FAITH STRUGGLES
Friday in Easter 3
Psalm 94; Exodus 33:7-23; Hebrews 11:1-16
From the beginning of the world til now, faith is a struggle, and the struggle is real.
In many ways ‘life, the universe, and everything’ make living by faith hard work. Our forefathers walked by faith and it was up hill both ways.
Nothing easy about preaching righteousness to a wicked generation, building an ark in the middle of a forest, waiting for rain to fall. Nothing easy about following the Lord from place to place, building an altar and pitching your tent, like a drifter on the way to Destination Unknown.
And yet, if walking by faith (in Jesus Christ) were easy, everyone would be doing it.
Faith struggles for a better life and strives for a better rest. Faith suffers for a better country and seeks a better city. Faith squints to see God’s glory and strains to hear his voice. Faith strains toward what is ahead, it is not shackled by what’s behind.
Those who walk by the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, live with real purpose and meaning.
We gather at our tent of meeting every Lord’s day.
The Divine Presence meets us there and fills these places. In power and the glory, we rise in worship.
The Lord speaks to us face to face in the reading and preaching of his word.
His Presence is real and abiding in the Eucharist. At his Table he gives us rest and refreshment in our time of need.
By faith we stand in the Rock that was cracked open for our salvation, and we see the glory of the Lord in the broken body and shed blood of our Savior.
As his goodness passes before us, we know that we have found favor in his sight. As we share in his body and blood, and wat his flesh and drink his blood, we know that the grace of the Lord is with us, in us, for us.
As strangers and exiles on the earth, we are nourished by word and sacrament. Strengthened by grace, we journey on.
We make it clear, by thought, word, and deed, that nothing from this fallen world satisfies the longing in our souls. We are seeking a true homeland beyond the sights and sounds of this Vanity Faire wasteland.
Faith is a struggle, and the struggle is real.
When our foot slips.
when we stumble or stray,
your steadfast love, O Lord,
holds us fast and helps us up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
Friday + Easter 3
The Collect
Almighty God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
