WEBVTT

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Day 276, or October 3rd. One small step for a

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man or a woman. Our thoughts today come from

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Matthew 9, verse 14. Then John's disciples came

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and asked him, How is it that we in the Pharisees

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fast often, but your disciples do not fast? And now the

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big picture surrounding this verse. Most of today's

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actions by Jesus take place once again around

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the shores of the Sea of Galilee, probably in

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and around Capernaum, which is right at the top.

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Today this city is just an archaeological site

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containing the remains of a first century synagogue.

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There is also a house that many believe was the

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house of Peter. and the place where Jesus healed

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Peter's mother -in -law, as recorded in Matthew

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8, verses 14 -17. Capernaum became the home base

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for Jesus and his disciples, after his hometown

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of Nazareth rejected him as Messiah. These two

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cities are very close geographically, but their

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attitude to Jesus was very different. And now

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today's action step. I have found over the years

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that often the world has higher standards for

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Christians than many Christians have. Words like,

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I never thought you would have done that, I thought

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you were a Christian, or, as a Christian, I never

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thought I would hear you say that. It seems that

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other people often have higher standards for

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us than we have for ourselves. Of course, we

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shouldn't be putting on an act to impress others.

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Jesus clearly teaches against that, but our actions

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and attitudes should be different to those of

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the world. These thoughts are not meant to put

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you or me on the road to feeling even guiltier.

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However, if you think your attitude could be

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improved, why not ask God to help you today?

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Take a word of advice and ask God's Holy Spirit

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to particularly help you at home, because that's

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where most of us are at our worst. Another thing,

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don't be intimidated if your own list of required

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improvements is as long as mine. Focus on the

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one that catches your eye first, and with God's

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help, make that your project for the week. Just

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one step at a time. Walk, don't run.