Epiphany
January 19, 2016

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-10

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ –Nehemiah 8:9-10

Recovery after repentance, how does that work? Apparently it starts with fully putting our trust in God. Who would have thought? All our sack cloth and ashes, gnashing of teeth, and tears do not work. We may feel a need to do something symbolic to meet our own needs. With God repenting (turning around), grasping forgiveness, and taking the first steps on the right path is all God requires. The import act is trusting in God. I think it is really, really hard for we westerners to relinquish control in any situation to any entity. Perhaps it is just me, I am pretty stubborn. The paradox is that when we finally relinquish control to God, we get our lives back to pursue our purposes that God relishes and has woven into the fiber of God’s kingdom.

This stream runs throughout the Bible. Nathan confronts David of his sin, David repents and returns to his purpose, the prodigal son sees the error of his ways and returns home to the welcoming arms of his father. And in our scripture today the children of Israel, repent and celebrate not only their return to their land but their return to God.

The church needs to be very careful that it does not move away from God, define itself as righteousness, and visit its hypocrisy on others. I think Jesus meant it when he said, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. John 5:15

Prayer: Lord, nourish us and help us grow in your spirit and your truth that we show forth everyday as we live it in our lives. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.