Psalm 52
Psalm 44
Published on Mar 22, 2012
One more step along the world i go
from the old things to the new keep me travelling along with you
WORSHIP SONGS
from the old things to the new keep me travelling along with you
WORSHIP SONGS
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Psalms - 41, 52, 44
Old Testament -
Isaiah 48:1-11
Epistle – Galatians1:1-17
Gospel – Mark 5:21-43
All of today’s readings in some way focus on living
in completeness, in harmony with one another, in true fellowship with God; as
opposed to living in incompleteness, in disunity with one another, in
self-created isolation.
God’s judgment lies on the deceitful, those who
love evil more than good; lying more than truth. To live in communion with God
and with the faithful, we must live a life of integrity, uncompromising
adherence to the Word of God as it has been revealed to us. We must avoid
deception, expediency, artificiality, or shallowness of any kind.
Even though God knows the secrets of the heart, we
can trust in his mercy. Can it be that simple? What have we done to deserve
mercy? Nothing.
We are a stubborn and rebellious people. Be assured
that there are broken people and broken relationships that are the consequences
of our actions or inactions, from what we have said or not said.
Yet, mercy is exactly what God offers us through
grace. Grace, through faith. Faith is the key to healing and a restored life.
Like the broken woman who, by faith, was healed. She stumbled through the
crowd, fell to the ground, just to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe. Like Jairus, a
leader of the synagogue, who prostrated himself before Jesus and begged that his
daughter be healed.
One willing to break all the rules of the Law that
placed her outside the fellowship of her people to ask for mercy. One willing to rely on mercy and grace
rather than judgment and brokenness.
One willing to sacrifice personal honor and
position to prostrate himself and beg for mercy and healing. Who, even when he
was told his daughter was dead, believed that Jesus was the master of life and
death.
Is it more important to be healed physically or to
be healed from stubbornness, pride, expediency? Is it more important to
be free of pain, or free of artificiality and self-importance? Is it more
important to be restored to busyness that creates broken relationships and
broken people, or to be freed to live without pride and in quiet fellowship
with God?
John Wesley, in his sermon on Original Sin (#44) said,
“By repentance and lowliness of heart the deadly disease of pride is healed;
that of self-will by resignation, and meek and thankful submission to the will
of God.”
Which do I want more, our will, or God’s will?
Where do I want to live, in incompleteness, disunity, and isolation or in
completeness, harmony, and in fellowship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
O Lord, at each new place of the progression of deterioration, moving from cane to walker, from walker to wheelchair, let me
find within myself a new focus, zeal and passion. As one willing to rely
totally on your mercy and grace regardless of the outcome, as I give up my car keys, choose to limit myself, as I become homebound and more dependent on others, let me have a
renewed sense of gospel urgency. As one desiring to be always green and
fruitful, no matter my circumstance, let me find ways to live in communion with
the faithful. God you know the secrets and desires of my heart, I come to you in humility,
begging for redemption and mercy and grace. Thank you for transforming me from
weakness to wholeness. Thank you for holding me together. Thank you for never
failing me, but always standing me tall in your presence so I can one day look
you in the eye and know that Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah has truly paid for
my sins, making me clean and pure and even now exactly as you intended and neededme to be. That is
good enough for me. Amen.
Daily Readings based on the Revised Book of Common Prayer, Year A. January 29, 2013. http://www.crivoice.org/epiphany1.html
Commentary and scripture verses based on:
The Wesley Study
Bible, New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009.
Peterson, Eugene
H. The Message//Remix: The Bible in
Contemporary Language Colorado Springs: Navpress, 2003
Thompson, Frank
Charles. The Thompson Chain-Reference® Bible, New International Version. Grand
Rapids, MI: 1983
“integrity.” Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary. Unabridged. Mierriam-Webster, 2002. http//unabridged.merriam-webster.com (29 Jan 2013)
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