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Click here to listen to the sermon. 6mins.
1 Kings 21v1-21a Naboth’s Vineyard
Galatians 2v15-21 Paul opposes Peter
Luke 7v36-8v3 Jesus anointed by a sinful woman.
An Inclusive Faith!
I would like to tell you a story, a true story.
The God of Abraham chose to commit himself to Abraham and his family in a faithful relationship based on trust and faith. (Romans 4v3).
He choose one family to reveal himself through as their God, as a light to the world so that others may also find him, and come to him, and eventually the whole world discover his grace and love. (Romans 3v21-24). (John 3v16-17).
Obviously there would be ups and downs in their relationship, especially when working with the unstable and volatile humankind, who predominantly think of themselves first. But God was willing to take on this unequal covenant relationship and commit himself to this people, now to become his people.
God’s purpose then was to reveal his true self, his love, grace, faithfulness and mercy, through his people to all the world. (Romans 3v25). (John 3v16-17).
Jesus, as promised, comes to continue and fulfil that covenant, to declare and witness God’s love and grace to all the peoples of the earth. (Isaiah 49v6).
Unfortunately however in the people’s good desire to live close to God themselves and to keep a self disciplined right lifestyle, they inadvertently became removed from the people they were called to serve, and from God himself in favour of rules, and their righteous lifestyle became exclusive and a means by which they became separated. (Galatians 5v1). (Gal 5v14).
Jesus showed them, how to stay connected to God, and through recapturing God’s love, how to become re-connected to the people they were called to serve, rather than the rules of religion. (Luke 7v36-8v3).
As you meditate on this passage for two or three minutes, what does it say to you today?
How can your faith and relationship with God become more inclusive of others and less exclusive?
Do you now need to do anything to respond to God’s word?
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