14 April 2010
Psalm 119:1-24; Exod. 15:22-16:10; 1 Pet. 2:1-10; John 15:1-11

The people begin grumbling three days after singing praises to the Lord. It isn’t unfair to grumble about the lack of water and food, those are real and serious problems. They will indeed perish if they don’t have these two things and trust in the Lord has to begin at the level of providing daily bread. In this passage we see God providing miraculously for their daily needs but only as they need it, not abundance. The journey to understanding and thankfulness in daily living begins with the understanding that anything I have comes from Him and thanking Him for those mercies. Gratitude opens up new vistas for praise. When I thank Him for daily bread then I am also aware of my other bodily needs that are met each moment that allow my life here to continue. I become aware of health not disease and pain and I am thankful. I am aware of His wonderful creation of color and contrast and beauty and I am thankful. We have to choose, grumbling or gratitude.

Jesus calls the disciples to abide in Him. The image He uses is that of a vine and its branches and in that we see the symbiotic relationship we are intended to have, the relationship He has shown with the Father. In that relationship of abiding, our needs are met, all our nourishment is provided for fruitfulness. Outside of that relationship we wither and die. The keys to abiding are study of the Word and prayer. We maintain any relationship by spending time with one another and talking to one another, knowing and appreciating everything about one another, it is no different with God. Jesus’ promise of abiding is threefold, fruitfulness, love and joy. Why we would hesitate to obey?

Peter encourages his readers to be like newborn infants. We all must come to the Lord in this way, just as the Israelites had to learn that all things come from Him, we must begin at the same place as every other person in the world, at the beginning. The journey of faith indeed is about movement and growth. It begins with Jesus and from there the foundation is solid on which the rest is built. Peter uses metaphors to describe the church of Christ that are drawn from Israel itself, applying God’s word to the church as a new Israel. Those who are God’s chosen are those who have Jesus and it is appropriate then to encourage them to think of themselves as the people of God.

Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!