Stockpiling.

What if it IS True? Blog

Discovering, wrestling with, and trying like crazy to live Gospel virtue.

04/02/14

John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.

“I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.”

Faith is a gift. We know this. But if we don't open gifts we receive they will never do us any good. What if you simply stockpiled your Birthday and Christmas presents every year? Never opening them, just admiring their wrappings and boxes. Not a lot of good there, huh? Sure you may have a big pile of presents, but have you really received any gifts? Jesus shows us how to use the gifts God has has given by his example of using everything God has given him. He uses this giftedness unreservedly. So much in fact that it rubs many the wrong way. Especially those who thought they knew all the answers.

The Pharisees were obviously taken aback by this guy claiming to be the son of God. He's broken many of the laws already and now they judge this to be blasphemy. Who wouldn't? We are far removed from the culture of the first century and hindsight may be 20/20. But what are we doing today? Is our reaction to Christ's claims really that different? We may not be accusing him of breaking Mosaic law, but do we take him seriously? If we did wouldn't we open and use the gifts he wants to give us?

So where are we? Are we really accepting the gifts of faith or are we simply leaving the gifts unwrapped? Maybe try to cooperate a little more with the grace that Jesus offers us everyday. Do we find ourselves irritated by situations, attitudes or others? Isn't this the perfect opportunity to open of of those gifts? Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Patience, Fear of the Lord, these are the gifts that God wants to give us. They are all there for the unwrapping. Which one do you need most right now? What does grace have in store for you? Open the gift and see.

Good luck and God Bless,

Leo Brown