Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 69: Evening, Psalm 73;
Exodus 1:6 to 22; 1st Corinthians 12:12 to 26; Mark 8:27 to 9:1:
“He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29)
Our Lord Jesus had already asked his close followers “who do the people say that I am?” And rumors abound. There were all kinds of responses. Then he let the dust settle and he asked those who closely followed him “who do YOU say that I am?”
The same question applies to us today, we who profess to be followers of our Lord Jesus as Christians. We hear all the time who the general public (including some professed Christians), say that Jesus is.
Some folk are so misinformed that they don’t keep the history of our Lord Jesus in the New Testament when they speak of Him. Some will have him anywhere from Adam and Eve in the garden to being aboard the Mayflower as it came to the Americas. Some even say that he is a figment of our imagination. Fine for them, but who do YOU (reading this blog), say that our Lord Jesus is? And please, say who he is in your deeds rather than your words, even as you struggle to love all people.
Say who He is in prayer and deed as you do not return evil for evil. Say who He is as you bless those who curse you (or slap you). For this is who our Lord Jesus is, and how we live out our lives is the only way we can say who He is; He is the Messiah! He is the source of eternal life. He is God revealed in human form for the benefit of eternal life for human beings.
I must admit that I don’t always follow our Lord Jesus in a way that says who I believe He is. I am a work in progress. I have trouble not fighting back when attacked. But I pray God understands me and who I am. I am also concerned about how I admire the people of Ukraine for fighting back as I believe they should. I pray God also blesses their efforts to defend themselves. I ask all of you to continue in your prayers for their peace, safety and freedom.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 