Daily Readings - Mon Nov 19 2018
Revelation
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Luke
35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, perseverance, and the call to remain steadfast in our relationship with God. In the first reading from Revelation, John addresses the Church of Ephesus, commending their endurance and discernment but also challenging them to reclaim the love and zeal they once had for God. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of trials and challenges, our faith must remain vibrant and rooted in love. The Gospel from Luke tells the story of a blind man who, despite being rebuked by the crowd, cries out to Jesus with persistence and faith. His plea for mercy is heard, and he is healed, both physically and spiritually, as he comes to see the truth of God’s love.
These readings are connected by the theme of spiritual sight and the importance of maintaining a living, active faith. The Church in Ephesus is warned not to lose their first love, while the blind man in Luke gains both physical and spiritual sight through his unwavering trust in Jesus. Both passages call us to examine our own relationship with God—are we allowing our faith to grow lukewarm, or are we seeking to deepen our connection with Him? The blind man’s persistence in the face of opposition reminds us that true faith is not passive but bold and insistent, trusting in God’s power to transform our lives.
In our daily lives, we can apply these lessons by reflecting on our own spiritual state. Are there areas where our love for God has grown cold? Do we, like the blind man, have the courage to cry out for healing and grace, even when others discourage us? Let us remember that faith is not about feeling but about trusting in God’s promises. As we navigate life’s challenges, may we remain steadfast in our devotion, seeking to renew our first love for God and to walk in the light of His truth. Through persistent prayer and a willingness to repent, we can regain our spiritual sight and follow Jesus with renewed passion and joy.