Saturday May 23 – CHANGE

Faith – CHANGE – LIGHT; seeing constancy in transformation |

Instead of holding faith with consummation we actually set up roadblocks to the unending growth.  Since the wolves sneaked into the church we have seen people naming Christ as Saviour (and Lord) but resisting the Spirit’s work. If faith does not save – if a person has to wait until the parousia to say “I am saved” we are in stiffneck mode. There is neither life nor light. 

Hope – CHANGE – LIGHT; trusting renewal |

During the times of the judges – a period of more than 300 years –  people seem to have abandoned hope.  Israelites loved Baal and kept serving Baal instead of Yahweh.

They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. (Judges 2:13)

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. (Judges 10:7)

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. (Judges 13:1)

There is no secret about the demise of Israelite monotheism.  The standard of “no other god”was  abandoned repeatedly.

Love – CHANGE –  LIGHT; embracing adaptability |

We adjust cautiously, and that is seen as wise, but some of life’s critical transitions are useless when drawn out.  Can you imagine Peter and his brother taking a few weeks to decide to follow Jesus?

18. Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

Death – CHANGE – LIGHT; becoming Sabbath rest |

It might have been a regular occurrence for crucifixion to happen and steps taken to make sure that the corpses do not stay on Cross into the sabbath day or the festival. 

Now then, since it was the day of preparation, to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews requested of Pilate that their legs be broken, and the bodies be taken away. (John 19:31)

his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you shall certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:23)

These same guys had no qualms about going to the Romans to secure the sentence of death against Christ.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. (John 18:28)