8 January 2011

Psalm 117, 118; Isa. 59:15-21; Rev. 2:8-17; John 4:46-54

The Lord cannot find one to intercede, one to take the cause of justice so He determines to do these things Himself. We have failed Him, we have gone our own way, we have not cared about justice, we have been satisfied with our own situations and have forgotten that loving our neighbor as we love ourselves requires something of us. Contentment in our lives is often the enemy of loving my neighbor. When all is right in my world I forget that such is not the case in other lives and being “in ministry” I am often shocked awake from my stupor when a member of my congregation tells me their own situation and I begin to intercede for them, asking the Lord to help them. Is that my entire duty? As pastor I can’t meet everyone’s needs but as the body of Christ are we organized in any way to know the needs among us and sacrifice personally to meet them? It requires wisdom and discernment to begin such a ministry but aren’t we called to that?

Jesus uses wisdom and discernment here in calling out this man who comes seeking Him. Is the man’s faith dependent on seeing signs and wonders? Faith is what is called for in this situation and the man not only expresses his need and his desperation but also his faith. When Jesus assures him that his son is okay the man goes in faith believing it will be as Jesus said. He gets a sign, the healing happened at the time Jesus spoke the words to him, and all believed who knew this. As with the miracle at the wedding, it was an insider thing, only a relative few knew what had happened but surely the buzz about Jesus was beginning to spread.

The churches are called to have faith. They are called to endure persecution and to exercise wisdom and discernment regarding false teaching among them. It is to those who hold fast to truth and who persevere in trials that the kingdom is promised. Truth matters and it is clearly discernible in the Word. There is such a thing as sexual immorality and it is knowable. That might be news to some in the church today, but it isn’t a new thing in the church as we see here in Pergamum. Is the church willing to exercise wisdom and discernment in the cause of Christ? If so, we have to be intolerant of sin in our midst and exercise church discipline. That might mean that some with needs aren’t receiving our help because they fail to accept the truth and live accordingly. This letter tells us that tolerance can cost us everything.

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.