Tuesday, April 20, 2021

God's Way the Best Way

 Judges 12-13     Psalm 12     Matthew 9

Today’s old testament reading tells us that there were a number of judges that ruled over Israel and some where faithful and blessed and others were unfaithful, and the Lord took away their blessing. The would find themselves ruled by the Philistines for forty years for their evil actions before the Lord.

God reaches out through an unexpected faithful servant and his wife. When a messenger of the Lord appears to his wife and she tells him be believes. The angel of the Lord tells them they will have a son and he will be blessed because he has been set aside for this purpose. Being in the presence of God and his messengers is clearly a powerful and fearful experience but what a blessing to listen to the Word of the Lord.

The song today reminds us that empty words or praise are still empty words without value. The Word of the Lord is pure and like silver refined in fire it shapes our lives. The wicked by strut around when vile things are exalted among people. The word of the Lord is pure and true.

Jesus offered forgiveness and grace as he healed the sick. He healed and offered a chance to begin again. Each time Jesus heals someone there is the balance between amusement and anger based on how you view what he is doing. He reminds them that God is more interested in repentant and changed lives they sacrifice. He most often told people their faith, their belief is what healed them. The religious leaders often challenged him because they saw him as a threat not only to what they believed and taught but more importantly their power.

He felt compassion for the people because most had been led astray and the potential field of harvest for the Kingdom was great but those that were willing to do the work of the harvest were few.

As I read today, I was reminded the struggle between us and God throughout our history. We want to be like God, which we were created to be, but we don’t want to reflect God but want God to be a reflection of us. It will only be when we submit to the will of God that we will know what it is to be truly blessed and others will see Jesus in us.

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