Good Morning.
Today’s scripture lessons remind me of how we presume on our relationship with God. In the Gospel lesson Jesus heals the daughter of a woman who comes to him begging that he heal the child. The larger lesson certainly documents Jesus’ openness to bringing God’s grace to all who would have faith in him, regardless of their race or nationality. But I suspect that sometimes we dwell on just the healing.
“Lord, I’m sick. Please heal me.” Some people lose their faith in God when they pray that way and they aren’t healed. They point to countless healing miracles throughout scripture, and they believe that they should be one more miracle if indeed God is real! After all, they are good people.
But the epistle lesson – in passing – reminds us of unhealed Christian: Paul. Paul is writing to the Christians at Galatia, and he is perplexed by something that is going wrong in the congregation. There were several controversies leading the congregation away from the Gospel that Paul had originally brought to them. The major problem was that some were teaching that a non-Jew must subscribe to the laws and rituals of traditional Judaism before becoming a Christian. This is an attempt to limit God’s grace, freely given to all, and Paul is very upset. But in the middle of Paul’s very important defense of free grace and Christian freedom from ritualistic behavior, Paul happens to mention: “You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.”
Paul was tormented by some sort of ailment or physical disability throughout his life. We don’t know exactly what it was, but we do know that he often prayed for healing. For whatever reason, that healing never came. As much as Paul may have wanted to be healed or relieved of his physical problem, he wanted to be used by God even more. His commitment to discipleship was more important to him than his desire for personal comfort or wellness. He knew that God would use him regardless of his physical condition.
Jesus never promised us lives free from either the scorn of the world or personal freedom from physical ailments, disabilities, or even the physical death of our bodies. He invited us to enter into God’s kingdom that is opening even now in the midst of this world, and he asked us to do all that we could to let people know that God was offering us all a new life, an alternative to the world’s view of life. If we enter that life today we shall continue to live in God’s kingdom throughout eternity.
Let us pray: Heavenly Lord, you have promised to provide us with all that we need to do your will and follow Jesus into life in your new creation. Lead us to readjust our priorities. By the guidance of your Holy Spirit lead us to use prayer in such a way as to align our lives with your will and our hearts with your mercy. Take us just as we are this day and put us to use in your kingdom for your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
The readings for today are Psalms 62 & 145 in the morning; Ecclesiastes 7:1–14; Galatians 4:12–20; Matthew 15:21–28; and in the evening Psalms 73 & 9.
Blessings to you.
Pastor Jim
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