Psalm 77 Leviticus 19-20 James 2
Once again, we are reminded by the
song writer that at times in life we are feeling completely disconnected from
God and wonder if we will ever feel close again. At times even thinking about
our relationship with God brings pain.
It is during these times we must
look back to the times God was present our lives or the lives of others we know
when we felt abandoned. We also remember the great blessings he provided for us
along the journey of life. What else can we put our trust in? We have seen God
work wonders and if we look experience it all around us. Wherever life takes us
God is there and earth trembles in his presence. God’s ways lead us on the
right path.
In the reading from Leviticus
today we see that the cost of following God is high but must be followed. Trust
is a key component of faith and God has placed men and women to rule over the earth
but continue to trust God throughout the journey.
Once again, we see them only able
to see what they claim is God failing to care about them. When the water runs short,
they again look back to Egypt imagining that they were better off. Moses and Aaron
call the people together and God commands Moses to speak to the rock and they
will receive water. In anger, after gathering the people Moses strikes the rock
and the water pores out, so their need is met with abundance. But God held
Moses and Aaron accountable for not doing what he told them to do when he told
them to speak, their very word was enough, and instead in anger struck the rock.
They quickly find themselves in
conflict with the people of the land they are in. They are surrounded by their
enemies because they choose to reject God’s way. Then we see Aaron denied the
chance to enter the land they have been dreaming of for so long. He dies and
the nation wept for him.
In James 2 we are told not to
practice favoritism based on our personal beliefs. James reminds us that God
choose the poor because of their richness in faith. When we dishonor the poor,
we dishonor God. If you are going to quote portions of the law be prepared to
live it all out, including Jesus teaching on it particularly in the sermon on
the mount in Matthew 5-7.
I remember I was serving a church
that a donor had made a very large contribution to major improvement project.
As the project was nearing completion, we were celebrating it during Sunday
morning worship. On that day someone pick up the donor, escorted them into the
building, others escorted them to a seat up front. They were obviously someone
being treated with honor. I was sitting up front while all this was going on
watching it unfold. I noticed a young woman enter a side door near the back
where they gentleman was being treated as royalty and watch him escorted in. No
one greeted her and she quietly walked down and found a seat on the side alone.
After the celebration was held, everyone
was invited into a comfortable space for refreshments and conversation. When I
arrived after greeting people in the other room, I once again found the donor
surrounded by people caring for them. I saw the young lady standing to the side
watching and taking it all in. A few minutes later I turned to talk to her, and
she was gone. Because she came regularly to one of our outreach programs I knew
her and went looking for her. I found her sitting in another part of the building
alone and looking sad. When I sat down next to her and we talked she told me
that she didn’t feel she belonged in that other room because she was so
different.
You see, this young lady was
living in a half-way house and struggling to get her life back on track, was
poor and felt invisible. Every time I read James 2 I am reminded of that young
woman and wonder how many others we have missed to include in our lives because
they are invisible to us.
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