Third Sunday after Epiphany, Tuesday, January 24. 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 15:1-11, 17-21

Verse six says, "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." This was on of the key verses for Paul in the New Testament. Abraham's righteousness did not come from what he did, but rather it came from his belief. It was that belief that was his righteousness, But, yet, look at the life of Abraham, it was his belief that may have been credited with righteousness but that belief produced action. What goes does it do for us to say that we believe in God, that we have faith, if there is no evidence that we believe. Yes, we are saved by grace through faith, lest no one can boast, that is what Paul writes, but that faith will lead to a different life. James says that even the devils believe. That belief must produce obedience. It is obedience that is the sign of belief and of faith. Abraham believed, that was his righteousness and then what did that belief cause? Obedience. So may it be for each of us today. May we believe, and may we obey. Or as the old hymn goes, Trust and Obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 9:1-14

The book of Hebrews continues that same thought in saying that we are not cleansed by any action or sacrifice, but we are cleansed through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is through what He did for each of us that we can stand before God. It is through His sacrifice that we can return to God. Once again, it is about what He has done, not we what have done. We cannot be good enough. We cannot mistake church attendance or reading the bible, or coming from a good family, or looking like a good person, we cannot mistake these things for faith. We must first have faith, we must first be born again, and then these things flow from that. T

here is a difference between habit and commitment. Habit is what we do because it is what we have always done, and that's just what good people do. Commitment is what we do because of a changed heart and we are living lives of thankfulness. Do you got to church based off habit, or commitment? Do you go because you want to look like a good person and you thing that "pew time" will get you into heaven? Or do you go because you realize what Jesus Christ has done for you and you are so thankful that you are committed to live a different life. Are thankful today? Are you committed today? Or are you just going through the motions? It is because of what He had done for us, that is the foundation.

Gospel Lesson

John 5:1-18

Do you want to be well? That is the question that Jesus asks the man in the text today. If so, take your mat and go. We think, well, who wouldn't want to be well? Who would want to stay sick? Why would we choose something like that over the new life of freedom? Why would we choose to stay sick instead of walk with the Lord? Because if we walked, he would have to change his life, and while his old life was that of sickness, his new life would be different and he might now know everything would turn out.

Why would we choose to stay where we are in faith, instead of walking closer to the Lord? I don't know where each of you are with faith. Maybe you're a new Christian, maybe you've been walking with the Lord everyday for 40 years. I don't know, but do you want to walk closer with Him? Then pick up your mat and go. But we don't sometime. We get too comfortable where we are. We want enough faith to get us into heaven, but not enough to really change our lives. Sometimes we are afraid to walk closer to the Lord because there's no telling what He might ask us to do. But, walking with Him is life. In doing that you are really, really alive. Don't settle for less than true life. Don't settle for second best. God has something awesome out there for you today, if you will follow. Do you want to be well today? Pick up your mat and walk.