, i.e. that we should seek the Almighty’s guidance in everything because even a handshake can convey a good message. We know that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). So, we must pray like David did so that all that is within us and all we do will bless the Name of the Lord (Psalm 103:1).
Was Jesus systematic or was He guided by the Holy Spirit? You know the right answer. We would greatly improve our lives if we sought God\’s guidance in any situation, as the psalmist did. David said that the Almighty knew his sitting down and his raising up (Psalm 139:2). A smile can either save or lead someone astray; likewise, our gaze can convey something good or bad. So, let the Holy Spirit shape your conduct and lead you in all
matters, so that your life can be a model for many. The Queen of Sheba, for example, noticed that Solomon\’s servants were instructed as to how they should sit and rise (I Kings 10:4-5). Depending on the posture you adopt, my brother, the Most High will help you out even in the simplest questions, such as the choice of clothes or shoes, or where and how you should walk.
Everything that was happening at that time caused the disciples to draw near Jesus. Wouldn’t it be our lack of divine guidance the reason why our family members do not draw closer to the Savior? How many Christians and their children would be doomed if Christ came back now? Therefore, we must be guided by God so that we can help others.
The verse above shows us that the time had come for Jesus to open His mouth. Well, He spoke because He was led by the Spirit. If the Creator put a crowd before you, do you think you would be able to open your mouth and teach? Jesus got His teachings across. Striving to be a Christian is not enough; one must be prepared to wield the sword of the Spirit, the Word of salvation, which heals, sanctifies and leads to God.
In Christ with love,
R. R. Soares