Today is the commemoration of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Pastor.
Today's readings are Psalm 121, Deuteronomy 6:10-25, and Matthew 9:18-38.
Do we often see some sort of a disconnect between obeying the commands of God and believing on Christ? So often we like to say there is faith and there are works. We emphasize one over the other rather than allowing them to be in appropriate and biblical balance. It is wrong to deny that God requires us to do good works or to say that our good works are not pleasing to God. He has boldly stated just the opposite. However, how do we see the work of God being accomplished in Scripture? It is always by faith that God uses us to accomplish his commands. Consider our New Testament readings. The healing of the ruler's daughter, the healing of the blind men, the healing of the man unable to speak - all come about by faith. These people by their works approached the people of God and found themselves in the circumstances where God was working. Then, as residents in the community of God's people, they believed God's commands which were bringing them healing.
Without a doubt, salvation is by grace through faith. Yet that grace is received in the community of faith. It is not found separately from the situations where God has revealed himself as the saving God. Let us then gather together as a community of faith and look to our Lord and Savior to give us the faith we need to believe in his forgiveness and salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment