Lectionary Reading 5 July part 2
Read. Romans 7:15-25 Paul describes the struggle that every Christian has to deal with, the struggle to do only what is right before God. This is an impossible task. The law that gives us the code to live a godly life cannot be accused of being evil, yet it is this very same law that reveals our brokenness. The law exposes us to idolatry for it forces us to take our eye off God and place it on those things we should or should not do. In so doing idolatry slips in. If we keep the law we become proud, when we break the law we pretend either there is a reasonable excuse for the failure, or we deny the failure all together. When that happens we approach confession with the thought that we don’t have much to confess this week. It is at that point we are at our most sinful for the Christian life demands a total reliance on God, trusting in all that Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross. To even assume we do not need the forgiving power of Jesus is to totally disrespect God. Paul then is reminding each Christian that for as long as we live we will be dependent on the completed sacrifice of Jesus Christ. To use that famous quote from Luther, “Saved and yet a sinner!” Despite the truth of that we can still live rejoicing because Jesus unendingly holds out for us the gift of being eternally in a righteous relationship with God: our response is to simply trust in him to do it for us. Conflicted about our Christian walk we might be, but by trusting Jesus we will always be secure in our relationship with God.
Prayer. Gracious Lord, we know that without you we are lost, but in your care we have hope not only for today but for eternity. We give you thanks and praise that in Jesus Christ all things are possible and through him we have a righteousness we did not earn and did not deserve. In your great love for all people by your grace you have offered to us the gift of eternal life forever with you. On this day we humbly accept this amazing offer of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Read Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30. As we read these few verses they are a source of great comfort, a reminder that Jesus’ yoke is a yoke that is not heavy to bear. Yet when we take the reading as a whole perhaps the key to help us understand is in the last phrase of verse 19 ‘ Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’ The reading begins with the caution to listen to what Jesus is teaching, in joyful times you did not dance, and in sadness you did not mourn: it is a description of people who did not hear or who on hearing chose not to respond to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus brought a message of good news, particularly to those in need. For those who heard and responded the reward was a time of rest. It was to have rest that was the ultimate result of being under the covenant of God. Just as rest marked the end of the creation story, so rest was the end objective of those who obediently followed God in obedience. To take on Jesus’ yoke was to hear all that Jesus taught and upon hearing to then obey. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 (NRSV) In obedience we stay close to Jesus and in Jesus we have both peace with God and peace within our other relationships. In obedience we trust Jesus for everything. When we do not trust Jesus we then have to work at securing for ourselves the peace and harmony we seek. Without Jesus we cannot achieve this. Apparently a shark can never come to rest for the moment it stops swimming in begins to sink, so while other fish may hover in one spot for a time a shark must always be on the move. We are like the shark when we fail to trust Jesus for everything, always having to be on the go, never quite being satisfied with what we have achieved: always wondering if we have done enough, or done it right. When we choose to trust in Jesus that is true wisdom, for trusting in Jesus lets us know that we can be at rest for he has done it all.
Prayer. Almighty and everlasting God, in your mercy we lift our hands in prayer to you. Grant us wisdom that we may willingly choose to follow our Saviour Christ, taking his yoke and in all our works honouring him alone. Give to us a steadfast heart that in serving others we may serve him. May the service we give be empowered by your love for all people, and to you be all honour and praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your church: open our hearts to the riches of his grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace: though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Methodist Service Book)
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