“If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God’s glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.” – Martin Luther

This is a very solid reminder of what grace is and how important living transparent lives are. Luther challenges us to be “Bold” in our sin, not to disregard it but to break from it. We are freed from sin and it’s consequences through Christ yet sin is still a struggle for us because we are human. Our freedom is in our hearts where  the Holy Spirit resides replacing our old desires and repairing the damage that is left there. So how do we sin boldly but not take advantage of grace? Simple we live! If we are truly repentant sinners while we struggle with the sins of our past they will become less and less. Thus our boldness to live in the world is not match by our boldness to not be of the world. Luther says God does not save imaginary sinners because we have to real with ourselves and acknowledge that we are broken. It is our job to take that sin to God but leave it there, no longer carry it. Christianity is not about sin management. It is a about freedom from that which keeps us in bondage! The reason Luther tells us to be bold is that we should live our lives with out fear and walk in the presence of God being free to go anywhere. We are to seek the presence of the Lord with even a greater boldness!

So what is we fall? What if our boldness catches us slippin? This is where we need other Christians to help us back on our feet. The idea of accountability scares us because we think of punishment but that is not the case. That is based in fear. 1 John 4:18  ”There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” That is the love of God, it is without fear of punishment. Our repentance is not out of guilty penance but of honor to our God. When we walk in faith our eyes should always be focused on Christ and where his Spirit guides us. Though human we will fall into temptation and sin, that is the hard part of living. The good thing is we are forgiven and already set free so the sins that we think have us in bondage really do not. Those sins are not our problem anymore so we have to get to a point where we truly believe that in order to walk away for it. This does not come from guilt but from understanding the character of God. Jesus defeated sin so when we are still trapped in it there is a way out but sometimes it is hard to see through our own lens. When we look through God’s eyes we see the freedom, the grace and the redemption that is already on us. Luther says in this sermon that even if you sinned 1000 a day you could not lose the salvation and grace that is on you. This is beauty of God, his gift cannot be re-gifted. We can’t give back what we did nothing to receive in the first place. All God hopes is that we understand that and walk in it before this world drags us under with its sinful death. Paul sums up our security in Christ in Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that 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.”

That is our security so live your lives in the world just strive to not be of it. Be accountable to someone who knows you well enough to not let you hurt yourself further. Do not wallow in guilt but pick up your head and walk in freedom. To often Christians, we live life like we are in a cell built of our sins and guilt and we just rot there. The reality of this senario is the cell door is open and there is nothing keeping us there but our own self image and fear of walking free. Embrace the freedom that is found in Christ, it is yours!

Amen.

God So Loved Us, So Let’s Go Love The World.

I heard a sermon today at church that was what I needed. The subject was worship and what does it mean to do so? The point that was made was our worship is our time to connect and give honor to our Lord. It is not about feeling, music, liturgy, style, or method but about a sincere effort to give God glory. That is the point! Us giving an effort to put aside our own distractions and focus on just being in the presence of God. This is important to be reminded of.

The other part of the sermon was a bit more challenging because it was dealing with what Christians are here to do and what is God’s role in that? Of course the Great Commission is the easy answer. The hard answer or idea that was presented was that God is not focused on the needs of mankind but his concern is the passion and faith of his saints, the church. This means that when God sent Christ to us that was in response to the needs of humanity to obtain freedom, redemption and salvation. When Jesus died that job was finished. Sin was paid for thus giving mankind a way out. God met the needs of man, all of it through Christ. So what does God do now? This is where the challenging part came into the equation. God is not focused on meeting the needs of humanity now, because that is the churches job. We now have the Holy Spirit to guide us into lives of service to the poor, the widow, the orphan and all mankind. What God wants from us is to see our passion for him in our lives and our faith in his son Jesus. The reason for this is that Jesus came and essentially set the captives free now we are left to continue retelling the story and serving people in love. The goal to show the world Jesus and the love of the father.

Perhaps this sounds weird but to me it makes sense. When  asked  ”why is God not solving poverty, sickness and all the bad in the world.” Our usual answer if we are honest is “I don’t know but I have faith.” What if the answer was God did the hard part by sacrificing his Son for our greatest need now it is our job to work on the issues facing our world. We are the hands and feet of God on earth. Our mission is to love the world with a supernatural love that can heal, restore, and reconcile the world with God. The Holy Spirit is how we manage to go forth equipped for this. God is not going to force his hand so he relys on us through our faith and passion to carry out such a task. So while their is poverty, hunger, disease and so on in the world, it is not God’s fault. It is first off the result of sin in the world that has led to such dire circumstances but the job of service fall at the feet of us, the church. We are called to love the world with a perfect love. We are called to serve people, forgive one another and love those around us like Jesus did. My hope is that I continue to seek God’s face and invite him further into my life. I want to be a man of passion and faith but that passion is to serve God and that faith is in his promises. Finally I want to worship with a genuine heart that is focused on my encountering God in a real way. May we all continue to seek the Lord in our lives. God loved us that he gave us his son to set us free, now lets live in that freedom so we can love the world!

Amen

A Political Post

I am not a very political person. My beliefs on politics are firmly planted in my faith. There are many Christians and non-Christians who disagree with my views and stance on political thing but I simply follow a conviction. There was a time when I was very political and very leftist in my beliefs. Now I am not saying I have gone far right but through prayer and Biblical study I found my way to a middle ground where rational thought trumps my want to belong to a “side”. I do not vote because of my own convictions that are somewhat based on my own tendency to be dragged down by all this political non-sense and also partly due to my Anabaptist-ish theology. I am not a true Anabaptist because of a few variables. I am simply a Christian.

I gave up my political involvement when I started in ministry over 10 years ago. Now since then I have voiced my opinions and even was down right mean about a few of our leaders, of which I was wrong to be mean spirited. The reason the quit voting and caring as much about the process was because I was leading people in need of God’s love and his healing. I did not see a place for politics in that. I saw that as a leader I needed to be impartial to those I helped when it came to politics, thus I abstained. Soon I began to read in the Bible things that made me feel perhaps God never wanted us to have so much involvement. Now that is my opinion so please do not take that as claiming fact. The first place I was challenged was in 1 Samuel 8 in which God’s people ask for a king. This doesn’t sit well with Samuel but he took it to God and God answered with “Let them have their king but let me tell you what will happen.” So the chapter has this list of what will happen if God’s people allow a king to rule over them instead of allowing God to be their leader. Basically God tells them that things are gonna change, families will be torn apart and over all it is going to get harder. This concludes with verse 18 “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.” Pretty sobering words and yet the people then did not heed the warning and obviously we have learned time and again that we often ignore God when we want something bad enough.

Then I read Romans chapter 13. Here Paul tells the Christians of Rome to pay their taxes, be good citizens and respect the authority because they have the right to rule. This is an often argued verse for everything from peace, just war theory, paying taxes, and yes political involvement. Now the way I see this passage is that Paul is looking out for the Roman Christians. He knows their is a lot of distrust, frustration and fear towards the Roman authority. He realizes that Christians are not that popular with the Jewish leaders or with the Romans. Paul’s one fear is that their might be a revolt being planned by the Christians or at least some civil unrest. This is why he points out that the government has the right to use the sword against man to keep order. He is explaining that if you go against te leadership or break the laws there is a punishment that you won’t escape and should expect it. I also take from this that even though I believe in a life of non-violence and I am opposed to war the governments or nations do not have to adhere to that. My view is one based on Christ’s teaching and convictions in my heart, the nations is based on governing, protection and whatever else they get themselves into war over. I choose to go the peace route. Paul seemed to agree and was just reminding these brother and sisters that they have obligations to the authority, taxes and laws, but they also have obligations to Christ, loving their neighbor and loving God. Therefore the chapter begins with a very solid warning to be good citizens and not shake the boat to much and ends with a lecture on what it mean to follow Christ. He explains that paying our debts and being peaceful people is loving our neighbors because if you harm your neighbor that is not love. Paul concludes by urging Christians to live humbly and opposite of the standard of the world because we must be set apart.

So these two verses really challenged my thinking on politics as well as what I desire in my heart. So as the election hoopla picks up and the mudslinging gets worse I try to stay positive. I see Christians taking shots, name calling and being immature. These are people on both sides of the coin too. There is trend lately that only right wing conservatives are misrepresenting Christ in politics and that is simply wishful thinking. I have seen just as much venom, hatred and fear mongering from the left as I have from the right when it comes to Christians. Both sides use their faith as a selling point or at least a platform, which bothers me. It often makes me so mad but then I go back to the Bible and look at 1 Timothy 2:1-3 which gives my clarity on how to handle it all. It says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” So I pray for the politicians, for the Christians on both sides, and for myself that I fight off my cynicism. Do I think it is wrong for Christians to vote or be politically active? No, but for me it is. I also feel Christians should proceed with extreme caution. Do be led astray by the use of our faith to get votes nor be taken up by promises that seem a bit out of reach. Pray for the leaders in office and forgive them of their short comings, bless them. In the same way pray for and bless everyone both friend and foe.

Finally I would like to say that though I do not vote I am thankful that I was born and raised in America. It is a blessing to not live in a land of persecution, famine or war. At the same time my true allegiance lies within the Kingdom of God and solely to Jesus Christ. I do not think the world is ending, Tim Tebow is divine or that Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ, that is foolish. What I do believe is that we live in a fallen and very humanistic world. Our society in the States is one that is based on personal freedom but is also our downfall maybe our reliance on self. Our selfishness is a result of the sin in the world but it is that selfishness that defines much of the issues in our country. So no I don’t vote and even as a pastor I do not think we have to have a Christian in political leadership. I feel that it would be a very hard thing for a Christian to do, and many have done it, and are still doing it. My fear is that when it comes down to conviction of loving your enemies or forgiving one another there could be a problem. So again I pray for the Christians who are in politics. Lastly I want to plead that we keep the politics out of our churches, pulpits and services. If you are a pastor or church member do not let a politician campaign within a worship service. I also would say to any pastor that I caution endorsing a candidate publicly because that could have a polarizing affect on the congregation. Remember we are called to lead but also serve. Our opinions do not matter as much as our dedication to those we serve daily. Our preferences are second to our obedience to God and our appointment as shepherds. Let’s lead the way Christ did and continue the great of the Gospel. As long as Christ comes first for the Christian everything else should be secondary.

Amen

Goodbye 2011! My Year In Review

2011 has been a very hard year for my family and me and I wanted to write one big blog to talk about it, then put it behind me. The year started the way the previous ended with me being sick with pneumonia. I would be sick from November 2010-February of 2011. In that time I had Bronchitis 4 times and Pneumonia 3 times. It was a brutal way to start the New Year but I eventually recovered. In the midst of the sickness I did stay as active as I could trying to run be a co-pastor of our church and traveling to speaking events. In January my wife Hannah and myself were ordained in Nashville by Anchor Missions USA and had a very blessed experienced at the annual gathering of our churches and missions. Shortly after that I traveled to the snowy Pocono Mountains to speak at a youth retreat. It was a very good but trying weekend as I battled a fever and my sickness. The frigid air made it hard to breath but God gave me strength to deliver three talks in three days. I am very grateful to Brooklawn Methodist Youth Fellowship for giving me such an awesome opportunity to share the Gospel with their kids. The end of winter was spent with me recovering in bed for a few weeks.

I literally spent the rest of January and February in the house, which led to a lot of depression, anxiety and weight gain. It was a very trying time for me because I had not been really sick in many years. By March I was healing up and able to venture out of my house more and more. During this time our church, Hold Fast Ministries, was going through tough times. Our congregation had dropped off to just a handful of people that were trying to keep us a float. Our weekly Pub Bible Study at McGrath’s Pub in Harrisburg was no more due to lack of interest. It seemed like a good time to stop that and focus on the Sunday services. Our team of leaders labored hard and tried to keep us going then in mid March we were hit with a series of of things that led to our ultimate decision to close the doors. First of all Sunday’s were sparsely attended and our staff was often the only ones left. Then our worship leader felt called to step down and attend another church, to which we gave him our blessing. Shortly after our remaining staff all seemed to be called to different areas outside of Hold Fast. Then the nail in the coffin came when the pastor of the United Methodist Church we rented our space in left under trying circumstances and the new pastor wanted more money from us to keep meeting there. That was too much for us to handle so we made a group decision to let Hold Fast go and move forward. It was a very hard thing to do for me as I had labored over the ministry for four years seeing it blossom from nothing and then ultimately fall apart in the end. I learned a lot and I did mourn the loss of it for a time. In the end though I felt like a weight was lifted off my back and I could breath. I had countless opportunity in front of me and wanted to see what I could do with it. I decided to focus on writing and speaking more.

I was able to speak was for a dear friend Pat Green who runs a church and youth outreach in the suburbs of Chicago. They meet in the small working class town of Lockport Illinois. This community of folks was what I needed during the rough time I was going through. Pat and I have known each other for years through online conversations and interaction. He had been an active member of the Revolution messageboards back when I was still helping out there. We were finially able to meet face to face at the Outlaw Preacher Reunion, a conference held in Memphis in December of 2010. I was a speaker there and Pat came to fellowship, learn, and build relationships. So we decided I should come to Chicago and vist with his group, especially his kids at YASO. The groups name stands for Young Adults Speak Out! Pat provides these youth, many of which come from broken homes, poverty, and tough situations, a place to have a voice. It is a mix of group therapy, bible study, and a pizza party held twice a month in Lockport. So I spoke for about 30-40 kids the evening I was there and it was a huge blessing. My heart broke as I heard stories about their situations. I spoke about my own struggles in my youth and how I found a way out through my faith. Some of the kids really grabbed my heart not only because of their situation but by their determination to overcome it. One young woman in particular named Kelly has never left my prayers or thoughts. I won’t go into detail but I believe she is going to be more than she dreams she could ever be one day. My life was changed and my heart was filled after my visit to this community.

After this I returned to Harrisburg encouraged but also very uncertain of my future. I had run Hold Fast full time for four years and prior to that I had been in full time ministry since 2000. I was 35 years old and looking at a blank page so to speak. Though I was known as a minister around town, in the pubs, and in places online I had no real vocational ideas. I was growing anxious and depressed due to my lack of inspiration. My social life was dwindling and my wife was getting worried about me. I had a few good things going for me as I was still writing a quarterly column in the Brethren In Christ newsletter “Shalom” and I had a built relationships with fellow pastors and others on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. I was able to still minister there even if I had no place to do so at home. I also was still active in the bar scene of Harrisburg where I been hopefully positive force for a few years now. I was just missing something and looking for a sign I guess?

In May I was able to visit my family on Mothers Day but it also was a sad occasion as we lost my Grandpa Ritch who had lived a long and wonderful life. He was a good man, WWII veteran and an amazing cook. It was a time of mourning but more so a time to remember a man we loved dearly. I also was able to meet my newly born nephew Sammy who definitely brought joy into our lives.

Shortly after my return from Ohio I was offered an opportunity to work at a local tattoo shop with a friend who just needed a hand organizing his appointments and office stuff. I started there and during the next few months I was happy, busy, and building new friendships. It wasn’t ministry or what I really wanted but it was something to do. It was a good few months but circumstances beyond our control led to the shop having to close and Frank, my boss, moved to a new location. I decided to not follow him there and began to refocus my attention on ministry.

Shortly before the shop closed down I was visiting my friends in Nashville when I received a call early in the morning that my friend and former church member Mike had taken his own life. It was a very big blow to me as I had known of his troubles and spent countless hours trying to help him. He even had left me a message the night he died but I did not hear it until the next day. I was devastated but also felt that perhaps he had found peace? I came home in time for the funeral and memorial services. It was a very tough time for everyone that knew him and I spent a lot of time just trying to be a place for people to come and get comfort. I felt I still had a pastoral role in the community just not in a formal sense. I had built so many relationships in Harrisburg that were based in the love of Christ. The people I know are well aware of my faith and devotion to God but also my willingness to go into the places most clergy wont ever be seen. This situation in which a loved on takes their own life put a lot of what I do in perspective. I vowed to be available but also to allow myself time to grieve. I was great at the first and not very good at the second. I think that is the problem with all pastors.

After summer came and went I started fall sick again with Bronchitis. I pulled through it well and have been healthy since! Hannah and I also started going to a new church, which has been awesome. We began to attend Cornerstone Fellowship, which actually meets in the same Methodist Church we used to have Hold Fast services in. We are familiar with the folks there and find it very encouraging. The Pastor has had allowed us to serve the church and recognizes our pastoral gifts. I have been very happy in this new setting being able to worship, be fed, and build new relationships with Christian folks. We are still active in our old haunts but this gives us some stability to. There are families, elders, and people to whom we can share our struggles as well as our triumphs with. I also traveled to speak in Redlands California for my good friend Eric Gregson and his church Tithemi. That was a blessing for me as I love the church there as well as the friends I have made over the years. I also had the pleasure to visit a small church called Mountain Top Fellowship in Newport PA that took me back to our own beginnings in ministry. Having to be resourceful and persevere through all kinds of struggle yet remaining faithful. They are a true blessing to the community they serve. I celebrated my 36th birthday on Oct. 28th that ended with me feeling down but I awoke to a snowstorm on the 29th, which was rare and wonderful. I have always loved the snow because it calms me down and I needed it.

The final two months of 2011 were good for the most part. I was able to see the Foo Fighters in concerts with my friend Andrew in November. It was hands down the best concert I have ever seen. Then we had a nice Thanksgiving holiday and overall an uneventful holiday season. Christmas was split between Hannah’s family here in Harrisburg and my family in Cleveland Ohio. We just returned last night form a good, relaxing visit with my family. Now it is the last week of 2011 and I must say I am ready for it to be over. It was a hard year, toughest one in a awhile for me, but 2012 hold promise. I have a an opportunity to possibly serve as a pastor again in a weekly service, I still have some writing opportunities, there are some ideas that I have to help the community and of course I still have my health, my family, my friendships, and my beautiful wife. Most importantly I still have my faith that my Lord Jesus Christ is real and the Holy Spirit continues to guide me. I believe God promises us things and does have a plan so I rest on that. I also understand that I have been given gifts and a call to serve those who I encounter with the love of Christ so I will try my best t do that even more in 2012.

May your year be filed with joy and your homes with blessings.

Jesus Divided A World To Save It

I recently was studying the Bible and came across Luke 12:49 which reads “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!” This one line is a powerful statement from Jesus himself about his reasons for coming to Earth. As a writer I find this passage very gripping, haunting, and exciting. Out of context this could mean so many things to so many people. In context however it is a warning and a declaration. Jesus is telling his followers that he has come to disrupt the systems and norms of the world. The passage goes on to explain in verse 50-52: “I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.” First he gives a glimpse of his future describing it as a “terrible baptism of suffering” which is a beautifully poetic way of describing his coming death. Jesus also acknowledges his own struggle and hardship of carry the weight of the world on his back and his coming sacrifice. This is a moment where as a reader I sense frustration, anger, and conviction from Christ. He asks a powerful question and gives an even more powerful answer. Jesus exclaims that he did not come to bring peace to the Earth. Instead he came to in his words “divide people”. This does not sound like the Jesus that loves and is gracious does it? Is this the compassionate Lord of our faith?

Before we write Jesus off as a hypocrite and liar let’s read further. In verse 53 he references the Old Testament:

“Father will be divided against son
and son against father;
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother;
and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law”

The original text is found in Micah chapter 7 verse 6. To understand what he is saying here is important to understand the story being told in Micah. Matthew Henry writes in his commentary of Micah 7:1-7:

“The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.”

So this was a time of not only sinfulness but of great burden. Families were suffering and people in general were losing hope. Society was so corrupted that the core of families was dissolving rapidly. The prophet saw nowhere to go but to God for help. This is where Jesus saying he came to set the world on fire comes into play. More so when Jesus exclaims “I wish it were already burning, I think he is saying I wish it hadn’t come to this. Now because of his coming as savior there will be those who follow him to restoration and those who turn away. This will definitely divide friends as well as families. His new way of teaching and his new way of loving is divisive amongst the people. The things Jesus says are radical and to many so explosive that they demand him killed. Christ’s words were not ones of unity t those who opposed him, they were blasphemy. His words were like a declaration of war on the status quo. It is this kind of boldness that indeed would set the world on fire during Jesus’ life and well after. There is violence in his love that is not of flesh and blood but of spiritual consequence.

So what about the loving Christ? Well let’s look back at Micah 7:8-13

 “⁸ Do not gloat over me, my enemies!
For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
⁹ I will be patient as the Lord punishes me,
for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case
and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light,
and I will see his righteousness.
¹⁰ Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side.
They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying,
“So where is the Lord—
that God of yours?”
With my own eyes I will see their downfall;
they will be trampled like mud in the streets.

 ¹¹ In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt,
and your borders will be extended.
¹² People from many lands will come and honor you—
from Assyria all the way to the towns of Egypt,
from Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River,^[a]
and from distant seas and mountains.
¹³ But the land^[b] will become empty and desolate
because of the wickedness of those who live there.”

The prophet is being quite frank here about God’s displeasure with his peoples sinfulness but also about the Lords justice for his children. It is a story of consequence for disobedience followed by a restoration and forgiveness. This is in a sense the very reason Jesus came to be amongst humanity. He made no excuses for our sinfulness but also never once swayed from his mission to restore us. So again we see how he indeed came to set the world a blaze and in that there is inevitable division between those who accept it and those who oppose. Finally as we finish Micah chapter 7 we see the true character of God in verses 14-20:

 

 “¹⁴ O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff;
lead your flock, your special possession.
Though they live alone in a thicket
on the heights of Mount Carmel,^[c]
let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead
as they did long ago.

 ¹⁵ “Yes,” says the Lord,
“I will do mighty miracles for you,
like those I did when I rescued you
from slavery in Egypt.”

 ¹⁶ All the nations of the world will stand amazed
at what the Lord will do for you.
They will be embarrassed
at their feeble power.
They will cover their mouths in silent awe,
deaf to everything around them.
¹⁷ Like snakes crawling from their holes,
they will come out to meet the Lord our God.
They will fear him greatly,
trembling in terror at his presence.

 ¹⁸ Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
¹⁹ Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
²⁰ You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.”

Here we see not only God’s righteousness and justice but his love for his people. In this I see Jesus shining through so brightly. This beautiful passage is a declaration of the promises of God that we are under. It is a story of redemption for the people of God as well as a sign of hope of things to come. The emphasis of this passage is that even though God was disappointed and rightfully so he is a loving father who forgives. Verse 18 describes the character of God and the savior that is Jesus.

Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.

That is the King we serve! That is a true loving God. It is the unfailing love that sets the world a blaze. The end of the chapter tells of the forgiveness and forgetting of sins by our God. He throws the transgressions of our lives into the depths and tramples the sins of our world under his feet. Jesus coming to us was the fulfillment of this prophet’s dream. As he says “You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love, as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.” Thus showing that God has not changed and will not. Jesus was the sacrifice that finished it for all mankind yet in doing so he caused great division amongst the people of the world. His life, death and resurrection have shaken the very core of our worlds religious, political, and social structures. The fire Jesus had hoped to already see burning was henceforth ignited by a supernatural flame. Through his miracles and teaching he unleashed a fury the world had never seen. Finally upon his departure from us he again ignited a fire in the hearts of men that has birthed a kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. That fire is the Holy Spirit and it continues to guide us through our time on this earth where we will no doubt encounter enemies and trials. The world is not united now and it wasn’t in Jesus’ time. His sacrifice united the Kingdom of God through the Holy Spirit but his life, and resurrection also fractured mankind and our systems. It challenged everything that was and is known. It shakes us to our cores. Our beliefs in what is important and our ideas of success are turned upside down. This is not an act of unification but of division. The Christian is challenged by Christ to submit, surrender all, and live opposite of the world’s standards. That has indeed put a wedge between people and even families. Luckily in the Kingdom we in an eternal family and in Christ we find the ultimate reconciliation for those who have been fractured.

Amen.