Have you ever been looking for something only to find it right next to you? I do this all too often with my sunglasses. I put them on top of my head and then look all over trying to find them. I look in the drawer and on the counter. Then I’ll likely blame someone for taking them! When we can’t find what’s right in front of us, it’s all too easy to make it someone else’s problem.

There’s a lot of ink that’s been spilled about believing and having faith. The Bible is even filled with talk on this subject. Believing is important for certain! We’re called to believe and be baptized. We’re told that faith without works is dead. Jesus wants us to have faith even like the size of a mustard seed and we can move mountains. But is there more to this Christian life than mere faith? Are we called to do more than just believe?

This year for Good Friday we looked at stories from the Bible that are familiar and yet we saw them in a little different light. As we saw the pain that Jesus endured on the cross we were tempted, like his disciples to sit in despair for a minute or two We were tempted to let his death bring devastation to our day. But we know that’s just not how this works. Even though we know that it’s Friday and Sunday is coming, we often have a little fear or depression that sets in on Good Friday.

This week we continued our journey through the book of Exodus with a brief stop in Exodus 32. This is the story of the Israelites rebelling against God by doing their own thing. They take matters into their own hands. They grew impatient and made their own idol to worship. But it’s not just the Israelites who have this problem. It’s not just this group of God-followers who are stiff necked and self-centered. We are exactly the same!