Sweet Words from Maine

Does Peace Have a Chance?

Spring—Congregational Church, Machias, Maine

John Lennon’s lyrics of “All we are saying is give peace a chance” “are familiar to those who remember the antiwar songs of the sixty’s. It may seem cynical to say, but history has proven that world peace will always be an elusive, utopian ideal. There is no trust among those who seek power and control. The aggressive, competitive, greedy, selfish nature of mankind prohibits peace from being a reality. That is why our country needs a Department of Defense and why Jesus made several distinct predictions about the “end of the age” which included the truth that his followers would face troubles, that God’s redemptive plan would be theologically perverted, and that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:5-7)

However, our destiny need not be anxiety, restlessness, disagreements, and dissatisfaction! Despite his ominous predictions, Jesus gave his followers tremendous encouragement. He assured them that his Spirit would always be with them and that his words and promises were true and would bring them reassurance and peace. “ I have told you these things so that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

It seems a bit curious to claim victory over the world that beat and killed him? However, even though the world crucified him, Jesus moved heaven’s authority and power to combat evil’s influence on the human soul. By accepting the consequences of our transgressions at the cross, he made redemption possible and completely erased condemnation for those who choose to believe. In resurrection power he took away death’s sting. Peace and life with God became possible through faith.

One of the oldest Bible books states a life principle: “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.” (Job 22:21-22) The Old Testament prophet Isaiah put it this way when speaking of God: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3 (NLT2) He subsequently deepened that thought: “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; .” ( Isaiah 48:17-22)

Both Old and New Testaments teach us that peace and righteousness are found when we agree with God, trust God, honor God, and follow God’s life principles. That would seem to be a very good definition of faith. The Apostle Paul assured the Roman church: ^“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us… (We are forgiven, made righteous, free from condemnation and fear of death, and are restored, children of God)… and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (parentheses mine) (Romans 5:1-2 (NLT2)

A prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi expresses this humility of mind and heart: “Lord, make us instruments of your peace/Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon/ where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith/where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light/where there is sadness, joy/ Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love/ For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Those principles were taught and modeled by Christ and were encouragements which the Apostle Paul gave to the Colossians : “let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15)

If those prayers became a universal mind set, there would be hope for peace.

Give peace a chance!

Of Kingfishers, Pebbles, and Bells…

Watching kingfishers fish along the Taunton river has always been a summer treat. Not long ago, a friend gifted me with a wonderful, little kingfisher painting which he had done. It was accompanied by his hand printed copy of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, As Kingfishers Catch Fire:

“As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame/ As tumbled over rim in roundy wells/ Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s/ Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name/ Each mortal thing does one thing and the same/ Deals out that being indoors each one dwells/ Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells/ Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.“

The poem flows with imagination, alliteration and rhyming but also expresses a deep theological truth. (Not a surprise because Hopkins was a Jesuit priest.) Just as kingfishers catch the light in their rapid dive for food or as pebbles resound when they roll off a well’s rim into the water, or as bells fling out their own special tones, our souls have their own way of perceiving and expressing their unique roles in life. “What I do is me: for that I came.”

That short statement encapsulates the need for our special self expressions but with a determined higher purpose in mind. The second verse captures the essence of that common purpose.

“I say more: the just man justices/ Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces/ Acts in God’s eyes what in God’s eyes he is-/ Christ —for Christ plays in ten thousand places;/ Lovely in limbs and lovely in eyes not his/ To the Father through the feature of men’s faces”

Even though we express ourselves through different personalities and giftedness, our spirits have been created to be images of our Creator. The Apostle Paul addressed that concept in his letter to the Roman Church. (Romans 8:28-29) Having received God’s gracious forgiveness and redemption, believers can live graciously because God works good through life’s situations while conforming them to the character of Christ, who modeled patience and kindness, goodness and gentleness, gratitude and joy, faithfulness and love.

So whether one is a kingfisher, a pebble, or a gonging bell, the prayerful goal of every Christian should be to mirror the character of God, or as Albert Orsborn expressed in song: “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me/ All his wonderful passion and purity/ O thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine/Til the beauty of Jesus is seen in me.”

Calm Winds, Easy Seas, and Full Sails

Sailing By Saddleback Ledge, Penobscot Bay, Maine

Calm winds, easy seas, and full sails bring to mind the Message’s paraphrase of Psalm 84:12!

All sunshine and sovereign is God,
generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies. (MSG)

To those who have been through deep waters of hurt and suffering or grief and troubling difficulties, “smooth sailing all the way” may seem a hollow thought and raises the question of whether God is really good all the time.

Psalm 107:1 says He is: “Oh, thank God—he’s so good! His love never runs out.” (MSG) However, the Psalmist is not naïve. He has had his share of sadness. He is thinking globally and is expressing gratitude for those worldwide (from the four winds, from the seven seas) who God has graciously freed from various life conditions because of His “miraculous mercy and marvelous love“. He sings of God’s compassion for the oppressed, the homeless and wandering, the imprisioned, the sick because of debauchery, and for those attempting to run from God. When they “called out to God“, they were wonderfully saved from their condition.

Calling on the Name of the Lord presupposes that there is belief. The principle that God always responds to believing, repentant hearts is as old as mankind and as contemporary as today! As early as Genesis 4:26, common people and then later Patriarchs, Kings, and Prophets began to call on the Name of the Lord as they sought help from the Giver of Life. They expected to be heard because God promised redemption to all who trusted Him: “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Psalm 50:15 (NLT2)

“I call to God, and the LORD will save me.” (Psalm 55:16 (ESV)

“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.” (Psalm 86:5 (NLT2)

“Then ( in repentance) you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ (Isaiah 58:9 (ESV)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32)

And the 107th Psalm ends with the admonition : “If you are really wise, you’ll think this over— it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.” (MSG)

That “deep love” culminates in Christ and his sacrifice on the cross for our sinfulness. “There is no greater love than that a man give his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Christ came to seek and to save, to heal and free mankind from deep spiritual burdens of lostness, oppression, enslavement, and rebellion. (Luke 4:18)

God knows and relates to our physical and spiritual troubles through the temptations and sufferings experienced by Christ, who has walked our journey. He will change our perspective and our story when we trust Him to guide us.

God’s deep, divine love secures the soul for “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39)

And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view! (Psalm 84:5-7, MSG)

God’s goodness is never ending! He is good all the time.

More Precious than Gold?

In 1923 Robert Frost wrote the short poem “Nothing Gold can Stay”.

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

The poem beautifully but sadly states the ancient lament that there is no permanence to life. Things change. Youthful vigor declines; beauty fades; wealth dissipates; power and prestige are fragile; relationships devolve; dreams fail and disappoint. Life is but a mist. “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (James 4:14) Although that is all true, there are rock solid, reassuring, unchanging truths. God, His Word, His love, His Son, and His grace-filled redemption never change.

God revealed His immutability to Malachi: “For I the LORD do not change…” (Malachi 3:6) Jeremiah expressed that thought this way: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. (Lamentations 3:22) The Psalmist began and ended his song: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:29)

Scripture is authoritative and enduring. It flow from God’s integrity and eternality. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6) The Psalmist sang, “..the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:9-10) God ‘s words are meant for our good. He guides us into happiness and blessings. Christ prayed for his disciples, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

God’s Word is eternal: “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160) Like Frost, the prophet Isaiah, recognized life’s transient nature but also realized that the what God says persists beyond the ages: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 4:8) Notably, Christ claimed to do God’s works and to speak God’s words and proclaimed that “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” (John 17:17)

God’s Word is powerful. He assured Isaiah: “…it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) Furthermore, generations of God seekers can testify that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16)

God’s love is steadfast and all encompassing and is vividly and ultimately expressed through the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ. “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:10) ^“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Christ and his love are a constant. He loved and died for the world and is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (John 3:16) (Hebrews 13:8)

Golden moments flit away. We experience loss; we age; we malfunction; we face societal diminishing. Gold corrodes. Its brilliant luster fades. It is easily spent. “Nothing gold can stay.” But the Apostle Peter reminds us that faith is more precious than gold. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

There is a simple but profound children’s chorus which connects these enduring gold threads of God’s grace: His Word, His love, His Son, and His redemptive mercy: “Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so.”

A Question of Legacy

In a recent article titled “Your Legacy”, Richard Simmons III asked the question , “What do you want to be remembered for?” He said that “Once your earthly life is over, your reputation will become your legacy.” Then he quoted from author David Brooks book The Road to Character in which the author differentiates between “resume virtues” and “eulogy virtues”:

“Resume virtues are professional and oriented toward earthly success. They require comparison with others. Eulogy virtues are ethical and spiritual and require no comparison. Your eulogy virtues are what you really would want people to talk about at your funeral…”

Although Simmons’ article makes thoughtful points, resumes and eulogies are obviously about us. But life is not all about us! We are meant for something more grand, more eternal, than a nice goodbye speech which will soon be forgotten regardless of the amount of good deeds done, nice relationships held, and fine words said. We are messengers with a story to live and tell. The book of Proverbs wisely exhorts: “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22:6) That idea raises the question of ethics. What is the basis of our advice? The Apostle Paul encouraged “Fathers” to bring their children up “with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) So, according to Scripture, God’s principles for living are foundational to the development of ethical thought and behavior.

Scripture is replete with exhortations to not only Jews and Christians but to all people about teaching succeeding generations who God is and about His love for humanity. Moses gave specific instructions that the Israelites teach, live, and continually talk with their children about God and His works and Laws. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

The Psalmist testified many times to this crucial generational responsibility: “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds/So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (Psalm 71:17-19) He did this because God “apppointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…” (Psalm 78:2-8)

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed and the Apostle Paul echoed the beauty embodied in this generational process: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation… ” (Isaiah 52:7) (Romans 10: 14-15)

Encouraging giftednesss, integrity, hard, work, generosity, compassion and the enjoyment of life are important to raise heathy children who are good citizens, but all accomplishments, wealth, and fun will one day mean nothing. In contrast, a relationship with God will mean everything.

The Christian community has just celebrated Easter and the confidence that forgiveness and eternal life are found through belief in Christ’s atoning death and triumphant resurrection. Every generation and every tongue deserve to know the awesomeness, the love, the miraculous power, the miracles, the splendor, and the greatness of God so they can “hope” in God and live rightly in His image.(Psalm 145:3-6)

That message must be spoken out loud. Otherwise, no generation will know the good news of God and His redemptive acts or understand Christ’s saving sacrifice on the cross for them. Everyone not only deserves to hear the Gospel but also to see authentic faith lived out and to have an opportunity to respond.

Some of those “beautiful feet upon the mountains” belong to parents, grandparents, families, teachers , mentors, and churches who have a tremendous and increasingly difficult responsibility to speak and live Christ’s Good News in an expanding humanistic society. Their lasting legacies of words, teachings, values, and efforts for the common good will spring from lives of devotion and will undoubtedly be noted in eulogies written on hearts which will have found faith.

Those are convicting thoughts. How are we doing?

all shepherds we…

Like the shepherds, we …

anxious, waiting,

wrapped in Bethlehem’s darkness

listening for circling wolves…

unseen, lurking, howling,

threatening, fearsome,

snarling…

imagined phantoms of

loss,

impossibilities,

hurt, grief, shame

terrifying death…

Like the shepherds we…

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…

for the dawn.

Have we not heard the angel?

Fear not!

Immanuel!

God is here!

A Savior for all nation!

Redemption! Peace for our souls!

In the fullness of time…

In the stable darkness,

A glimmer of great grace!

A flicker of hope!

Light!

Would the light prevail through

the black, evil night

and hellish fury of

betrayal, agony, cruelty?

a cross?

a tomb?

death?

The flame flickered, dimmed…

The wolves encroached

Ferocious despair, doubt, confusion

Would, could, dawn dawn?

Yes! Yes!

In the fullness of time,

in resurrection brilliance,

in promised victory!

Christ, the Conquer

exposed, defanged, declawed

the wolves,

Sin lost its power!

Death, its sting!

And phantoms put at bay!

Dawn broke. Christ arose!

The Good Shepherd lives

with rod and staff and powerful promises:

Fear not!

It is done, finished!

I will never leave you!

Sins forgiven! Shame erased!

Life everlasting!

Grace and Mercy abound

with an invitation to all!

Come.

Trust.

to the still waters and green pastures.

Ah, all shepherds, we

awed,

strong,

assured,

rejoicing,

at peace with God…

The darkness dispelled!

The wolves exposed!

Yet, like the shepherds, we …

waiting waiting, waiting,

for another dawn.

In the fullness of time

His is the Kingdom, and Power and Glory forever!

Like the shepherds, we …

anxious, waiting,

wrapped in Bethlehem’s darkness

listening for circling wolves…

unseen, lurking, howling,

threatening, fearsome,

snarling…

imagined phantoms of

loss,

impossibilities,

hurt, grief, shame

terrifying death…

Like the shepherds we…

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…

for the dawn.

Have we not hear the angel?

Fear not!

Immanuel!

God is here!

A Savior for all nation!

Redemption! Peace for our souls!

In the fullness of time…

In the stable darkness,

A glimmer of great grace!

A flicker of hope!

Light!

Would the light prevail through

the black, evil night

and hellish fury of

betrayal, agony, cruelty?

a cross?

a tomb?

death?

The flame flickered, dimmed.

The wolves returned!

Ferocious despair, doubt, confusion

Would, could, dawn dawn?

Yes! Yes!

In the fullness of time,

in resurrection brilliance,

in promised victory!

Christ, the Conquer

exposed, defanged, declawed

the wolves,

Sin lost its power!

Death, its sting!

And phantoms put at bay!

Dawn broke. Christ arose!

The Good Shepherd lives

with rod and staff and powerful promises:

Fear not!

It is done, finished!

I will never leave you!

Sins forgiven! Shame erased!

Life everlasting!

Grace and Mercy abound

with an invitation to all!

Come.

Trust.

to the still waters and green pastures.

Ah, all shepherds, we

awed,

strong,

assured,

rejoicing,

at peace with God…

The darkness dispelled!

The wolves exposed!

Yet, like the shepherds, we …

waiting waiting, waiting,

for another dawn.

In the fullness of time

His is the Kingdom, and Power and Glory forever!

A New Life…

Fall colors and tombstones are reminders that “there is a season for every purpose under heaven”. Life is filled with beginnings and endings. Generations of our ancestors have struggled through their personal stories with their hopes and dreams ending up beneath some old oak or maple tree and becoming the poetry of country music. But is there a greater significance to our life spans than becoming a song, a poem, or a short story?

In a world of violence, war, racism, suffering, hunger, materialism and humanism, it is easy to question if God is uninterested in us or if the idea of God is dead. However, the Bible takes a different viewpoint! God is not dead. He remains caring, sovereign and providential despite humanity’s free will debacle. It is humanity that is dead, buried in confusion, doubt, and selfish immoral behavior, lost in trespasses and sins. Humanity is so disconnected from God that it needs spiritual resuscitation.

Faith is what relieves the tension between holy God and unholy mankind. Belief connects us with God and pleases Him. (Hebrews 11:6) That is why Jesus’ passion on the cross and his triumphant resurrection are crucial. Assuming the guilt and shame of humanity’s rebellious, willful, unrighteous nature, Christ paid the price of death and condemnation which we deserve. Instead, he gives us resurrection hope. In repentance and belief, we are forgiven and gifted an eternal relationship with God. We become alive because of Christ!

God is not dead, and we need not be either!

Journeying Through the Mist

The day was promising, the forecast favorable. The sun was burning it’s way through lifting fog. All information pointed to a good sailing day. The Captain gave the order. So the sails were hoisted.

Decision making is a familiar, daily but complicated process although it may be either instantaneous or prolonged depending on urgency or need for deliberation. We assess conditions and possibilities and then move ahead with plans which we hope will lead to best outcomes. Similarly, we formulate world views based on knowledge, observations, and experience. These ideas about origins, purpose, and meaning help determine attitudes, the way forward, and outcomes.

Life’s awesome mysteries spark curiosity and a search for interlocking pieces of the cosmic puzzle. Depending upon on one’s perspective or bias, evidences may lead to different conclusions or theories about God, us, and the world we inhabit However, making deductions requires accepting concepts which are not fully substantiated by the material world or our physical senses. So, “faith” enters the world view picture.

Faith is a very personal matter; we all live with some beliefs that are difficult to fully substantiate. Whether atheist, agnostic, a follower of Islam, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Christian, a Jew, or a disciple of some other religion, one’s religious beliefs or anti-religious beliefs are based on facts, inferences, theories, and specific writings believed to be profound or profound and sacred. From these we divide ourselves into different faith traditions and label ourselves as humanists, conservatives or liberals.

If God exists, we can only know about Him from ways He reveals Himself to us. Christianity accepts evidences from creation, history, inspired revelation, and Jesus Christ.

Creation gives clues not only to God’s existence but to His nature: “His invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature” (Romans 1:20)

Scripture is uniquely powerful. Through divine revelation, historical narrative, and generations of wonderful biographies of courageous men and women of faith, God’s presence, power, providence, and sovereignty are revealed. Furthermore, Scripture holds moral authority, discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart, is the power of God for salvation, and is profitable for teaching, reproof and training in righteousness (Hebrews 4:22) (Romans 1:16) (2Timothy 3:16)

Christianity may put all its eggs in one basket but not without reason. There are consistent eye witness accounts which bring great credibility to claims of and about Christ, who is “the image of God” and in him was the “fullness of God.” (Colossians 1) His miraculous incarnation, his perfect life and teachings, his miracles, his crucifixion for humanity’s sins, his death defying resurrection, and his astounding ascension were attested to by many:

After Christ’s resurrection, the Apostle John wrote: “now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

Dr. Luke reported that Christ “presented himself alive (to his disciples) after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)

The Apostle Peter spoke of believers having a “living hope” because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3)

And the Apostle Paul confirmed the reality of the resurrected Christ to the Corinthians in his affirmation of the wonderful truth of an amazing gospel: ”For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Faith need not be blind or devoid of logic or reason. However, it pushes beyond the boundaries of physical proof or full explanation. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 (NLT2) For Christians that confidence lies in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Believing faith in Christ trusts that God exists, is sovereign and of good character, that He desires to redeem us through the atoning work of Christ, and that He works providentially for our good and bestows spiritual blessings on those who choose Him. “For without faith it is impossible to please Him for He is a rewarder of those that believe Him” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith bestows righteousness and peace: “ …we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Genesis 15:6) (Romans 5:1 (NLT2)

Circumstances will unexpectedly blow in and obscure and mystify our course; the waters ahead will not always be calm or clear; the unspeakable and unexplainable will happen; fear and doubts will creep in. But faith looks at the evidences, sees beyond the seeable, trusts in a good and just God’s redemption and providence, and moves purposefully onward. Such is the mysterious earthly journey of the Christian. It is one of faith not sight. The righteous shall live by faith” because Christ made those who believe “right with God”. (Romans 1:16-17 ) (1Corinthians 1:30)

An old hymn champions the way ahead: “Standing on the promises that can not fail/ When the howling storms of doubts and fear assail/ by the living Word of God I shall prevail/Standing on the promises of God.”

The Grace of Sun and Rain

As this storm blows across the Camden hills and down Penobscot Bay, rain will fall indiscriminately on those in its path, a reminder of a statement Christ made in his inaugural sermon: “God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5-7)

Without context, that thought may sound uncaring, calculating, or even presumptuous. However in its context, Jesus’ words are a snippet from a beautiful message on God’s nature and how one can live righteously with love for God and grace toward all. His comments about rain and sun refer to God’s common grace. We all benefit from the sun’s light and warmth and are refreshed and nourished by rain. Without them earth would not produce fruits.

Similarly, God is an equal opportunity God. He offers redemption to all peoples. Every one, “good” or evil, needs God’s saving mercy because we all have moral failures of thought, attitude and behaviors. Unless one chooses to be, nobody is outside the bounds of God’s redemptive grace which transforms broken, self centered natures and minds into images of God.

That begs the question of what we should be like? What is God like? Jesus taught that the Law helps explain the just and holy nature of God and His requirements for our holiness. The Moral Law is about reverencing and loving God with all one’s being; it’s about character development and about placing the interests of others before one’s own. Some perceive this moral code as being restrictive while, in truth, it’s only restrictions are the fulfillments of authentic love! When the Law’s foundational purposes are understood, God’s principles for living explain the importance of God in life, how to avoid trouble, how to respond to hurt and mistreatment without acting in vengeance or bitterness, how to forgive and not return evil with evil but with good, how to bless and to pray for enemies and not curse them, and how to live humbly in God’s image. (Matthew 5-7)

Jesus explained that the “Thou shalt not(s)” in the Law lead to healthy relationships. The moral code is not about self righteous, exemplary behavior through rule keeping. That concept leads to self congratulatory arrogance. The Law shows us who we are or are not; it humbles us before God’s holiness and shines a light on our weaknesses, on our inability to be morally pure, and on our need for forgiveness. It directs us to Christ, who as a perfect sacrifice paid the penalty for our transgressions because he loves all souls even praying for forgiveness for powerful adversaries who perpetrated the evil of murdering him.

If “God is love” and if we are to be like God, we must live the incarnational, humble,and sacrificial life of Christ, who showed the meaning of love and compassion, how to live prayerfully in obedience to God’s purposes, how to put others first, how to forgive deep hurts and to nurture or to turn around difficult relationships,

To be like God requires living the grace of sun and rain, living intentionally with integrity and charity and as a blessing to all others. God’s love is “made complete” in those those who love Him. (1John4:12)

Catching Sight of Grace…

In Psalm 19, the Psalmist compares the created heavens and sacred Scripture as unique and powerful revelations of God’s magnificence and loving care. The heavens touch the soul without sound or words; Scripture enlightens the mind and revives the soul with God’s words.

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.
Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair.
They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Portions of Psalm 19:1-14 (NLT2)

Our songster was humbled by an awesome view of God’s glory, by His “eternal power and divine nature”, and by self revelation through God’s “instructions”, “decrees”, and “commandments” which give “insight into living”. Creation and Scripture make us aware of God’s character, His magnificent grace, and His loving soul-care. The Psalmist had discovered the joy of living an obedient, repentant life within God’s purposes and guidance. He understood that God’s sovereign principles for living are perfect and just.

Fortunately, creation and Scripture have never stopped speaking. They continue to minister to us. It is a matter of whether we see God’s “grace” in them and listen to what they say to us.

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens…When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:1-4)

“ Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:89, 105)

Amen…