We've been witnessing a lot of Jesus’ encounters
with the scribes and Pharisees lately, but now the Gospel talks a
little bit about prayer.
While Jesus was talking to the people, His mother
and His brothers stood outside, wanting to talk to Him, but they
couldn't get near Him because there were so many people. Somebody told
Him, Your mother and your brothers are looking for you. Jesus
stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Here are my
mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven
is my brother and sister and mother.
This is a good time to talk about something VERY
important ... I will not mention any names or specific teachings. I
will let YOU be the judge. Mary (the mother of Jesus) was a special
woman that God chose as a vessel to bear Jesus. She was pure and
humble and God blessed her.
Now, I am VERY aware that this topic is a sensitive
issue to many and most would prefer to just close their eyes and ears
and repeat "la la la la la la la" as loud as they can ... I seek not
to divide the body of Christ nor do I seek to judge ANYONE for all
that know me know that I believe in Grace. However, I tickle ears
poorly and TRUTH must prevail. This topic was brought before me and I
ask not that you believe my words ... But HIS WORD. There are a lot of
people that pray TO Mary and THROUGH some past Saints. The problem is
that not only does the Bible NOT say ANYTHING about praying to her or
through any saint but says just the opposite. There are a lot of
people who were raised, believing that it's proper to ask a dead Saint
for intercession for them.
Some people think if you ask St. Christopher to talk
to God, you'll be protected when you travel. Some people think if you
bury a statue of St. Joseph in your front yard when your house is for
sale, St. Joseph will ask God to make the house sell faster. Some
people believe that if you lose something and you ask St. Jude to have
a word with God, you'll find whatever it is you lost. Some people
think that if you say 371 Hail Mary's, you will be FORGIVEN and then
you have to tell 9 friends about it or all deals are off! Maybe you
were taught this way of praying and never questioned it, but we are
taught to PROVE ALL THINGS (I
Thessalonians 5:21). So let's do a little probing for
proof, shall we? The Bible teaches us to pray in the name of JESUS (John
14:13-14) ... The Bible is very clear that JESUS is the
mediator between us and God and that NOBODY gets through to the Father
without going through JESUS. (John
14:13,
John 16:23-26)... You MUST
enter in the JESUS door to get to God. (John
10:9) ... And that the Holy Ghost communes with our
spirit and shares with God what we pray for (Romans
8:26-27).
Ponder on this TRUTH ... WHY WOULD ANYONE HAVE YOU
PRAY THROUGH THEM INSTEAD OF JESUS, AS IT IS WRITTEN TO DO? WOULD THIS
NOT HINDER THE PRAYER? HAS MARY OR ANY PROPHET, APOSTLE OR CHRISTIAN
YA EVER HEARD OF OR READ ABOUT EVER SUGGESTED YA PRAY TO OR THROUGH
THEM TO GOD? EVEN ANGELS THAT BROUGHT MESSAGES FROM GOD GOT UPSET IF
HUMANS BOWED TO THEM. The entire Christian way is based on humility.
Only God is good. If you still have your nose turned up because of all
this, there's always one thing you can do . . . PRAY ABOUT IT. Just
make sure ya do it in the name of JESUS. Now, that I have many
eyebrows lifted, let us share more TRUTH ... JESUS says CLEARLY in
Matthew 23:9 Call NO man your
Father upon the earth, for ONE is your Father which is in Heaven ...
Sooooo, any religious figure demanding that you call them "Father" ...
Is WRONG !!!
Ponder on these things and YOU
decide what the TRUTH is. Let no past teachings, family traditions, or
religious figures prevent you from hearing HIS WORD. Now know this
TRUTH ... If you want to be fond of a specific Saint's words and deeds
that's fine just let NOTHING come between you and JESUS. God judges
the HEART.
I'm reminded of an incident that happened with king
Saul. He asked the witch of Endor to bring up the spirit of Samuel to
help him. Samuel was quite annoyed at being disturbed and the
imposition (I
Samuel 28:15-16) ... It has to make you wonder if these
poor Saints who have finally gained peace are happy with being deemed
as some sorta errand runners for all the people who are praying
through them instead of through Jesus as they are supposed to. Just a
little food for thought. Oh, and how about this . . . What if God sent
the answers to your prayers through a middle man instead of giving
them directly to you? Do you want used blessings or do you want
them directly from the source? Maybe God feels like prayers that
aren't made directly to Him are used, too.
Ponder on these things and decide TRUTH for
yourself. Let no past teachings prevent you from hearing HIM.
