Second Sunday after Epiphany: Friday, January 20, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 11:27-12:8

Of all the things that stand out to me, it is one of the promises of God to Abram. He told Abram to go to a land that I will show you. He didn’t tell him where he was going. He didn’t tell him if it was a great land or terrible, how far it would be, what he would do when he got there. It would be a land that God would show him.

That is faith. Not knowing where God is sending you, but going anywhere. Not knowing what the end may be, but going anyway. Faith in many ways is trust in God. We don’t always know the land where God is sending us, but we know God. And if we know God, we can trust where He is sending us. Where is He sending you today? To what land are you going? Even if you don’t know the way, you know the God that is sending you there. Trust in Him today for the road to that land.

New Testament Lessons

Hebrews 7:1-17

Melchizedek was a priest based not on geology or family, but on his calling and his life. Our calling is what matters, not our family. As important as family is in making us who we are, our calling and our life is the most important.

Gospel Lesson

John 4:16-26

In verse 19, the woman at the well finds out that Jesus is more than just an ordinary man, but He is from God. So she immediately changes the subject. Jesus comes to us and wants us to change our lives. So, sometimes we push Him away, because we don’t want to change. But, it’s only through that change that we find life. The question becomes will we choose to stay the way we are, or will we choose to give our lives to Jesus, receive the changes He will make and find life.