Thursday, April 12, 2018

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community here in downtown Meridian. I often hear people quote Jesus's saying from the 5th Chapter of Matthew: God sends the rain upon the just and the unjust. Usually, they mean, God sends bad things to happen to both good and bad people. Living in Mississippi, this makes sense. Rain brings gloomy days, disrupted plans for the day, and often the danger of floods. But Jesus said this in Galilee in the 1st Century. In an area as drought-stricken as the middle east is, rain can only mean one thing – a blessing. So, in saying God sends rain upon the just and the unjust, Jesus suggests that God sends his wonderful blessings on all people. Thus, Jesus is reinforcing what he says elsewhere, God only sends good things to people who are both just and unjust. Evil comes from our choice to disobey God. God is the only source of every good and perfect gift. So, whether it is rainy or the sun shines today, God pours out His blessings upon each of us.