Remember this, also, if you are ever hurt by being rejected. It has nothing to do with the quality of who you are. Remember that you are God's child - you are loved by God and you have the love of God within you. That is of great value.
Have you ever been at a loss for words? Perhaps you have been so surprised by something that you didn't know what to say. Or, you may have found yourself in a difficult situation and didn't know what to say. Jesus says, "I will give you a mouth (words) and wisdom" (21:15) two things that fit well together, especially during times of trouble. When you are at a loss for words think about listening for God's words and for the wisdom to use them well.
The Bible tells us that "…the Spirit also helps our weaknesses…" (8:26). When we feel too weak, or sad, or sick to pray, the Bible tells us that God knows what is in our hearts and his Spirit prays for us. It is similar to a mother hummingbird providing food and protection for the babies until they are strong enough to fly.
In the Bible Jesus talks about being able to use just the right words. In this case he is preparing the people who are with him for difficult times. He tells them, …for I will give you a mouth and wisdom…" (21:15) That promise is with us today. The Holy Spirit brings words to our mouths and wisdom. When we find ourselves in a difficult situation it is important that we listen for God’s words and receive the wisdom necessary to make a good decision. And, if you are someone who likes to write, listen for the "words and wisdom" that will allow you to touch the hearts of others.
When we have difficult experiences and feel frustrated or sad, we are instructed to always hang onto hope - God's promise of care for his children. Hope is not something we see, but we can feel it - hope helps us to learn to wait and become more patient. The Bible says, "But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience" (8:25).
We can think about what it would be like to be an angel, but we really can't understand that fully because we have more growing to do. Jesus tells us that heaven will be different from what we know now. We must trust Jesus, as we would trust a loving father or a loving mother, to know what is best for us. We don't have answers as to what it will be like in heaven. We only know that our needs will be met, we will be happy, and we will be with God.
We may have many questions about heaven. None of us have been there so we must rely on what we are told my someone who has been there. That person is Jesus. Jesus tells us in the Bible that when he was baptized, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God, in the form of a dove, coming to rest on him. In other parts of the Bible heaven is described as a place where God is, a place of angels, a place where there is no sadness. The descriptions we are given cause us to believe that heaven is a wonderful place. As Jesus told the Sadducees, those who have died and gone to be with God "are like angels, and are children of God."
The Bible tells us that "…the Spirit of God dwells in you" (8:9). The spiritual world is a strange and beautiful place. We know it is there because we can feel it. It is where we go when we pray to God. It is where we are when we feel peaceful. It is the place that gives us life. Explore and learn more about the Spirit that dwells in you.
Today's Gospel is an account of another parable. This parable is tragic on many levels. The parable itself tells of the tragedy of a son's death at the hands of evil people. The meaning of the parable illustrates a horrible tragedy in Israel. Worst of all, the people who had the most to gain from this parable rejected it and as they rejected it, they were doomed to commit the very crime illustrated in the parable.
When we let the Spirit of Jesus live in us, it is like being released from a time-out. We are free to be grateful, worship God, and enjoy the life he has given us. As we go about our day thinking of behavior and activities that are pleasing to God, we make better choices. The Bible tells us that "the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" (8:6).