“For John came neither eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” Matthew 11:18-19 … “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as leave that house or town.” 10:14 … “Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous;” 10:41 … “and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” 10:22 … “and whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple – truly I tell you, none of these will lose these will lose their reward.” 10:42

Who do I/you/we welcome into our presence, onto our hearts and minds? Who do we listen to? As I read Matthew 11:18-19 this morning my thoughts quickly jumped to this week’s political argument over candidate’s tax forms and who has paid how much? Both sides argue the other’s candidate is doing it wrong, and their candidate is clean while both have done the same thing. Who do we listen to? (Not making an endorsement for either side but attempting make a point). Who do we welcome into our hearts? Jesus and his followers or others who separate us from him? How do we decide? Are we steadfast in our faith, do we hold out, will we hang on until the end? Are we at the foot of the cross when Christ cries out I am thirsty, and do we give him a drink of cool water? Are have we like sheep scattered because we listened to the fickle. “Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” The truly wise person stands by the One who comes to bring holiness to the world. Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. God comes and says, “I am here with you, will you be with me? God is holy, to be His people/His person I/you/we/ must be holy. Only through Jesus are we made holy. Do we receive him? Do we share him with others? What reward do we seek?