What's the Rest of the Story?

Luke 13:10-17


The synagogue leaders were furious with Jesus because he broke the law: he healed on the Sabbath. How dare he. But what was the reaction of the people? They were 'delighted with all the wonderful things he (Jesus) was doing.' (v. 17)

A small part of me thinks, somewhat self-righteously: of course they were delighted. We're always delighted when 'the man' gets taken down a peg, aren't we? When authority that we don't like is busted? When dictators are deposed? When hypocrites like these synagogue leaders are called out and publicly humiliated?

But is that what is going on here? That is part of it. But there is something deeper: Jesus healed a woman who had struggled with a physical disability for 18 long years. And what was her response to this miracle? Verse 13 is very clear: "She straightened up and praised God." Everyone who knew her had to be amazed by what they saw.

Don't you wonder what happened next? Did she go home and continue to praise God? Or did she fall back into old, sinful patterns? If she is human like you and me, my guess is that it is a combination of both. We want to live a righteous, God-pleasing life, but we fall short. Paul puts it so well in Romans 7:21-25:

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart.23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Lord, help me to reject sin and cling to you. You have given me all that I need. Help me to rest in that gift, and to share the gift of eternal life with others. Amen.

People of Action

Lights Camera Action!

Like God, in the form of a pillar of smoke, led the Israelites through the desert for 40 years, Jesus came to earth 2000 years ago to lead us.

 

Jesus lived a perfect life, withstanding Satan’s temptations.  He took our sins upon himself, and defeated death with his ascension so that we might also live with God for eternity.

 

Jesus, of course, did much more. He taught us how to live. Unlike many hypocrites of the day (and today!) he walked the talk. He fed thousands and healed many of the sick.

 

Jesus was a man of action!

 

Today’s reading is James 2:14-26. James, the brother of Jesus, explains that, “faith without deeds is useless.”

 

Does that mean that deeds will earn us eternal life in heaven? No, only faith, a gift from God that comes to us by the Holy Spirit, can do this.

 

I cannot see the wind, nor can I see your faith. I know when the wind is blowing by looking at a flag. Similarly, I know you have faith by watching your deeds. Deeds reveal who we are.

 

Although we are imperfect, Jesus instructed us to do the things he did. We are to worship God, we are to love our neighbors and we are to tell the world who Jesus is.

 

We, people of faith, are to be people of action!

 

Proverbs 3:34

Proverbs 3:34 (MSG)
 He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder, but if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help. 


Proverbs 3:34 (NIV)
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. 

Proverbs 3:34 (NLT)
The LORD mocks at mockers, but he shows favor to the humble.     

Proverbs 3:34 (NKJV)
Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 


What does it mean for God to give grace? It is interesting to read this line from a variety of Bible versions. The Message tells us, "he's right there to help."  NLT says "he shows favor," and the NIV and NKJV reads, "gives grace to the humble."

All those years I made fun of religion, made foolish statements like, "Oh, I can worship anywhere. Outside in nature is the best place to pray. I don't need a building filled with lots of hypocrites in order to spend time with God."  While maybe there is some truth to this it is the heart our God is looking at. My ridiculing spirit was at work.  I had no intention of worshiping in nature, I was rejecting God.

It is said that an addict must hit bottom before she can find a cure for her addiction.  Well, there came a day over 20 years ago when I hit that proverbial bottom; I recognized that life as I knew it then, was empty and not worth waking up to in the morning.  I humbled myself and cried out to God to show me a better way.  From that moment on everything changed.  Inch by inch, so very slowly, but everything changed.

There is a lot more to this powerful moment in my life, but the point I want to make is when I humbled myself enough to admit that life is no good when maneuvered alone - grace stepped in. It is too hard to make sense of the injustices and the pain, all alone.  God did not make us to do any of these things on our own.  We have Him to turn to.  We have buildings full of hypocrites (just like us) to reach out to for help.

God gives grace to the humble.