Saturday, August 18, 2012

Try, try again.

Scripture Passage that Caught my Attention today: Jeremiah 26:2-4 Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD; speak to them all the words that I command you; do not hold back a word. 3 It may be that they will listen, all of them, and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings.

Observation: God held out hope that the people would listen.

Application: This hope of God is hopeful in and of itself. Clearly God’s longing is for reconciliation. A key theological understanding of the work of Christ is that in Christ God was reconciling the world to God’s self.

Humanity, however, is not so eager for this big reunion—unless, of course, it’s on our own terms. We want God when WE want God, when WE decide that we NEED God. Aside from that we go about our merry or not-so-merry (and perhaps even ‘evil’) ways.

I don’t really understand why we are the way we are. Chalking it up to original sin seems far too easy and seems to take away the role of personal responsibility. We are much like the ancient king referred to in Jeremiah 36:20-36; he heard God’s ways toward hope and restoration and paid them no mind.

Still, today’s another day for preaching and for hearing. Through every preacher and every hearer God tries again to move people to grasp what God through Christ has already done.

Prayer: Lord, today there is a funeral and a regular (is there such a thing?) worship service. I pray that both preacher and hearers would somehow feel and convey your presence and hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Jeremiah 26, 35-36 and John 20)

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