January 29, 2015-Just or fair?

Romans 9:6-18

6It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, 7and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants; but “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9For this is what the promise said, “About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” 10Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. 11Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, 12not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.” 13As it is written, “I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.”

14What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 17For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

What then are we to say?  This passage is one that I wrestle with.  There is the reminder that God chooses who God chooses.  Is that unjust?  Is God unjust?  

God chooses who God chooses.  I believe that since God is the creator of all, God chooses life, creation, wholeness.  To me that means all.  Now how that plays out or how it looks, I don’t know.  What I do know is that it isn’t up to me to pick and choose who should come.  Is it fair?  I don’t think so, but if God were fair, where would any of us be, honestly?

Instead, we have the promise that nothing, absolutely nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God; the love that God offers us freely.  

As you spend time with God today, offer up confession, those things you have done, and include those that you do not know.  Also confess those things you did not do that in hind sight was a mistake.  Then think on the question… if God was fair……?

Dear God, we give you thanks that you are a just God.  We as humans sometimes take justice into our own hands, thinking we know what you would do.  We condemn others for their behaviors, for their failings, for what we see is wrong.  Justice belongs to you, O God.  As the world suffers and shares the consequences of our sin, we trust that you are in this mess with us, seeking justice. Use us as your instruments of peace and justice, without us condemning each other.  Amen.

January 28, 2015--Calling and Gifts

Mark 3:13-19a

¹³He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, ¹⁵and to have authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); ¹⁷James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, ¹⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.  Then he went home.

What a vast difference in the people Jesus called.  Fishermen, tax collectors, sons of thunder (loud and angry).  God still calls people that are different, who have different life experiences, different gifts.  And they came when he called. 

Jesus then named twelve to be apostles, again, very different from each other.  These were appointed to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons.  

We are called to be disciples, to learn from God.  All of us are called, maybe not all of us sent out to do public proclamation, and not all of us will be healers.  Paul will say that not all disciples will be called to be apostles.  

What are you called to? Teaching? Hospitality? Administration? Healing? Generosity? 

Where are you passions?  What gets you really excited?

Put these two together, along with a need, and you have got the making of a possible calling. 

Wondering what gifts you may be called?  Consider taking the following brief inventory.  God is calling!

http://www.elca.org/en/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Faith-Practices/Assessment-Tools

January 27, 2015-Commitment

Acts 5:33-42

33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35Then he said to them, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. 

37After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!” They were convinced by him, 40and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. ⁴²And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

What was it they heard that so enraged them and they wanted to kill them?  

Peter and John were opening preaching, and the priest and Sadducees recognized them as followers of Jesus.  They ordered them not to preach anymore. Peter and John told them they could not do that, they had to continue speaking.  They were told again to stop speaking but they would not. The priests and Sadducees wanted to punish them, but because of the people around, they let Peter and John go. Many went home to tell what they had heard and began to following their teachings.

Eventually, the high priest took action and arrested Peter and John and put them in prison. But they kept right on speaking in prison and during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors.  Again, Peter and John are brought back, but they say they must obey God rather than human authority.  Now that got them enraged!

Gamaliel, a teacher of the law gets up and speaks about others who commanded followers, when they were gone, so were the followers.  He names some examples.  Gamaliel rationalizes if this is of human origin, it too will pass. If from God, you will not be able to overthrow him, and in fact will be fighting again GOD!  So they brought in Peter and John, did not kill them but had them flogged, and again instructed them to not speak the name of Jesus, and then let them go.  But they kept right no speaking.

I wonder, is our commitment to God, to Jesus as strong.  Is mine?  I don’t like pain, flogging would have done me in—I think I would rather have died.  

Using Gamaliel’s explanation, surely this is of God, for we are here centuries after Peter and John, centuries after those who followed them, and so on.  It is now our call to speak and share, to risk in order to proclaim Jesus in all we do and say.  

Eternal God, you sent your Son to bring life and healing to this broken world.  We love you and we want to share this with others, but there is risk.  Risk of being labeled a Bible beater, a goody two shoes, and for some even the risk of losing our life.  Encourage, in courage us to stay strong, to not let anything get in the way of living our life in you.  Amen