Ordinary Time: Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Judges 18:16-31

We see that 2 generations after Moses and Aaron, their descendants were leading the people idol worship. All it takes is a step here, a step there, and before you know it, you are in a land you don't want to be in. I'm sure this descendants knew that God was God and knew that idol worship was wrong, but here they are.

Falling into destruction doesn't always start with the big things, quite often it is the little things that undo us. We allow sin to take over in small place and in small ways, and before we know it, we are worshiping idols. Anything that takes the place of God in your life is an idol.

At your conversion, you thought nothing could take the place of God. What about now? Small steps, small things, these are the things the lead us down the road of destruction.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 8:14-25

We see someone try to buy God's blessing today. The Apostles respond God's blessing is not for the buying, but only through belief. As important as it is to give God what is rightly His, we cannot "buy" His blessing. Just because you tithe doesn't mean you will enter in. God's blessings and God's gifts come only through belief by grace through faith. That is how you receive power that is how you receive His peace and mercy.

He could not buy it, he must believe and live a redeemed life. So must we.

Gospel Lesson

John 6:1-15

All it took for Jesus to do a miracle was the everyone doing their small part and most importantly, God's blessing. If God blesses our simple acts of service, great things will happen. They might not happen. They will happen. God will move. He will do great things. If we honestly and humbling do our part. If is what He wills, miracles will come forth.