Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Friday, February 17, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Psalm 32:22-33:17

It is God that is worthy of all of our praise, and God is the one that we should rely upon. This text today says that no king is saved by the size of their army, but by the God. Only in God do we find our safety and contentment. We can worry about work, we can try to take everything into our own hands, but only in God do we rest easy. We rely upon doctors and nurses, but only God bring healing. All of the goodness in life comes from God; all of our protection comes from God. He is looking out for His children and will be in the midst of whatever happens and will bring out some good out of everything. I know those words are hard to believe in the midst struggles and trials, but God will bring good out of whatever we go through, and He is worth of our praise.

New Testament Lesson

1 John 3:1-10

How great is the love of God that we should be called the sons and the daughters of God. How great a love have we received! How worthy of God of our praise that He calls us His children! And if we are His children, we should not keep living like we did when were not. We should not keep sinning, we should not keep living like the world, but we should live like God would expect His children to live. What do you expect out of your children? Why do we think God would expect any less out of you and me? We are blessed to be called the children of God; let us live in the same manner.

Gospel Lesson

John 10:31-42

If we read the Gospels, Jesus was never really all that popular. His disciples liked and followed Him, but it seems like they never fully understood Him until after the Resurrection. And, He always faced opposition from the religious leaders of the day. Jesus doesn't always bring peace. Quite often He brings division, for we have to decide whose side we are on. Are we on His side, or are we on the side of the world. Jesus said Himself in one of the Gospels; He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword. We have decided if we are fully committed to Him, and that full commitment is the only way to life. Are we fully committed? Or do we just want enough Jesus to keep us out of hell? He demands that full obedience, and in doing that, we will face opposition from the world, and then the question is, whose side are we on?