The Smoldering Wick Must Be Protected...

John 5: 25-47
Witnesses to Jesus
'You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life.  But the Scriptures point to me!  Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you eternal life. (39,40)
For I have come to you representing my Father, and you refuse to welcome me, even though you readily accept others who represent only themselves. No wonder you can't believe!  For you gladly honour each other, but you don't care about the honour that comes from God alone. (43,44)

This passage seems to link with our church sermon on God's expectation of us from Isaiah. Our sermon was about how God's expecation of us is unattainable.  It seems to be a dichotomy, we are to achieve the result and respect of a King, but serve through the methods of a servant. Our pastor had mentioned how like the Isrealites, our faith is cyclical - burns, then fizzles.  It is only through Jesus' fulfillment of God's expectations that we can partake of God's grace and chance to live with him.

God has shared this passage with me because I am reminded about how my faith is also cyclical. What kind of a Christian does that make me?  I also don't have to look too far to see a fellow Christian bearing a smoldering flame of faith - my husband.  It will be through prayer that my husband will be able to see God's light and opt to follow it that will take him out of his pain.  Time doesn't heal all wounds. God's love does. God has a greater purpose for some of us than just to produce babies... God, I pray that you will continue to soften my husband's heart and mould him into the righteous man you want him to be.  I pray that you will dampen the voices of Satan who are leading him astray and have him focus on your call of love and peace. I pray Father that you will give me the patience and the wisdom to nurture his physical and spiritual body and to ensure that his dwindling flame of faith does not go out, but instead burns bright.

1 Timothy 3:8-15
Leaders in the Church and the Truths of Our Faith
This passage reminds us that Church leaders are to respectful and faithful in the eyes of God, as they are to represent their faith in Christ.  These are written so what we know how people must act in the house of God.