4 January 2010
Psalm 85, 87; Joshua 3:14—4:7; Eph. 5:1-20; John 9:1-12,35-38

Sometimes faith has us waiting for God to act in rolling back the waters and sometimes it requires us to take the first step and then He acts. As they come to the land, the place where they had hesitated before for fear of those already there, they are now required to take the first step and they move ahead into the flooded Jordan River to take possession of the land. Where they had previously failed to advance, they now do so in spite of the obstacles ahead. It was important to create a memorial for posterity that would remind them and teach their children how great was the Lord to have done this miracle. It wasn’t a testament to their faith but rather to the One who had been faithful to those whose faith had failed.

This is one of my favorite stories in the Gospels and I encourage you to read the story in its entirety rather than just the few verses in the lectionary reading. The man was born blind, says Jesus, “so that God’s works might be revealed in him.” That sounds wonderful to us but how did it sound to the man? He received his sight this day and it seems that he was not bitter about his former plight in the least, willing to recognize Jesus as Lord and believe in Him because of the restoration of his sight. His attitude is amazing in this regard, not asking why did this have to happen to me and completely unafraid of the leaders of the Jews who were threatening to throw him out of the synagogue.

What is wisdom and what is foolishness? Paul says that wisdom understands the times in which we live and understands that in order to enter the kingdom we are required to live differently from the world. We are called to be countercultural people, imitators of God as beloved children. We are the stones of witness. We are to be the ones who the world asks why are we different. Where in your life is the Lord calling you to stand out and separate yourself?

Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.