Today Our Daily Bread Matt 11

Matthew 11: 1 - 30
1 When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in their villages. 2 John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples 3 to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" 4 Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on: 5 The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. 6 "Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!"
7 When John's disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. "What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? 8 Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. 9 What then? A prophet? That's right, a prophet! Probably the best prophet you'll ever hear. 10 He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, 'I'm sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.' 11 "Let me tell you what's going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. 12 For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God's kingdom. 13 But if you read the books of the Prophets and God's Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. 14 Looked at in this way, John is the 'Elijah' you've all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah. 15 "Are you listening to me? Really listening?
16 "How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, 17 'We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.' 18 John came fasting and they called him crazy. 19 I came feasting and they called me a lush, a friend of the riff-raff. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
20 Next Jesus let fly on the cities where he had worked the hardest but whose people had responded the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way. 21 "Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. 22 At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you. 23 And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. 24 At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you."
25 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work." 27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. 28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
The Message

~Lena's Comments ~
I see that if we too will take on the call to prepare the way of the Lord in other’s lives we will see the great rewards of His kingdom being formed in others and God’s dreams coming true. For the spirit of Elijah is a reconciling spirit and willingly gives of its own life for others. This One will live meagerly so that others may know God. Will live before God, separated unto His will for extreme purposes- to pave the way of the Lord that leads to the hearts of people being able to be touched by Jesus. Had it not been for the spirit of reconciliation, where would we be? Had it not been for one who prayed for our salvation, where would we be? What about someone who was willing to show forth their living example and testimony to us? And those who could live any way they would like, but for the sake of the lost they choose Christ? They choose to light the way that when He appears, others may see Him there. These who have the preparatory spirit of God and of Christ, give their lives into a relationship with God, that they may know Him enough to make Him known. Their consecration is for eternity, for eternity is knit by covenant cords into the fabric of their hearts. Their hearts are ONE with their Father, God. They live steadfast with intent purpose. Only one thing is important and they choose that part (as Mary did when she sat at the feet of the Lord). These choose the narrow way, they choose to be in but not at all like the world. Their thinking even of justice is contrary to any standard but God’s. Justice is found in eternity and no matter the wrong or unfairness or due of the crime, they are willing to stand for and be whomever God can use to save the lost. They are those who are justified in the blood and need not justify themselves before men. They are His righteous called out ones who accept the Divine Destiny of paving the way for any revelation of the Lord Jesus that could ever find its place in any human heart.
I believe a reason John & Jesus came against religious thinking was that religious thinking excludes people from being right with God, where faith draws the people towards God and His love. Religion tries to justify oneself as righteous, where the righteousness of God is justified by His blood sacrifice.