Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 32; Isaiah 10:5-19; John 4:1-15; Romans 4:1-8; Psalm 53
Today’s reading from Romans once again raised the age old debate between works and faith. “When it comes to having a life-giving relationship with the God of Jesus,” many have asked, “is the relationship primarily the result of works or the result of faith?” Paul makes his position pretty clear in this debate. In writing of the difference, Paul says, “Now when a [person] works, his/her wages are not credited to him/her as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the [person] who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his/her faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5). While Paul’s words have helped many settle the debate in their heads over the years, I’ve always had a pretty instinctive grasp of the issue that is more heart based. I see the relationship of faith and works in similar terms to one’s relationship with a significant other. When it comes to a love-relationship, how do you go about establishing it? Do you do a series of works (i.e. buying the other person flowers, taking him/her out to dinner, taking a trip during a long weekend, etc.) to create a previously non-existent relationship, or do you naturally do those things because of the relationship you took a leap of faith and entered into makes you WANT to as a natural expression of your love? I don’t know about you, but it worked the latter way for me. I took the leap of faith, and then the relationship (and the work J) followed naturally. In the midst of your preparations for the coming of the Christ-child, how are you approaching the final days before Christmas? Are you working yourself to death in order to try to create the perfect holiday experience, or are you enjoying the seasonal activities and preparations because they are a natural expression of a life-giving relationship that already exists? Your motivation and approach will go a long way in determining the nature of your experience. Til next time…
Today’s reading from Romans once again raised the age old debate between works and faith. “When it comes to having a life-giving relationship with the God of Jesus,” many have asked, “is the relationship primarily the result of works or the result of faith?” Paul makes his position pretty clear in this debate. In writing of the difference, Paul says, “Now when a [person] works, his/her wages are not credited to him/her as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the [person] who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his/her faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5). While Paul’s words have helped many settle the debate in their heads over the years, I’ve always had a pretty instinctive grasp of the issue that is more heart based. I see the relationship of faith and works in similar terms to one’s relationship with a significant other. When it comes to a love-relationship, how do you go about establishing it? Do you do a series of works (i.e. buying the other person flowers, taking him/her out to dinner, taking a trip during a long weekend, etc.) to create a previously non-existent relationship, or do you naturally do those things because of the relationship you took a leap of faith and entered into makes you WANT to as a natural expression of your love? I don’t know about you, but it worked the latter way for me. I took the leap of faith, and then the relationship (and the work J) followed naturally. In the midst of your preparations for the coming of the Christ-child, how are you approaching the final days before Christmas? Are you working yourself to death in order to try to create the perfect holiday experience, or are you enjoying the seasonal activities and preparations because they are a natural expression of a life-giving relationship that already exists? Your motivation and approach will go a long way in determining the nature of your experience. Til next time…
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