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Matthew 11

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1 και G2532 CONJ εγενετο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3S οτε G3753 ADV ετελεσεν G5055 G5656 V-AAI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM διατασσων G1299 G5723 V-PAP-NSM τοις G3588 T-DPM δωδεκα G1427 A-NUI μαθηταις G3101 N-DPM αυτου G846 P-GSM μετεβη G3327 G5627 V-2AAI-3S εκειθεν G1564 ADV του G3588 T-GSM διδασκειν G1321 G5721 V-PAN και G2532 CONJ κηρυσσειν G2784 G5721 V-PAN εν G1722 P EP ταις G3588 T-DPF πολεσιν G4172 N-DPF αυτων G846 P-GPM

2 ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ιωαννης G2491 N-NSM ακουσας G191 G5660 V-AAP-NSM εν G1722 P EP τω G3588 T-DSN δεσμωτηριω G1201 N-DSN τα G3588 T-APN εργα G2041 N-APN του G3588 T-GSM χριστου G5547 N-GSM πεμψας G3992 G5660 V-AAP-NSM δυο G1417 A-NUI των G3588 T-GPM μαθητων G3101 N-GPM αυτου G846 P-GSM

3 ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM συ G4771 P-2NS ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S ο G3588 T-NSM ερχομενος G2064 G5740 V-PNP-NSM η G2228 P T ετερον G2087 A-ASM προσδοκωμεν G4328 G5719 V-PAI-1P

4 και G2532 CONJ αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM πορευθεντες G4198 G5679 V-AOP-NPM απαγγειλατε G518 G5657 V-AAM-2P ιωαννη G2491 N-DSM α G3739 -APN ακουετε G191 G5719 V-PAI-2P και G2532 CONJ βλεπετε G991 G5719 V-PAI-2P

5 τυφλοι G5185 A-NPM αναβλεπουσιν G308 G5719 V-PAI-3P και G2532 CONJ χωλοι G5560 A-NPM περιπατουσιν G4043 G5719 V-PAI-3P λεπροι G3015 A-NPM καθαριζονται G2511 G5743 V-PPI-3P και G2532 CONJ κωφοι G2974 A-NPM ακουουσιν G191 G5719 V-PAI-3P νεκροι G3498 A-NPM εγειρονται G1453 G5743 V-PPI-3P και G2532 CONJ πτωχοι G4434 A-NPM ευαγγελιζονται G2097 G5743 V-PPI-3P

6 και G2532 CONJ μακαριος G3107 A-NSM εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S ος G3739 -NSM εαν G1437 COND μη G3361 P T-N σκανδαλισθη G4624 G5686 V-APS-3S εν G1722 P EP εμοι G1698 P-1DS

7 τουτων G5130 D-GPM δε G1161 CONJ πορευομενων G4198 G5740 V-PNP-GPM ηρξατο G756 G5662 V-ADI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM λεγειν G3004 G5721 V-PAN τοις G3588 T-DPM οχλοις G3793 N-DPM περι G4012 P EP ιωαννου G2491 N-GSM τι G5101 I-ASN εξηλθετε G1831 G5627 V-2AAI-2P εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF ερημον G2048 A-ASF θεασασθαι G2300 G5664 V-ADN καλαμον G2563 N-ASM υπο G5259 P EP ανεμου G417 N-GSM σαλευομενον G4531 G5746 V-PPP-ASM

8 αλλα G235 CONJ τι G5101 I-ASN εξηλθετε G1831 G5627 V-2AAI-2P ιδειν G1492 G5629 V-2AAN ανθρωπον G444 N-ASM εν G1722 P EP μαλακοις G3120 A-DPN ιματιοις G2440 N-DPN ημφιεσμενον G294 G5772 V- PP-ASM ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S οι G3588 T-NPM τα G3588 T-APN μαλακα G3120 A-APN φορουντες G5409 G5723 V-PAP-NPM εν G1722 P EP τοις G3588 T-DPM οικοις G3624 N-DPM των G3588 T-GPM βασιλειων G934 N-GPM εισιν G1526 G5748 V-PXI-3P

9 αλλα G235 CONJ τι G5101 I-ASN εξηλθετε G1831 G5627 V-2AAI-2P ιδειν G1492 G5629 V-2AAN προφητην G4396 N-ASM ναι G3483 P T λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP και G2532 CONJ περισσοτερον G4053 A-NSN-C προφητου G4396 N-GSM

10 ουτος G3778 D-NSM γαρ G1063 CONJ εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S περι G4012 P EP ου G3739 -GSM γεγραπται G1125 G5769 V- PI-3S ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S εγω G1473 P-1NS αποστελλω G649 G5719 V-PAI-1S τον G3588 T-ASM αγγελον G32 N-ASM μου G3450 P-1GS προ G4253 P EP προσωπου G4383 N-GSN σου G4675 P-2GS ος G3739 -NSM κατασκευασει G2680 G5692 V-FAI-3S την G3588 T-ASF οδον G3598 N-ASF σου G4675 P-2GS εμπροσθεν G1715 P EP σου G4675 P-2GS

11 αμην G281 HEB λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP ουκ G3756 P T-N εγηγερται G1453 G5769 V- PI-3S εν G1722 P EP γεννητοις G1084 A-DPM γυναικων G1135 N-GPF μειζων G3187 A-NSM-C ιωαννου G2491 N-GSM του G3588 T-GSM βαπτιστου G910 N-GSM ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ μικροτερος G3398 A-NSM-C εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF βασιλεια G932 N-DSF των G3588 T-GPM ουρανων G3772 N-GPM μειζων G3187 A-NSM-C αυτου G846 P-GSM εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S

12 απο G575 P EP δε G1161 CONJ των G3588 T-GPF ημερων G2250 N-GPF ιωαννου G2491 N-GSM του G3588 T-GSM βαπτιστου G910 N-GSM εως G2193 CONJ αρτι G737 ADV η G3588 T-NSF βασιλεια G932 N-NSF των G3588 T-GPM ουρανων G3772 N-GPM βιαζεται G971 G5743 V-PPI-3S και G2532 CONJ βιασται G973 N-NPM αρπαζουσιν G726 G5719 V-PAI-3P αυτην G846 P-ASF

13 παντες G3956 A-NPM γαρ G1063 CONJ οι G3588 T-NPM προφηται G4396 N-NPM και G2532 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM νομος G3551 N-NSM εως G2193 CONJ ιωαννου G2491 N-GSM προεφητευσαν G4395 G5656 V-AAI-3P

14 και G2532 CONJ ει G1487 COND θελετε G2309 G5719 V-PAI-2P δεξασθαι G1209 G5664 V-ADN αυτος G846 P-NSM εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S ηλιας G2243 N-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM μελλων G3195 G5723 V-PAP-NSM ερχεσθαι G2064 G5738 V-PNN

15 ο G3588 T-NSM εχων G2192 G5723 V-PAP-NSM ωτα G3775 N-APN ακουειν G191 G5721 V-PAN ακουετω G191 G5720 V-PAM-3S

16 τινι G5101 I-DSN δε G1161 CONJ ομοιωσω G3666 G5692 V-FAI-1S την G3588 T-ASF γενεαν G1074 N-ASF ταυτην G3778 D-ASF ομοια G3664 A-NPN εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S παιδιοις G3813 N-DPN εν G1722 P EP αγοραις G58 N-DPF καθημενοις G2521 G5740 V-PNP-DPM και G2532 CONJ προσφωνουσιν G4377 G5723 V-PAP-DPM τοις G3588 T-DPM εταιροις G2083 N-DPM αυτων G846 P-GPN

17 και G2532 CONJ λεγουσιν G3004 G5723 V-PAP-DPM ηυλησαμεν G832 G5656 V-AAI-1P υμιν G5213 P-2DP και G2532 CONJ ουκ G3756 P T-N ωρχησασθε G3738 G5662 V-ADI-2P εθρηνησαμεν G2354 G5656 V-AAI-1P υμιν G5213 P-2DP και G2532 CONJ ουκ G3756 P T-N εκοψασθε G2875 G5668 V-AMI-2P

18 ηλθεν G2064 G5627 V-2AAI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ ιωαννης G2491 N-NSM μητε G3383 CONJ εσθιων G2068 G5723 V-PAP-NSM μητε G3383 CONJ πινων G4095 G5723 V-PAP-NSM και G2532 CONJ λεγουσιν G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3P δαιμονιον G1140 N-ASN εχει G2192 G5719 V-PAI-3S

19 ηλθεν G2064 G5627 V-2AAI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM υιος G5207 N-NSM του G3588 T-GSM ανθρωπου G444 N-GSM εσθιων G2068 G5723 V-PAP-NSM και G2532 CONJ πινων G4095 G5723 V-PAP-NSM και G2532 CONJ λεγουσιν G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3P ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S ανθρωπος G444 N-NSM φαγος G5314 N-NSM και G2532 CONJ οινοποτης G3630 N-NSM τελωνων G5057 N-GPM φιλος G5384 A-NSM και G2532 CONJ αμαρτωλων G268 A-GPM και G2532 CONJ εδικαιωθη G1344 G5681 V-API-3S η G3588 T-NSF σοφια G4678 N-NSF απο G575 P EP των G3588 T-GPN τεκνων G5043 N-GPN αυτης G846 P-GSF

20 τοτε G5119 ADV ηρξατο G756 G5662 V-ADI-3S ονειδιζειν G3679 G5721 V-PAN τας G3588 T-APF πολεις G4172 N-APF εν G1722 P EP αις G3739 -DPF εγενοντο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3P αι G3588 T-NPF πλεισται G4118 A-NPF δυναμεις G1411 N-NPF αυτου G846 P-GSM οτι G3754 CONJ ου G3756 P T-N μετενοησαν G3340 G5656 V-AAI-3P

21 ουαι G3759 INJ σοι G4671 P-2DS χοραζιν G5523 N-P I ουαι G3759 INJ σοι G4671 P-2DS βηθσαιδα G966 N-P I οτι G3754 CONJ ει G1487 COND εν G1722 P EP τυρω G5184 N-DSF και G2532 CONJ σιδωνι G4605 N-DSF εγενοντο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3P αι G3588 T-NPF δυναμεις G1411 N-NPF αι G3588 T-NPF γενομεναι G1096 G5637 V-2ADP-NPF εν G1722 P EP υμιν G5213 P-2DP παλαι G3819 ADV αν G302 P T εν G1722 P EP σακκω G4526 N-DSM και G2532 CONJ σποδω G4700 N-DSM μετενοησαν G3340 G5656 V-AAI-3P

22 πλην G4133 ADV λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP τυρω G5184 N-DSF και G2532 CONJ σιδωνι G4605 N-DSF ανεκτοτερον G414 A-NSN-C εσται G2071 G5704 V-FXI-3S εν G1722 P EP ημερα G2250 N-DSF κρισεως G2920 N-GSF η G2228 P T υμιν G5213 P-2DP

23 και G2532 CONJ συ G4771 P-2NS καπερναουμ G2584 N-P I η G3588 T-NSF εως G2193 CONJ του G3588 T-GSM ουρανου G3772 N-GSM υψωθεισα G5312 G5685 V-APP-NSF εως G2193 CONJ αδου G86 N-GSM καταβιβασθηση G2601 G5701 V-FPI-2S οτι G3754 CONJ ει G1487 COND εν G1722 P EP σοδομοις G4670 N-DPN εγενοντο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3P αι G3588 T-NPF δυναμεις G1411 N-NPF αι G3588 T-NPF γενομεναι G1096 G5637 V-2ADP-NPF εν G1722 P EP σοι G4671 P-2DS εμειναν G3306 G5656 V-AAI-3P αν G302 P T μεχρι G3360 ADV της G3588 T-GSF σημερον G4594 ADV

24 πλην G4133 ADV λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP οτι G3754 CONJ γη G1093 N-DSF σοδομων G4670 N-GPN ανεκτοτερον G414 A-NSN-C εσται G2071 G5704 V-FXI-3S εν G1722 P EP ημερα G2250 N-DSF κρισεως G2920 N-GSF η G2228 P T σοι G4671 P-2DS

25 εν G1722 P EP εκεινω G1565 D-DSM τω G3588 T-DSM καιρω G2540 N-DSM αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S εξομολογουμαι G1843 G5731 V-PMI-1S σοι G4671 P-2DS πατερ G3962 N-VSM κυριε G2962 N-VSM του G3588 T-GSM ουρανου G3772 N-GSM και G2532 CONJ της G3588 T-GSF γης G1093 N-GSF οτι G3754 CONJ απεκρυψας G613 G5656 V-AAI-2S ταυτα G5023 D-APN απο G575 P EP σοφων G4680 A-GPM και G2532 CONJ συνετων G4908 A-GPM και G2532 CONJ απεκαλυψας G601 G5656 V-AAI-2S αυτα G846 P-APN νηπιοις G3516 A-DPM

26 ναι G3483 P T ο G3588 T-NSM πατηρ G3962 N-NSM οτι G3754 CONJ ουτως G3779 ADV εγενετο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3S ευδοκια G2107 N-NSF εμπροσθεν G1715 P EP σου G4675 P-2GS

27 παντα G3956 A-NPN μοι G3427 P-1DS παρεδοθη G3860 G5681 V-API-3S υπο G5259 P EP του G3588 T-GSM πατρος G3962 N-GSM μου G3450 P-1GS και G2532 CONJ ουδεις G3762 A-NSM επιγινωσκει G1921 G5719 V-PAI-3S τον G3588 T-ASM υιον G5207 N-ASM ει G1487 COND μη G3361 P T-N ο G3588 T-NSM πατηρ G3962 N-NSM ουδε G3761 ADV τον G3588 T-ASM πατερα G3962 N-ASM τις G5100 X-NSM επιγινωσκει G1921 G5719 V-PAI-3S ει G1487 COND μη G3361 P T-N ο G3588 T-NSM υιος G5207 N-NSM και G2532 CONJ ω G3739 -DSM εαν G1437 COND βουληται G1014 G5741 V-PNS-3S ο G3588 T-NSM υιος G5207 N-NSM αποκαλυψαι G601 G5658 V-AAN

28 δευτε G1205 G5773 V-XXM-2P προς G4314 P EP με G3165 P-1AS παντες G3956 A-NPM οι G3588 T-NPM κοπιωντες G2872 G5723 V-PAP-NPM και G2532 CONJ πεφορτισμενοι G5412 G5772 V- PP-NPM καγω G2504 P-1NS-C αναπαυσω G373 G5692 V-FAI-1S υμας G5209 P-2AP

29 αρατε G142 G5657 V-AAM-2P τον G3588 T-ASM ζυγον G2218 N-ASM μου G3450 P-1GS εφ G1909 P EP υμας G5209 P-2AP και G2532 CONJ μαθετε G3129 G5628 V-2AAM-2P απ G575 P EP εμου G1700 P-1GS οτι G3754 CONJ πραος G4235 N-NSM ειμι G1510 G5748 V-PXI-1S και G2532 CONJ ταπεινος G5011 A-NSM τη G3588 T-DSF καρδια G2588 N-DSF και G2532 CONJ ευρησετε G2147 G5692 V-FAI-2P αναπαυσιν G372 N-ASF ταις G3588 T-DPF ψυχαις G5590 N-DPF υμων G5216 P-2GP

30 ο G3588 T-NSM γαρ G1063 CONJ ζυγος G2218 N-NSM μου G3450 P-1GS χρηστος G5543 A-NSM και G2532 CONJ το G3588 T-NSN φορτιον G5413 N-NSN μου G3450 P-1GS ελαφρον G1645 A-NSN εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S

   

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The Place Where You Are Standing is Holy Ground

Napsal(a) Brian W. Keith

"And the [Angel of Jehovah] said, 'Do not come near. Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'" (Exodus 3:5). It was in the wilderness that Moses received his commission from Jehovah to lead the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt and into the promised land. He was no more than a Hebrew who was wanted for murder in Egypt. To convince him to return would surely take a great deal of persuasion. And so it was that Jehovah appeared to him in a burning bush. Although Moses had been raised in the very sophisticated Egyptian court, the sight of a man standing in the middle of a burning bush, with neither he nor the bush being burnt, must have been awesome. Yet, Moses did not avoid it or run away; instead, he approached the bush to get a closer look. The natural curiosity that Moses felt is like the innate desire that we all have to view what is miraculous. For Moses, it was a drawing near unto a voice that called his name, a being with supernatural powers. For us, we have a yearning to also discover a supernatural being, our God.

Throughout virtually every culture, in every era of history, people have related to a Divine Presence. This being, or beings, has been conceived of in many different ways, but there is a remarkable human need to have some type of God. It is either a basic need of man to postulate some super powerful creature, or force, to protect against irrational fears, or there is a Divine presence that inspires all to look above themselves. If there is no god, then there is no purpose in nature, there is no eternal worth of any individual, and there is no reason that man should be anything more than an animal. Yet there is a God; a Divine Being who is a Creator. A Divine Being who has purpose, who has love and has wisdom. A Divine Being who would have all born for an eternally happy goal, heaven. A Divine Being who so created man that we can stand up and return with additional bounty that which has been received. In recognizing our own limitations and weaknesses, and in realizing that there must be a Divine Being for this purposeful life to exist, we have a desire to approach our Creator, our God. Such was the desire of Moses, and such is our desire to draw near to the source of our life, the cause of our existence.

Yet there is the question of who or what we are meant to approach? The tremendous variety in concepts of God could lead one to feel that there is no one Supreme Being that can be approached. But this variety is the result of differences in people. If God created man, and is concerned about him, God will reveal Himself to man in a form that the man can accept. For the ancient Jew, Jehovah was a very hard and vengeful God. He embodied all their concepts of a fearful ruler. They projected on Him all their own weaknesses.

So Jehovah appeared to them as a warrior, or One who could be bargained with, usually remote and uncaring. Jehovah could not be seen, and could only be approached in the ritualized sacrifices and offerings. To the extent that this concept of God was impersonal, the people could feel that they could give Jehovah His due, and then ignore Him with the rest of their lives. Right and wrong were only so because of impersonal commands, that could often be avoided with sufficient cleverness.

It was to change this concept of God that Jesus Christ was born on earth. As He said, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believed on Me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46). The limitations that the previous concept of the God Jehovah had needed clarification. A new light was shining in the world, a light that would illumine God as a human, the true Human. This was why He claimed to be "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" and said "No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). The unknowable Jehovah could not be approached, but the humanity of Jesus could, This was why Jesus was born on earth, as a visible God whom men might see, understand, and eventually love. With the record of His actions and His teachings we can visualize Him and approach the ideals He presented. And He invites us to do this. "He that comes to Me shall not hunger, and he that believes in Me shall never thirst, and he that comes to Me I will in no way cast out" (John 6:35,37). He thus indicated His openness to mankind, an openness that welcomes all to come to Him, to approach Him.

But even with the knowledge that we are to approach the Lord Jesus Christ, how can we do this? In what way can our hunger be fed, our thirst satisfied, and our presence with Him be gained? We might think that the first disciples had an easier time approaching God, because Jesus was there before them. Actually this made it more difficult for them, and many could only see Him as a man like themselves. We should not look to approach a material God, one with flesh and bones as we have. "God is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). And as is taught in the New Church, "Man cannot approach the Divine with the body, as a man approaches a man, but with the mind, thus with the thought and will...by these man can approach the Divine" (Arcana Coelestia 6843). By approaching Him with our minds we are freed of material limitations. We can see Him wherever and whenever we wish. Also our idea of Him can change and grow. We can see the many many aspects of Him as we are ready, as our minds develop in their understanding and love of Him. In addition, by viewing Him with our minds we are never compelled to accept Him, or be near to Him when we do not wish it. Thus is our freedom preserved so that when we do turn to Him, it will be with a willing acceptance of Him.

How then, can we use our minds to see Him? "The Lord is near unto all them who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth" (Psalm 145:18). We must begin with a knowledge of who the Lord is. If our concept of God is so distorted by erroneous ideas and misconceptions, then we will be unable to see Him, or what we see will be repugnant. If we imagine Him as but a silent force like the wind, then He cannot be real or personalized to us. Indeed, He becomes but one aspect of nature. If we imagine Him as a punishing God, who uses natural misfortunes to exact vengeance upon those who have sinned, then we must think of Him as exceedingly cruel, allowing innocent parties to suffer miserably, and allowing those who have done evil to avoid any retribution. These thoughts about the Lord are not truths that reveal Him, but distortions that obscure thought of Him. They are like the shoes that Moses wore when he began to approach the burning bush. He was commanded to take them off so that he could come closer. So with us, our false ideas prevent us from coming closer to the Lord, and can even turn us away from Him. It was for this reason that the Psalmist said, "O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me into Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles" (Psalm 43:2). Our light that would truly reveal God to us so that we might approach Him is found in His Word. In His concern for us He has provided us with a way of seeing Him in our minds. In the Old Testament is recorded His operation in history, and in the deeper, spiritual level, the mental processes that took place within His mind while on earth. In the New Testament we have a record of His visible concern for mankind and moral teachings. And in the Heavenly Doctrines of the New Church are the reasonable explanations of what has gone before, and what may come to pass. By these teachings He has shown us Himself, and how we may draw near to Him.

But we should not think that merely knowing about Him enables us to be near to Him. We could memorize every last iota of revealed truth and still be no closer to Him, or to truly understanding Him, than before. The reason is that knowledge alone does not change what we are. There is really no difference between the genius and illiterate who commit adultery. Although there may be differences in the modes and justifications, the actions have the same hellish effect. To approach the Lord we must become like Him. As the apostle John wrote, "God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him" (John 4:16).

It is in love that two people are drawn closer to one another. We know many people wish to spend time with those who share similar feelings, and avoid those with whom we do not. So with the Lord. Because He is good, if we do not love what is good, we do not love Him and wish to be near Him. Where we make use of the truth that we find in His Word, then we acquire a love of what is good and thus draw nearer to Him. The person who is a petty thief is separate from God in each act of stealing. But when that person sees that taking the goods of others is wrong, and gradually acquires a love of being honest, he comes closer to the Lord, for the Lord is the source of honesty. It is as the Psalmist says,

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully" (Psalm 24:3,4).

What primarily prevents us from coming closer to our Lord is our own selfish natures. To the extent that we focus upon ourselves, there is no room for Him to be seen or loved. To the extent that we think that our needs are to come before all others, to that extent we do not seek the good in others, the Lord is not there. In order for us to approach the Lord, our first steps ought to be to remove false ideas and evil loves from our minds and hearts. In this way we can cleanse our hearts and purge our minds of what is hellish and a stumbling block to nearing the Lord, we can put the shoes off our feet.

At times this may seem like an impossible task. Because the work of removing evils is ever with us while in this natural world, it may seem that we never get any closer to the Lord, and perhaps are continually slipping back. But this is probably not the case. In the first place we are not alone in the work. By ourselves we could not defeat one single evil within us. The Lord comes closer to us in every effort we make to come to closer to Him. The Heavenly Doctrines teach that "it is a sure and immutable law, that so far as man approaches the Lord so far does the Lord approach the man" (TCR 100, TCR 89 at the end, TCR126). Every effort we make to approach the Lord, He equals in His approach to us. He does not stand afar off to see if we can make it to Him. He has not set up an obstacle course that we must cover before we get near to Him. Because He is love He reaches out to us. Each effort we make is an invitation to Him that He warmly accepts. In one sense He is always present with us at our doors, knocking to be let in. All we need do is answer the knock and He does come in.

But we may not know that He is near, for when we are struggling to remove our selfish and worldly habits we are immersed in them and can see nothing else. It is like someone attempting to scare off underwater animals in a pond by wading through it. He probably meets with some success, although it is difficult for him to tell, since his movements have so stirred up the muddy bottom that he can no longer sees clearly. When we deal with our own faults and less than desirable traits our struggles dirty up the water, so that we cannot always see if we are successful or not. But we are given assurances by the Lord, that when we try to put off these shoes, He will succeed. Did He not say, "Come unto Me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30)?

Indeed, if we will but put the shoes from off our feet, then we can draw near to our Lord. We can be led by His truth, and affectionately respond to His life giving love. We can draw near to the Lord, for our every effort enables Him to draw closer to us.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 100)

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