Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from Psalm One Hundred and Six verse six, “Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly,” (NRSVB). The narrative of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, their dwelling in the desert and the rebelliousness that caused them to fall into idolatry is retold. Throughout Israel’s history she fell into times of back-sliding, forgetting the statutes of the Lord, but time and time again, God, in his infinite mercy, came to the rescue and reinstate her. The psalmist states that just as the forefathers and -mothers sinned in the desert, so do we sin and are full of iniquity.
When Israel called unto the Lord and confessed her idolatry and repented, God relented the punishment that was due to befall the disobedient people. Even Moses, as he was travelling with the Israelites through the desert unto the land of Canaan, lost his patience with the people and disobeyed God’s command, striking the rock, instead of speaking to it. Water gushed out from the rock, but God wanted Moses to display to the people the power of God’s creative word in Moses’ speech-act. Through his speech, thus not by power, that living water would have come from the rock, as the word of God was proclaimed. But, because Moses struck the rock, he displayed power, human power. God works not by power or might, but by his spirit.
In the first miracle of Jesus, he created wine from the water stored in the stone vessels, showing the abundance of God’s grace and mercy. When Jesus died and the soldier struck his side with the lance, water and blood poured forth from Jesus’ wound. He became the rock that was struck and through his wounds we were healed. Moses’ disobedience caused him not to enter into the Land of Promise, but only see it from afar, where as Adam’s disobedience caused him to be exiled from the Garden of Eden. Through Jesus Christ we regain entrance to paradise. We are also guilty of disobedience to God, our works cannot attain redemption for us, but shows our renewed obedience. God planned that our iniquity would be erased and our sins forgiven.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Titus, who was a convert who was place as a deacon over the believers in Crete. Scholars estimate that this letter was written after Paul’s first release from imprisonment. Titus served with Paul and Barnabas for more than fifteen years and was present with at the first Council at Jerusalem. This letter was written to explain the essential elements of Christian theology and includes the first fragmentary formulation to the Apostles’ Creed. Paul wrote in the letter to Titus, Chapter 2 verse 14, “Christ gave Himself on our behalf that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people eager and enthusiastic to live a good life, filled with the fruit of beneficial deeds,” (Amplified Bible). God is honoured when we do good works, blessing our neighbour by helping him, working at doing no harm but choosing only to do what benefits my neighbour. Planning to benefit myself at the detriment of my neighbour cannot be blessed.
When we fulfil our duty towards our neighbours, as Christ has fulfilled his love and gift of grace and faith for us, we exercise the love God has given to us. Then we will bear the fruit that show that we have been obedient to the will of the Lord. This fruit will be beneficial to all, like water flowing in the desert.
Father, we thank you that through the love and work of your Son within us, we have become new creatures. We are fruitful and anxious to do good works to praise you and bless our neighbour, Amen.