Scripture reference: John 9

My days used to be spent sitting at either the entrance to the market place or outside one of the gates of the Temple. I would recite prayers, psalms, and portions of the Holy Scriptures. A simple clay bowl sat next to me into which some who took notice of me would drop a coin. The motivation of those giving a pittance of their good fortune varied. Some hoped to gain favor from God through their generosity to one less fortunate than themselves. Some gave out of a sense of duty. Still others gave out of a feeling of guilt; thinking that some trouble they were experiencing was the result of their lack of concern for the poor. Sometimes I would also receive a loaf of bread and some cheese. Occasionally some truly generous person would give me a little meat and some wine. But I also would be scorned and told to be quiet by those who considered my condition a curse from God. For them I was unclean, and tainted their environment with unholiness. Surely, they would say to their friends, my parents must have committed some terrible sin to have been given a son born blind. And I must certainly carry the stain of that sin like some plaque they feared being infected with.

That was my life, if you can call such an existence life. Constantly dependent on the kindness and generosity of others. Unable to make my way without the arm of another to lean upon. Incapable of earning an honest income from the labor of my hands. I was an unwanted child and a burden on society. My plight had the effect of causing both the humble and the arrogant to give thanks to God that they were not like me. The former considering their state to be one of grace, the latter considering theirs to be a sign of privilege. The wealthy and the priests were quite certain that their condition was an indication by God that they were special and favored by Him. Conversely they were equally convinced that my condition meant that God disliked me. Therefore they concluded that being nice to me would appear to shame God. For this reason even good men often passed me by, rather than risk incurring disfavor with God.

As for me, I did not think of myself as cursed of God. I really believed that I had been given a special place in His grand plans. I thought of what King David said in the psalms about how God knows the name of every star. In my heart and soul I believed that one so great also knew my name. And having a place in the mind of God means also having a place in His heart. That is why I ignored those who scorned me, and continued to believe in the God who hears the cries of His children. He heard us crying in Egypt and saved us. He heard us crying in Babylon and saved us. Even now, the cries of one small child of His sitting outside His Temple in His city would not go unnoticed. So I sat outside the Temple every Sabbath and waited for Him to come and set me free. And one day He did.

It seemed to me to be a Sabbath like any other. There were many more sounds around me owing to the great multitudes of worshipers, vendors, and animals. But there was also an energy light that of lightning before an approaching storm. The very air seemed to be more alive and vibrant. Then I sensed something in my heart. Something I could not explain. As I sat waiting for what I knew not, I heard a voice ask the usual question; "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?" My breathing seemed to halt as I awaited the answer.

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," replied the Rabbi, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:3-5 NIV)

Joy filled my heart. This Rabbi was different from all the others. He did not believe my blindness was a result of sin. Instead, he said what I had always believed; that God would use my condition to further His work. I was not cursed, but blessed, because God had chosen me to display his greatness to the world.

"God's peace," the peaceful voice spoke in my ear. "I am going to put some mud on your eyes. Then you must go to the Pool of Siloam and wash it off. Do you agree?"

Speechless, I nodded my affirmation. Then I felt gently hands rubbing something smooth and warm on my closed eye lids. Once that was done, a friend who had been sitting with me helped me to stand. Without another word from the good Rabbi, I set off for the Pool of Siloam. When I got there my friend helped me to kneel by the Pool so that I could wash my eyes. The cool water made my eyes tingle. They felt strangely alive; it was a feeling I had never experienced. And after the I was certain I has washed all of the mud away, I opened my eyes.

Oh the glory and wonder and joy! I cannot find the words to describe the feeling that swept over me. I could see for the first time in my life. The sun reflecting off the Pool. The faces of those standing around. The look of wonder and amazement on the face of my friend. The things most people take for granted were an unexpected and marvelous gift to one who was experiencing them for the first time in his life.

After kneeling there on the spot and offering thanks and praise to God, I went home. When I arrived, my neighbors we quite amazed. "How then were your eyes opened," they demanded.

"The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." (John 9:10-12 NIV)

As I and many of my neighbors praised God and marveled that He had sent this man to come among us to do wonders, the Pharisees were angry. They said that because this thing had been done on the Sabbath the man must not be from God. But I reasoned that no man could give sight to one born blind unless he truly came from God. For that, the called me a sinner, and threw me out of the synagogue.

Having God in my mind, and my heart, and my soul, I do not need to go to the synagogue or the Temple to worship Him. I worship Him now by the way I live my life. I work with my hands earning my own way, and helping others less fortunate that me. And I worship Him by telling others what this Jesus did in His name. I know that the priests and Pharisees hate me for this, but it is God's love that matters. The Pharisees can believe what the will, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

May His name be praised now forever. Amen.

I awoke in pain, face down in the dust, with a splitting headache. My head hurt so badly that I thought I would be sick. My arms burned with scratches and cuts; my ribs ached; and my legs hurt so much from the knees down that I knew I would not be able to stand. And then came the realization that I was naked. The rocky ground beneath my chest and lower body felt like a bed of broken glass. The heat of the sun felt like a blanket of tiny coals on my back. I slowly pushed my head and chest up on my weak, shaking arms, wretched convulsively, and then fell back on my side. I tried to curl up to hide my nakedness, but every muscle and bit of skin screamed with pain. I could do nothing by lie there, and pray.

It seemed that I lay there for some time on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho when I heard approaching foot steps. I opened my swollen eyes as much as I could, and recognized the garments of a priest. I raised my trembling left arm and appealed to him with my open hand. I saw his contorted face as he gazed down upon me, disgust clearly etched in the furors of his brow. He merely grunted at me, and walked on.

My arm fell back to my battered side and I closed my eyes in pain and sadness. I may have fallen asleep; I am not sure. Then, once again, I heard leather of sandals slapping hard ground. I was barely able to squint through eye lids that seemed unable to open, and recognized a Levite passing me by on the other side of the road. I could only raise my left hand in appeal. He did not even look at me, but kept his chin high and his face set toward his destination.

Wracked with pain and filled with despair I wept as I called out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? I am a son of your servant Jacob, son of Issac, son of Abraham, to whom you made a promise to bless his seed. I obey thy commandments; I keep your Sabbath; I give of the first fruits of my labors. I, therefore, beseech thee, oh my God, my Father, please send help to thy servant." I turned my face to the dust in supplication, cried a few moments, and then went to sleep.

When I next awoke I was lying on my back, my body covered with someone's traveling cloak, a strong hand cradling my head, and water passing between my parched lips. I choked as the water got caught in my dry throat, and looked up into the eyes of a concerned face. "Take it easy, friend. Drink slowly. You are going to be alright." I instantly recognized the accent, and marveled that a Samaritan, one of those people who care not for Jews, was my savior. I drank a little more water, and then my rescuer gently laid my head down on a soft pillow made from a rolled up garment. Through tired eyes I watched the man as he went to his donkey to retrieve some oil and ointment which he used, along with torn pieces of his own clothes, to treat my wounds. Once he had done as much as he could, he helped me to stand upon my shaking legs, and then to sit upon his animal. We then set out for the nearest village. There he summoned the inn keeper to help him get me into a bed, and gave me a little meat and some wine. As I fell asleep in a soft, safe bed, I heard the man tell the inn keeper, "Take care of him. I shall be back this way in a couple of weeks. If you spend more than this in his care, I shall pay you the balance at that time." He then disappeared, and I fell into a healing sleep.

Friends and relatives of mine, having realized that I never reached my destination, came looking for me. Their joy of finding me alive was equaled by their amazement when I told them that it was a Samaritan who had saved my life. Together we gave thanks and praise to God, and marveled at his amazing ways in caring for those who call upon his Holy name. We then thanked the inn keeper for his care, and departed for our home. I never again saw the man who had come to my aid in my hour of distress; I never even knew his name. I only know that he was a Samaritan. Therefore, from that day forward, I consider all Samaritans to by my good neighbors. And I show to them the same love that almighty God shows to me.

May His name be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen.

Scripture reference: Romans 8:32-39

There are many times in the life of a Christian when, in the solitude of honest self-examination, the questions arises, "Have I gotten so far off the right path that God no longer loves me? Have I done so many sinful things that I have fallen out of God's grace?" These moments of doubt about the length and depth of God's grace are really doubts about our faith. And in these moments of despair, we make the mistake of thinking that God is as weak and unreliable as we are. We begin to fear that He will forget about us just at quickly and easily as we forget about Him.

Because this crisis of doubt is neither new nor exclusive to Christians, Paul is aware that an honest man will from time to time recognize his weaknesses and infidelity. He, therefore, seeks to reassure us with a logical argument that God's love for us is always certain; for God's love is not dependent on us. It is as the apostle John tells us in his first epistle," We love him because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19 KJV)

The simple truth of mankind is that we are a calamity waiting for a time and place to happen. Only a dishonest person would not admit to making stupid mistakes motivated by self-interests. Only a pathologically arrogant person would believe that he is always right. Only the most deluded person would never have feelings of inadequacy in the face of life's difficult challenges. Even those who exude confidence and inspire others with their words and deeds have moments of doubt when they question if they have made a wrong turn, and left the security of God's love.

Paul begins with the question, if God gave up His own Son for us, how is it he would withhold anything from us? (Romans 8:32) He then asks who can lay any charge against the elect of God, when it is God himself who has already made them just in His eyes? (Romans 8:33) In addition to that, since Jesus rose from the dead to take his rightful place at His Father right side, he is now there as our Heavenly attorney pleading our case and defending us before God. With that kind of legal representation our case has already been won. (Romans 8:34)

Finally Paul gets to the meat of the matter. Being so loved by God that he "spared not his own Son," now standing at the Father's side defending us, who or what shall separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus? There is no one and nothing. Not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword. (Romans 8: 35) Neither height, depth, or any creature (including Satan) "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39 KJV)

What Paul does not specifically mention, but implies nonetheless, is that even we cannot create a situation that can separate us from the love of God. For God has already determined to love us with a love which is beyond human comprehension. It is a love given to us when we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8); a love "which passeth knowledge;" (Ephesians 3:19) a love which is from the beginning of time to the end. For God is love; and God is forever.

What a joy, what a comfort, what a peace for those who have accepted the free gift of God's grace received his everlasting love. Though we are weak, He is strong. Though we doubt, He is always certain. Though, like the prodigal son, we leave His house, He is always ready to receive us back home. As long as we are truly repentant of our sins, and demonstrate sincere remorse for our infidelity to the one who loves us beyond all that we can know, our forgiveness, already purchased by Christ, awaits us in our Father's arms.

May the Grace of God, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.

As I sit here with his last letter to me on my lap, trying to fully absorb into my lugubrious mind what my broken heart wants to resist, I can remember as it were only last week, the very first day I met him. The sight of his slightly bent frame topped with a somewhat overly large head with its heavily scared bald spot on top might have been both fearsome and grotesque if not for the bright eyes and broad smile which dominated the face. And then there was that voice. At once distracting and captivating in its almost annoying nasal sound and comforting words of love and hope. And although his stature, appearance and speech were distinctly unspectacular, he commanded attention, exuded authoritative confidence, and warmed the heart of the listener with true unconditional compassion. He was a man no one could ignore; always attracting a crowd, and exciting thoughts and emotions, not by his manner of speaking, but by the cosmic force of the words he spoke. For it was clear to those of us whose hearts were touched by the pure water of the life giving message flowing from the sacred spring within his soul that he conveyed to mortal man the truths of God. The Spirit living in him communicating with out spirits; transforming us from the lifeless existence of our carnal beings into new creatures filled with the exuberant and eternal energy of the Creator himself. So changed in every aspect of heart, mind, and soul, we saw not only life in a different way, but beheld our new friend and teacher in a different light. No longer simply uncommon and unattractive, but spectacular and beautiful. For we saw him, not with the mind of carnal man, but through the eye of the Spirit which now dwells inside us. The Spirit of the living God, glorified by his risen Son. This is how I now and shall always remember my friend, Paul of Tarsus, Apostle of Jesus Christ.

It was not long after my sixteenth birthday, and the Greek ceremony of leaving the life of a boy and entering into the world of men, that Paul arrived in my hometown of Lystra. My mother, being a Jew, had begun to teach me the history of the children of Abraham once my father had died, and she had been freed from conforming to his ways. As a result of the freedom of adulthood combined with an interest in my mother's ancestral religion, I began to associate with men who spoke, not only of the God of Abraham, but also of the promised Messiah. I learned from them that this Savior had supposedly arrived in Jerusalem, signifying that God's kingdom had come to Earth. It was at one of our weekly meetings that Paul and his companion first appeared, enlightening us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul told us that, indeed, the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God had been born, persecuted, crucified unto death, buried, and then arose to life, and ascended into Heaven. In this way the promises made by God to Abraham, and the prophecies declared by Isaiah had been fulfilled. And the name of this man was Jesus of Nazareth. Born of a virgin in the city of David, Bethlehem, and baptized by the water of John the Baptist and by the Holy Spirit of God, Jesus was both the son of Man and the Son of God; come to give all men, Jews and Greeks, a path to righteousness and eternal life with God. That way, Paul explained, was through faith, itself a gift from God, in Jesus as the Christ, born, crucified, and risen from the dead for the propitiation of sins. By the gift of faith in Christ Jesus alone, and not by any works of Jewish Law, could all men, Jews and Greeks, enter into the Kingdom of God.

I cannot fully explain in the words of ordinary man how Paul's message touched my heart more than my mind. I can only testify that I believed what he was saying. And I do not mean I thought what he was saying to be true; for it was not of my mind but of my soul, my very being, that I felt my spirit stir and convict me in my heart. It was then, at that moment, that I felt what I later understood to be the Holy Spirit wash over me from head to toe with a strange but wonderful tingling stirring every nerve and muscle in my young body. And, incredibly and most wondrously, I felt His Spirit breath into my nostrils the the breath of life. Suddenly, as if emerging from deep sleep, I felt truly alive. I had been re-born.

I know now, as my friend Paul knew, that my life is not my own, but belongs to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And I know that my days in this world are but a brief term of service in His great plan before receiving an eternal reward of life in His kingdom. Therefore, rather than mourning the passing of my teacher and spiritual father, I rejoice and praise God for being allowed the great privilege of knowing him. And I look forward to the day when together we shall in Heaven, as we did on Earth, give all praise, honor and glory to Almighty God in Christ Jesus. I have no doubt that upon falling into the final sleep in this world, I shall awake in the next to be greeted by my friend Paul and my brother Jesus with a smile and the words, "Welcome home, brother Timothy. Our Father will be pleased to receive you."

May His Spirit be with you. Amen.

Reference scripture: Romans 8:28

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of real life for preachers, theologians, and ordinary Christians to deal with is tragedy. Whether it is some horrific mass tragedy such as the events of World War 2 and the wholesale slaughter of six-million Jews, or the personal tragedy of the sudden death of a child. When really bad things occur we are faced with the question, if "all things work together for good to them that love God," why did this awful thing happen? The problem is that the question itself displays a misunderstanding of, not only that particular verse of scripture, but of the totality of Pauline Theology.

I began thinking about this verse in connection with two recent news stories. One dealt with a media and political controversy over the preaching of Pastor John Hagee. The other was the report of a tragic accident in the family of the Christian singer Stephen Curtis Chapman. In the first case Pastor Hagee was trying to answer the question, how could a loving God allow the holocaust to happen; and how could those events work together for good? In the second case, the family, friends, and ordinary people were asking, how can the death of a child be included in all things working together for good? These are difficult question emotionally and intellectually. However, for Paul, the answer was quite simple. The grace of God.

At the very core of Romans 8:28, the entire letter to the Romans, and Paul's theology and world view is the grace of God revealed to mankind through the person of Christ Jesus. Paul teaches that we are saved by faith, and that is a gift of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And it is this faith that gives believers the assurance that God, who "so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son," (John 3:16) will make the final outcome of all things good for "them that love God." For by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ we have full access to the grace of God which gives us hope (confident expectation) in good times and tribulations; knowing that tribulation produces cheerful endurance; and that produces trustiness; and that produces confidence. By faith in God through Christ Jesus we can be confident then, that God who loves us so much that he sacrificed his son to pay the debt of our sins will, in the end, bless us beyond all our expectations. (Ephesians 3:20)

The important thing to remember is that it is all the events in the life of a believer that work together to produce confident expectation, cheerful endurance, and trust and confidence in God to include us in His glory as a part of His kingdom as full heirs with Christ Jesus in the final day. It is not any one event, any one occurrence, or any one deed that demonstrates God's grace. It is the totality of the events of our life, and how we demonstrate our faith in God during those events which work together to produce the great good at the end of life. It is the final reward of spending eternity in peace with our Heavenly Father and our adopted brother Jesus Christ.

We should also remember that bad events never means that we have lost God's love, or that he has temporarily suspended His love for us. This is the mistake about God exhibited in the question, "Why, if God loves me and knows I love Him, did He let this awful thing happen?" That question betrays a suspicion that perhaps God does not really love us; or He thinks we do not love Him enough. This is simply wrong thinking, and so a lack of understanding of God's grace.

Paul deals with this question in Romans 8:38-39. When he says that he is persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God, " which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, he is saying that he believes that nothing that happens in life means we have somehow been cut off from God's love for us. For Paul is cheerfully confident that the God who sacrificed His Son out of love for man never suspends His love for those who have accepted His free gift of salvation which come by faith in Christ Jesus. The fact that we face tribulations does not, therefore, mean that God has stopped loving us. The fact that some horrific event occurs does not indicate that we have been separated from the love of God. Paul is certain, and seeks to assure us, that at no time are we separated from God's love for us. And in the end, those whose faith endures no matter what they experience, will receive a reward far greater than anything mortal man could every achieve.

Therefore, when bad things happen, we should not ask why God did it or let it happen. We should praise God that He has given us the gift of his grace to have faith in Him through Christ Jesus; so that we may stand firm in the fullness of that grace, with confidence that God will fulfill His promise to us. And in the end, all things will work together for our good; not because we love God, but because He loved us first.

May the grace of God, the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.