Psalm : 72 Epistle : Acts 5:12-16 Gospel : Lk. 5:17-26 Verse for meditation: “Never her less, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into…
Readings
Old Testament : 2 Kings 4:1-7
Psalm : 72
Epistle : Acts 5:12-16
Gospel : Lk. 5:17-26
Verse for meditation:
“Never her less, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by” (Acts. 5:14,15).
Martin Luther has seen the declaration of the Bible, ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Hab. 2:4) as the Cardinal principle. From this he has developed the reformation principle of Sola Fide (Faith alone) and preached it. In the Old Testament the idea is faithfulness rather than faith. There are many synonyms akin to faith in the Old Testament including Proverb 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. In the New Testament faith is a prime thought. Faith is trusting without the dependence of intellectual proofs. Faith is an important aspect in Christian life. No one can please God without faith (Heb.11:6). Jesus frequently stated, “Your faith has saved you”. ‘All is possible for those who believe’ (Mk.9:23), ‘those who believe will do miracles (Mk.16:17), ‘If you believe you will see the glory of God (Jn. 11:40), ‘He who believes will die yet will live’ (Jn. 11:25), ‘If you believe you can move mountains (Matt. 21:21) – this is how Jesus taught about faith. All the prominent characters in the Bible have lived a life of faith. Hebrews chapter 11 deals with this subject. Faith is very important to our Christian life, because Christian life is faith-oriented (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith (faithfulness) is the basic foundation of a victorious Christian living (1 Jn. 5:4, 5). Through faith we receive holiness (Acts 26:18), comfort and peace (Is. 26:3; Phil. 4:6,7; 1 Pet. 1:4), happiness (1 Pet. 1:8) and answer to our prayers( Matt. 21:21).
The faith that saved the whole family (2 Kings 4:1-12)
The faith of Elisha has saved the life of the whole family. Husband has died. Sons are going to be enslaved. A widow is screaming and coming to the prophet Elisha. Through the prophet, God is caring the family. She came to the man of God because of her faith. The prophet told her as follows, “Go and sell the oil and pay the debt and live with what is being left with”. The words of Paul to the Jail warden also can be remembered at this point: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that you and your family will be saved (Acts 16:31). The faith of one person of a family will lead the whole family towards salvation.
The faith that saved the whole society (Acts 5:12-16)
The faith in God will lead not only a person but also a society to earn its salvation. “More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” (Acts 5:14). Through the preaching of the Apostle Peter, a great people group came into the faith in Christ. Many miracles and wonders happened among of people. This faith has helped a society to come into salvation through faith. The word of God declares, “The just shall live by faith (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb. 10:38, 39). Lord Jesus often appreciated the faith of the people (Matt. 8:10, 15:28, Lk. 7:9). The Lord has encouraged them saying that their faith has resulted in miracles (Matt.8:13, Mk. 5:34, Lk. 8:24, 17:19).
The Faith that saves the life of a Person (Lk. 5:17-26)
Some persons in faith showed preparedness to bring a paralytic man before Jesus opening the roof of the building where Jesus was ministering. Jesus has healed the paralytic ‘on seeing their faith’ (Mk. 2:5, Lk. 5:20). The faith that encouraged the friends of the paralytic to place him before Jesus by opening the roof at the house in Capernaum is an ethical situation. Their faith was not just a matter of simple feeling. But it was a purposive action to help another person, a faith that even prompted them to the extent of dismantling the roof of a house. Apostle James also teaches of a faith with action (James 2:14-26). A work without faith is dead (2:26). The faith that saves the life is expressed through action for its perfection. Even today, when we submit our faith through actions, life and salvation are brought to individuals, families and to the society.
Collect:
O God, the author of our life, you have called us to be dynamic and active to connect together to create life-saving networks. Give us lifesaving faith to become friends to the needy, support the weak, comfort the sick and be channels of your healing. Empower us to be committed to the needs of the little-ones around us and bring our fellow humans to your space so that we may be transformed as useful instruments in your healing hands. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and ever.
