Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 31:15-50

Jacob decided to run from Laban in this text. And actually, for once, Jacob didn't really do anything wrong. Rachel had stolen the possessions from her father, and Jacob knew nothing about it. Jacob decided today to leave to separate his family from Laban, who had caused them much pain. Sometimes as Christians, we have to make pains to separate ourselves from those that could harm us, our family, or our faith. We have to keep the main the the main thing, and and if there are things that keep us from being faithful to what is most important, we must be on the lookout for them. And if their are things that can bring harm to our family or our faith, we must willing to get rid of it, no matter how hard. Jacob left today ton ensure his family a fresh start from under Laban. Under Laban, they had food and safety, but they were not free. God desires that we be free from whatever enslaves us. Today, Jacob made that decision of freedom through obedience to God. We must make that same choice.

New Testament Lesson

1 John 2:12-17

We see this same thought echoed in this text as well; we must stay true to our love of God. Today, John says that we must not love the world, for it will pass away. Sometimes as Christians, we try to live too much like the world. It is easy with all that we see on TV, hear on the radio, read on the Internet. We must be different. We must live different than the world. If their is no different between they way we live and the way that the world lives, that is a problem. We must live for God, in all that we do. We must not be captive to the world and it's desires. The world will pass away, but God will not, nor will His children.

Gospel Lesson

John 10:1-18

These passages all fit so well together. We see here in John that is the good shepherd that will actually give life. The thief will rob, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life, life now, and life in the age to come. Where to do we find our life today? Is it in our bank account? Car? Job? Power? Lust? Where? If it is anywhere other than Jesus, then we are in trouble and are setting ourselves up for a fall. This world and this culture will not give us life; they will destroy us. Only in God is there life. Where is your life found today? Is it in Jesus? If not, then we need to examine how we are living.