Will Our Love Be Obedient?
Good Morning Friends,
Today we explore the problems of not feeling, for that is a symptom of lepers and we touch on the challenge of turning away from rebellion and to listening to the Holy Spirit. And we find that both not hearing and not feeling can cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Friends when we are out of touch with God the results can be disastrous. So, with these conditions in mind we ask with discernment today’s question. Will Our Love Be Obedient?
Scripture: Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, as on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors put me to the test, though they had seen my works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.’ As in my anger I swore, ‘They will not enter my rest.'” Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.
Hebrews 3:7-14 (NRSV)
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Mark 1:40-45 (NRSV)
Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
John 14:23-24 (NRSV)
Message: We live in a society where just about everything, but God, is worshipped. We are always tempted, as Christ was, to follow the allurements of the world, flesh and devil. And though Jesus did not sin we unfortunately do. The author of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us today of the journey of the Hebrew peoples in the desert. In doing so, he is calling to mind an ancient teaching from God. The Lord molded His people in the desert of Sinai, that barren region between Palestine proper and the land of Egypt. It was a difficult time for them. But there, God fed them with manna and gave water for them and their cattle right out of a rock. They were being cared for by their God and all He asked of them was obedience. But they rebelled, and so that first generation of liberated slaves did not receive the gift God wanted to give them. Likewise, every generation of Christians is challenged to seek some sort of goal and sometimes we reach what we think is a destination only to discover we are not home yet. Friends, just because we are chosen by God, and baptized into Christ, does not mean that we are infallibly going to attain God’s promises. We are always tempted, as Christ was, to follow the allurements of the world, flesh and the devil. So, we must hold fast to our confidence in our Lord and follow His commandments. If we fall into the error of sin, if we fail to love God and neighbor, we let sin rewire our minds so that we believe good is evil and evil is good. We must repent, confess our sins and let God’s Word live in our hearts and minds and souls, as we develop virtuous habits. We need to be like the leper, cleansed by Christ, and remain clean. Friends, not having the sensation of touch is a very serious physical problem but it is also a serious spiritual problem as well. Not feeling is perhaps one of the most challenging of sins. Yes, leprosy is a metaphor for sin, the worst of all human diseases that separates sufferers from society, in part because they have an ailment that makes one numb. It should not surprise us that healing a leper was a sign of the Messiah. Add not hearing to the condition of the leper and it is a recipe for disaster. Now today’s passages from Mark is generally positive and yet the reality is that the person healed failed to obey and the result was that Jesus could no longer go into town. He took on the sins of the leper he healed. To feel again is not enough. Being healed is not enough. We must hear and obey. The Bible warns us and teaches us a very valuable lesson on the consequences of sin and disobedience. We are to stay in touch with God, so we might obey. God wants us to learn from the horrible mistakes that people had made in the past when they do not hear and listen for God’s voice…and when they are not compassionate. Friends, God’s heart desires obedience. The role of humility, perseverance and faith are attributes that play a vital role in the Christian life, but the best way to express of love, honor and reverence for God is though trust and obedience. This is the key to God’s continuing heart and favor. And brings a great blessing of the Trinity dwelling in us with wisdom, love and forgiveness. If we are not obedient our love is empty.
Pray we trust and obey. Pray that our hearts are opened to hear God speaking and revealing his will to us. Pray we have the faith to believe in Jesus the Messiah and the timing of God. Pray we accept God’s healing so we might too become a means of healing for others. Pray we begin to feel the compassion in our gut…those butterflies of metamorphous. Pray we risk when others turn away. Pray we realize that it takes reason and faith, but the reward is a life transformed…eternal life. Pray we realize that we can flourish in the tension between authority and vulnerability. Pray we realize that being in the tension is often the place Christians really glorify God. Pray we are shaped in the pain and puzzlement of the world so that the crucified love of God in Christ may be brought to bear healing upon us. Pray we are willing to see grace at work in the lives of others. Pray we have a holy respect for the power of love and a willingness to share it alongside the powerless. Pray we have compassion for those in need.
Pray we clearly hear God’s directions. Pray we have faith in Jesus to heal us. Pray we learn to obey the law of love. Pray we learn to wait upon the Lord in prayer. Pray we develop a love for the Word of God. Pray we realize that to obey God often means a head on a collision with human reasoning and worldly values. Pray we know that sometimes God will allow us to walk in the dark so that we will learn to trust Him. Pray we realize that we must expect some inner struggles. Pray we learn to leave all the consequences of our obedience to God. Pray our Christian identity influences us live in eternal love in the tension of life.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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