healing blindness, part 3

Good evening friends,
We've seen the man born blind telling his story and the religious leaders unable to reconcile the situation to their beliefs. Here the story turns truly compelling. The religious leaders turn to fear and threats, while the man becomes more and more sure of the magnitude of what Jesus has done. I love his testimony because he doesn't claim to know everything, or even much about Jesus, but he is willing to follow the truth. He sticks by that truth even though it's going to cost him.

In our times this is a great example. We don't have to understand everything about our faith or the Bible. We don't have to have all the answers. All we need to do is tell our stories of what God means to us. Those stories are powerful, even though it can be scary to tell them.

God bless,
Sam


John 9:24-34

24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”


28Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

forgiveness and integrity

Good afternoon sisters and brothers,
John's letters aren't as well known as Paul's letters, but they are wonderful little gems of our faith. In today's reading John makes three related points. First, faith is about what we do; we have to live our faith, not just talk about it. Second, when we admit our sin and shortcomings God forgives us. And finally, we all fall short, so if we claim we aren't sinners we aren't being honest. The freedom to admit our brokenness and trust Christ to heal us is one of the greatest blessings of our faith.

Blessings on your freedom and honesty today,
Sam

1 John 1:5-10

⁵This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; ⁷but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

God's sword

Good morning brothers and sisters,
In today's reading the author of the Letter to the Hebrews compares God's word with a sharp sword. He or she talks about how scripture exposes our inner self to God, who sees everything about us. When we read scripture, especially when we read it prayerfully, we don't just learn stories about our faith or pieces of doctrine. We see God revealed through the word. We also see ourselves clearly. When the psalmist talks honestly about his sin and the joy of forgiveness, we see how we get tangled up in sin as well. When ordinary people do amazing things for God we are inspired to claim our own ministry. When biblical characters do mean or stupid things, we reflect on the areas we still need to work on.

Scripture convicts us of our shortcomings and it lifts up our potential. It also reminds us that no matter what we have done, God is merciful and wants to forgive us. So open the word, confess your brokenness, and come to the throne of grace.

God bless,
Sam

Hebrews 4:12-16

¹²Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

¹⁴Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

forgiveness and the golden rule

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today's first reading is a wonderful Psalm about the freedom of confessing our sins and being forgiven. Forgiveness will be our theme in worship today, and it's an area that always needs attention. Our second lesson is Jesus' familiar golden rule: "treat others how you want to be treated." As usual, Jesus doesn't let that be just general advice for a happy life; instead he insists on applying it to the most difficult people we encounter. One of the hard things with words this familiar is to try to hear them fresh again. The message is a powerful one.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 32:1-11

¹Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ²Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.

⁴For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah ⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

⁶Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. ⁷You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah

⁸I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. ⁹Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.

¹⁰Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. ¹¹Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. 

Luke 6:31-38

³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you. ³²“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

confess and believe

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Paul contrasts the righteousness we sometimes look for in the law, righteousness we think we can control, with the true righteousness of trusting in God. Rather than counting on our ability to follow the law we simply trust in God's love to save us. Paul lays out two steps to be joined to Christ's righteousness by faith. We confess (or proclaim) with our lips that Jesus is Lord and we believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead. When we confess that Jesus is Lord we refuse to be ruled by other masters that try to claim our ultimate allegiance (sin, wealth, beauty, popularity, etc). When we believe in our heart that God raised Christ from the dead we know and trust that not even death can defeat God's love. That is a powerful combination, and it frees us from everything that seeks to separate us from God. Trust in the Lord and he will give you peace.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 10:1-11

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. 3For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.


5Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”