Devotions - Tuesday, Sept 9

I enjoy our Monday night Bible Study. I enjoy it most of all when the participants make that "I am not sure I accept what you are saying" face. It encourages me, to realize that we are each prepared to stand by our convictions of what the Word is saying to us.

Last night, we were studying Matthew 8 & 9. A question was asked about one of the verses. I suggested that while it was attached to the preceding story, it was really a summary statement of where the writer was taking us, in the whole section. "There are several of these," I added. I got that face.

I thought, again this morning, about one of those summary statements. It is Matthew 9:8, in which we read, "When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings." It was Jesus who had performed the preceding miracle (he forgave a man's sin, and the man's illness was also removed.) Why does the writer speak of authority being given to humans? Well, I suggested that the reference was to the Church and to the Church's role in continuing to forgive sins.

One of the things which is difficult for all of us to wrap our minds around is the thought that God - GOD - would entrust mere mortals with so much. God risked everything in taking on the form of a human, of becoming one of us. The resurrected Jesus leaves his newly established Church in the hands of the apostles, then he ascends.

They do a good job. This morning I was reading from Acts 14. Paul and Barnabus are doing such a good job that the people think they are gods, and come prepared to make a sacrifice to them. Paul tears his garments and begs them not to do such a thing. God is the one to be praised. God is the one who is to be honored. He and Barnabus are but willing servants - mere human beings to whom God entrusted the story which they had come to share.

God accomplishes wonderful things. Much of this, God accomplishes through mere mortals - persons like you and me. Persons to whom the good news has come, and found a home, and given a voice. This says a lot about God's confidence in us. It says a lot about God.