A Moment Aside for 15 September 2020

 

A Moment Aside ---- 15 September 2020

 

     When it comes to truth, we need to know that it is powerful, that it is solid, and that it is not always what we want to hear. It could also be surprising. Were we to hear that it is raining outside, we can’t dispute it when we go out and get wet… even if our plans are ruined or at the very least, have to change.

     The Word of God is truth. It is powerful and solid. (“ Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God might also might be something frightening, something surprising, and even something we don’t want to hear. Hearing what it takes to become and remain a disciple can be frightening. Hearing of the freedom of forgiveness and the grace of God can be (and maybe should be) surprising. Hearing how that freedom and forgiveness is applied to people we don’t believe are worthy of it can be repellant and could even make us angry.

     When we read the book of Jonah in the worship service, we delight in the story of Jonah running off to Spain (“Tarshish”) to escape this call as a prophet. We might giggle as Jonah is gulped down by the big fish and spewed up on the shore. We might be amazed at his preaching in Nineveh and how the people (sworn enemies of Israel and the Hebrew people) reacted. We may wonder about Jonah’s reaction and his anger at losing the castor bean plant that served as an awning for him. What we DON’T want to hear is what Jonah didn’t want to hear: God forgives those we consider unworthy… or beyond help… or who have the wrong religion… or whatever else we don’t want to hear.

     Maybe if God’s love and forgiveness and grace doesn’t apply to certain others, there could be a problem… because maybe then God’s love and forgiveness and grace doesn’t apply to us.

     Stay safe. Let God be God and decide for Godself where mercy will go. God knows better than we on things like that.

“Indeed, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…”  (Hebrews 4:12)

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  (Ps. 46:10)