God works through really imperfect people
Thursday, Sept. 24
Genesis 19:30 – 21:21 Read it here Listen to it here
Somehow the myth developed in modern culture that Christian belief is rooted in a naive, sanitized understanding of human nature. I don’t know where that thought comes from, but it doesn’t come from anyone who has ever read the Bible.
Lying, drunkenness, incest, jealousy and child abandonment all figure into today’s story—and all of those are from people we count as heroes and role models of our faith.
There are a lot of reasons we study the Bible, but one that never gets enough attention is the fact that knowing the stories of those we hold up as heroes shows us how ridiculous it is to fall into believing “God couldn’t love me if he knew what I have really done or thought.”
We imagine that the sins God can forgive are those along the lines of saying a swear word or telling someone that what they’re wearing looks good when it doesn’t. But believing that God can only forgive inconsequential offenses underestimates the depth of his love and trivializes his grace.
Yes, God calls us to obedience and to a standard of loving righteousness that is far beyond what we could ever dream of accomplishing, at least under our own power. But the Bible is littered with example after example of God loving and making use of people who have failed him repeatedly and terribly.
We live in a day when people outside the Christian faith often hold to contradictory standards, claiming on the one hand that right and wrong are outdated concepts, while at the same time denying the possibility of repentance or forgiveness. Some sins are celebrated in the name of tolerance, while others demand exclusion from polite society even if the sin was committed many years ago and the person has repented and lived blamelessly since.
The Bible makes it painfully clear that human nature is a messy mix of sin and obedience to God. It is this nature that makes the life of Jesus so exceptional, and makes his gift of cleansing us from both the guilt and the bondage of sin so marvelous.
Abraham has shown distrust of God at times. Both he and Sarah lied about their relationship out of fear. Even so, God showed himself to be faithful. “Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.”
Thursday meditation
Proverbs 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Prayer focus
May I live long and well, Lord. Grant me peace in my soul.
– Rev. Mark Fleming