24 January 2010
Psalm 63, 98; Gen. 13:2-18; Gal. 2:1-10; Mark 7:31-37

Abram has been so blessed that the land isn’t big enough for he and Lot to stay together. In the beginning of chapter 12 we are told that he was to leave everyone behind but he took Lot with him. Now, it seems, they too must part company and Abram is magnanimous in offering Lot his choice of where to go even though as an older man it would naturally have been Abram’s right to choose. Lot chooses the best land he can see but it seems he is intrigued by the city, even though the people are described as wicked and great sinners. He moves his tent “as far as Sodom.” God promises Abram that all the land he can see will be his and his offspring’s, he has come to the land God would show him. Surely he must have felt that the time was nigh for those offspring to come.

The word about Jesus goes beyond the Jews to the Gentile areas of Tyre and Sidon and surely the time was drawing nigh for Him to take His place. Here, He heals a man who is deaf and mute and the people marvel at Him. The people have clearly heard of Jesus, rushing to bring those to Him who need healing. The disciples must have thought that something huge was getting ready to happen and they would be front and center in this new kingdom.

Paul defends his ministry to the Galatians by reminding them that he has been approved by the leadership of the church in Jerusalem. There are always people in the church who want to add to the Gospel and Paul says he is preaching the simple truth. We can add to the Gospel today by insisting on religious correctness in our churches. My own liturgical tradition is notorious for this and it is a constant struggle to ensure that what we do is good, Godly and proper while also acknowledging that it is tradition rather than requirement. A balance is required in a mission setting like ours, and we must always make sure we are leading people to Christ and not to our preferred setting.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.