Meditation

Sunday, 07-18-2021, 8^th Sunday After Pentecost

Psalm 89:20-37; 2^nd Samuel 7:14; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

This psalm is a very clear description expression of the love of God for David and his lineage, and His faithfulness for David was without restrictions. Does this mean David was without sin, no, as we all know, David was human being and made his share of mistakes. His largest sin was sending Bathsheba’s husband into the heart of battle and lost his life in service to David. David fell to the sin of loving another woman and seeing that her husband was killed, to ensure his relationship.

No, David was not perfect, but his love and faith in God almost was. It became the foundation for the messianic hope through David’s line. Saul had been a king for the people. He was tall, handsome, and seemed to love and serve God. David, was first and foremost a servant of God, wheres Saul had become a servant of Saul, praising himself rather than God. Only the person who praises and trusts God can be honest in petitioning God seriously, and be received seriously, as this person is a true Servant and appropriate line for God’s Son to rise out of.

Beloved, God’s work with His people is one continuous work expressed in a variety of ways, in different times, in order to meet the needs of His people. In our reading from 2^nd Samuel, we read all of the reasons why Saul had to be removed and David placed in his position as king. The One who was to come would do so out of the line of David, and therefore, must be a true servant of God. God told David he would “cut all of his enemies in front of him;” that He would make his name great; that he would make a home for His people, so that would no longer be disturbed and give David peace.

In Ephesians, the first two chapters give us a beginning for our walk with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The reading this morning is about relationships. Race, culture, traditions, and geography tend to separate and cause prejudice among people. Israel was to called bless the nations (Genesis 12:1-3 “The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to he land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed though you.”). God said, (I will make you a kingdom of priests for the nations. They used their calling instead to separate themselves from the nations. In Jesus Christ, God broke down all human barriers and created the church as one body of sinners in relationship to one another and to Him. Thus, sin is the only barrier among the people. Beloved, we establish barriers through our words, our actions, and our lack of love and peace towards others. The world we live in today is not what God was talking about. We have put up barriers that separate us from the love of God and we must change our ways, in order to reclaim God’s promises. He wants us to come back to Him; He wants us to welcome those we don’t know and strive to build relationships; He wants us to reach out with the Love of Christ Jesus to everyone. If they reject us, it is their sin that keeps them behind barriers, but we are to tear down barriers, and live as Christians every day of our lives and with all we meet.

Our Gospel today is one of my favorites, but maybe not for reason you think it might me. So here we are Jesus has 5,000 + people there to here Him teach. He asks the apostles, who had been given the gift of healing and had just returned and were full of stories of things “they had done and taught.” Each one gave an accounting of the gift that He had shared with them.

People were coming and going and they didn’t even get a chance to eat, so Jesus took them in his boat and moved to a quieter place, but the people were able to get ahead of them and were waiting. Jesus had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd, so he began teaching them many things. The needy may in faith take the initiative in miracles. Those who came to Him an touched Him were healed. They did not consider this magic. They knew Jesus’ power released by their faith brought the miracles. They had followed in the hope, they could at least touch his even the edge of his cloak and all who touched him were healed.

It began to get late in the day, and the apostles told Jesus they were in a remote place and to send everyone away to buy food and eat. Jesus simply asked them, “You give them something to eat!” Their response was, “It would take 8 months of a man’s wages, are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?” They checked and said, “Five loaves and two fish.” Jesus had them tell the people to sit in groups of hundreds and fifties. He then took the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. They immediately began to set before the people the baskets of fish and loaves did not run out, and they ate until they were filled.

The apostles’ who had been so proud of themselves when they arrived, suddenly realized that they could not have accomplished anything without Jesus. The power came from him, not them. Feeding the 5,000+ pointed to His Messianship, just as strongly as walking on water. Understanding miracles requires faith, not intellectual knowledge.

Beloved, in all of these lessons, we are being taught the lessons of relationships, with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Almighty God wants our obedience, our faith, and our love by accepting Jesus His Son. He doesn’t want this on Sunday’s, He wants this every day of our lives. He loves us this much, that He allowed His Son’s sacrifice on the Cross, to give us eternal life. What can you give Him???