The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
What kind of freedom does Jesus give to those he has forgiven? In John chapter 5 Jesus tells a man he has just healed to pick up his bed and go home. The man does so, thus violating the command not to work on the Sabbath. When questioned about it, the man does not initially know who healed him. Jesus finds him later and tells him his identity. This provokes the religious leaders to anger against Jesus. Yet Jesus has shown that he is able to heal. He says he is able to forgive sins as well. Are we ready to trust his forgiveness?
The person forgiven by Jesus is apparently freed from the law. This does not mean that we are free to enter into sin. Jesus tells the man to avoid sin. Terrible things might happen to him. In freedom from God’s Law, the Christian is still told to live a life of holiness. How is this carried out? If it is not due to the obligation to God’s Law, it remains to be done because of gratitude to God for forgiveness.
As God’s forgiven people, trusting Christ, we strive to live a good and holy life, not for ourselves, but for the sake of the world around us.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.