Second Sunday after the Epiphany: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20); Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
Second Sunday after the Epiphany: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20); Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
God is restoring His glory among His people.
The call of Samuel is a vivid example of what God can do in the lives
of children. Samuelās early response to God set in motion a whole
process of events leading Samuel to become āa prophet of the Lordā
through whom āthe Word of the Lord... came to all Israelā (1 Samuel
3:10; 1 Samuel 3:19-4:1). Let us ground our children in Christ,
encouraging them to have great expectations of what God can do in and
with their lives as they grow up, loving Him. The people of Israel were
ādefeatedā by the Philistines. The greatest tragedy of this defeat was
the ācaptureā of āthe ark of Godā: āThe glory has departed from Israel,
for the ark of God has been capturedā (1 Samuel 4:10-11, 22). We may
lose āgoods, honour, children, wifeā (Church Hymnary, 406). The glory of
God among His people - We must not lose this!
God is leading us on to His eternal glory.
Through Christ our Saviour, we are led āin the way everlastingā: āGod
has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Sonā (Psalm 139:24; 1
John 5:11). Godās great purpose of eternal salvation seems ātoo
wonderfulā - ātoo good to be trueā! āIt is a thing most wonderful,
almost too wonderful to be, that Godās own Son should come from heaven
and die to save a child like me, and yet I know that it is true...ā
(Psalm 139:6; Church Hymnary, 385). God has a glorious future planned
for us. We can hardly even begin to take it in: āSuch knowledge is too
wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.ā We know that āno mind has
conceived what God has prepared for those who love Himā yet we rejoice
in this: āGod has revealed it to us by His Spiritā (Psalm 139:6; 1
Corinthians 2:9-10). āLead me in the way everlasting!ā (Psalm 139:24).
We glorify God when we remember that we were bought with a price.
The Lord has placed the highest value on us: āyou were bought with a
priceā (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23). Our love for Him must
be stronger than any other love. Some are under pressure, at home, from
an unbelieving husband or wife. You wonder whether your Christian
witness is doing any good (1 Corinthians 7:16). You feel you are getting
nowhere. You feel like giving up. You feel yourself being dragged away
from the Lord. What does the Word of God say? - āLead the life which the
Lord has assignedā; āRemain with Godā (1 Corinthians 7:17, 24). A
difficult situation at home is just one example of āthe worldā trying to
āsqueeze us into its own mouldā (Romans 12:2). The world will keep
chipping away at our faith - until thereās nothing left. āDo not love
the world or the things in the world... He who does the will of God
abides for everā (1 John 2:17).
We glorify God when we are transformed by the power of His grace.
Andrew brought his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus (John 1:40-42). āYou
are... You shall be...ā (John 1:42). Jesus looks beyond what we are now.
He sees what we will become through the transforming power of His
grace. The āwaterā became āwineā (John 2:9). This was the Lordās doing.
In Christ, we have been āmade aliveā. This is the work of God. He is
ārich in mercyā. He loves us with a āgreat loveā (Ephesians 2:4-5). At a
wedding, Jesus rejoices with those who rejoice (John 2:1-11). In the
temple, He rebukes those who are proud (John 2:13-17). There was ādeathā
in the temple. Those who were spiritually ādeadā acted in complete
disregard for the true purpose of Godās House - āMy House shall be
called a house of prayerā (Matthew 21:13). āRaised from the deadā, we
receive ānew lifeā (John 2:22; Romans 6:4). Be real with Jesus. He will
bless you (23-25).
-----
The Bible Readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary ā Year B.
Comments
Post a Comment