Sunday, December 19, 2021
‘Matt’s Mess’
Left for years after Matt is Seen Here No More.
Where Did His Journey Take Him?
Our Journey As God’s People Is Blessed
Even if we seem lost to ourselves, or even to others.
Psalm 105:3
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Words of Grace For Today
Last words.
What would be your last words to your best friend?
To your child?
To your spouse?
To your spouse who gaslit you and lied to send you to jail?
To the contentious congregation that never could stop fighting among themselves?
To the saints who gave you faith, nurtured it in you, and inspired you to sacrifice everything to do the good and right things in every situation that you could, even for your mentally ill, abusive, and pedophile spouse?
Paul wrote to that contentious congregation in Corinth his last words, pointing them once again to Christ: Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
What else could he write after so many years of writing and hoping that they would realize the treasure they were for each other, gifts to each other from God?
Life of faith in Jesus the Christ is often referred to as a life seeking the Lord. This only somewhat apt description recognizes that we never can grasp hold of and possess the Lord, or even be guaranteed that we have ‘arrived’ at knowing that we are God’s alone. Since we continue to sin all our lives, having embraced our faith, or rejected the gifts of God, we cannot point to a perfected way of living. We always continue on, ‘seeking the Lord.’ This is only partial correct in that it puts the onus of ‘finding the Lord’ on us. In truth our journey is a gift from God. Our effort at ‘seeking’ has little to do with the outcome of our journey. Hubris ruled as we are we like to claim that our own efforts determine our faith journey and all of our lives. It is simply not so.
All we are that is good, is a gift from God, including our faith.
Knowing and trusting this we can indeed rejoice in the journey that God gives to us, no matter how obstacle ridden, or unfruitful, or hopeless it may seem to us along the way.
Rejoice!
This we can do because God acts for us, first. Then we get to respond with all our hearts of faith that God has given to us. This is God’s way in God’s creation for God’s people.
Rejoice!