Come and SeeEsimerkki

On a mat, crippled for 38 years of his life, lay a man. Surrounded by a crowd of the sick and disabled, he waited by a pool said to give miracles. After so many years, maybe he had given up hope. The likelihood of getting well must have seemed impossible, until one day, Someone spoke to him. With powerful words came the miracle the man had dreamed of. He stood up, picked up his mat, and walked. 38 years of infirmity. 38 years of helplessness. 38 years of waiting. And in an instant, He is well! How could anyone not rejoice with this man? As he picked up his mat to walk away, religious leaders saw him. Ignoring the joy and the wonder of the miracle, they immediately tried to control and condemn. Pride and self- righteousness blinded them so that they couldn’t see a genuine act of God right in front of their eyes. To receive their own glory, they enforced rules that were unloving and impractical. The very ones who should have known God best knew Him least. In their twisting of Scripture, they became divisive and prideful. God’s law was used to hurt their neighbor and in doing this they wrongly portrayed God as distant and uncaring. So, when the “radiance of God’s glory” came down to earth, they didn’t recognize Him. Instead, they persecuted Him. These “leaders” didn’t realize that salvation would not be found through their religious rituals, but only through a risen Savior. Proof was everywhere, and yet they didn’t know Him because they did not truly know God. We should diligently study Scripture, which reveals to us God’s character. However, in our studies, if we don’t understand that love of God should lead to love of neighbor, then we have missed Him completely. When growing in knowledge, be careful that no root of pride develops. If you start to look down on others, believing “I know God best,” be careful. It may be that you know Him the least. DAILY READING Read John 5 CHRISTMAS CONNECTION Loving God means that we love our neighbor. Christmas gives many opportunities for this! Bless the people living closest to you this week. Drop some cookies on doorsteps, help with Christmas decorations, or find another way to love. Make sure to humbly point to Jesus. He is the voice your neighbors need to hear.