The struggle between human and the deity continues. Human consistently and begrudgingly holds on to its position of “knowing all” despite the obvious contradictions. There must be a God if we are intellectually honest. Yet, I too like the skeptics doubt.
Isaiah reminds us that no one teaches God. It sounds so strange when reading it in the Bible. Duh?!? Still, I often think “if only God would listen to me.” That’s so absurd. Me, as creation, thinking that the creator really would learn something from me. Really?
Keeping the ways of the Lord isn’t easy, particularly when we add litmus test items like positions on abortion, capital punishment, sexual orientation, and race to the list of the ways of God. What are the ways of the Lord? Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Hmm. Christians can become so easily lost when we major on the minors and minor on the majors. Justice, kindness, and humility cut to the core don’t they?
According to Paul, followers of Jesus are destined according to God’s purposes. I am so disappointed in myself and others when the message of Christianity becomes what we are against as opposed to what we are for. And, God’s purposes are all about justice, kindness, and humility. But so much of what some Christians make major is not justice, kindness, and humility.
Pause…ponder…repent, and live differently is my new “mantra.”
Jesus was God’s beloved. He was tempted too. Perhaps followers of Jesus might rest in our belovedness, all the while admitting how broken we are. Maybe then we would succumb less to the temptation of throwing the first stone.
Scripture readings are taken from the two-year daily lectionary cycle which follows the liturgical calendar and begins on the First Sunday of Advent.
Comentários