Faith isn’t about seeing something and then believing it to be true. The blind men hadn’t seen Jesus, but they believed he was the Messiah. Faith is the wholehearted trust in God especially when we can’t perceive the answer or outcome.
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When was the last time that you spoke to anyone about how Jesus touched your life? When was the last time that you were so excited about what Jesus was doing in this world, let alone your life, that you simply couldn’t keep the good news to yourself? When was it?
Bible Passage: John 4:5-42
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Faith is not something that we can attain by our effort. It is given to us by God. We remember this fact when we see the baptismal font. Baptism occurs not because of who we are but because of Who God is. We remember it whenever we see the communion and remember the words of institution of that sacrament. It is the Risen Lord who invites us to the Table. It is the Risen Lord who invites the undeserving to partake of the meal provided.
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Bible Passage: Genesis 12:1-4a
Bible Passage: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
Bible Passage: John 3:10-17
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A grandfather was once talking to his young grandson about temptation.
“There are two wolves living in my heart. One wolf is hungry for revenge, anger, hate, prejudice, envy, greed and violence. The other wolf hungers for love, peace, joy, grace, hope and forgiveness.” “Which one will win,” the grandson asked. “The one I feed. The same is true of you, grandson.”
Bible Passage: Matthew 4:1-11
During this season our sins and need to repent are on our minds, disrupting our thoughts, and leading us into prayer. And so we eagerly await the coming of Easter, the day Jesus rose from the dead, knowing that we have been raised to life with him. In 40 days we will celebrate that truth so in the meantime take this disruptive invitation to heart and know that we have been forgiven.
Sunday, February 26th
As we enter into the season of Lent, a time for reflection as we prepare for the celebration of the event that lies at the very heart of our faith—Easter, the resurrection of our Lord, we, too are called to be living memorials. We too are to be a pinch of salt that preserves and brings out of flavor of God’s goodness. We, too, are to be little beacons of light that give hope to the darkest places of our community and the world. We, too are to take Jesus seriously. And we do these things not out of fear but out of a sense of gratitude. We do these things not so that others will speak highly of us or so that we can get an award or so that they will think highly of First Federated Church. We do them in order to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.
And Jesus says, “You’re better than that. My disciples are better than that.” “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Perfect does not mean that you never make a mistake or stumble. The meaning of the word is influenced by Leviticus 2:19. It means to be “whole”, “mature.” It means to “grow up!”
What does Jesus mean when he tells the disciples to “be reconciled.” Jesus desires for us is to come together through meaningful change. To end needless hostility. To change enmity for friendship. To move from malevolence to friendship. That is what reconciliation means, and that is what we as Christians are on the move toward.
