1 August 2014 - living god

1 August 2014 - living god

Perhaps they will listen and turn back, 
each from his evil way,
so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them
for their evil deeds.

Even when he speaks hard words to his people the LORD does it because he wants to save us. He gives us his law and the words of the prophets constantly so that we don't end up in ruins like the city of Shiloh.  He doesn't want to see us desolate and deserted.  In fact, he wants us to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people set apart to proclaim his marvelous deeds (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9).  He wants fellow citizens with the saints, not strangers or sojourners (cf. Eph. 2:19).  He wants to build us into a temple of living stones (cf. 1 Pet 2:5).  He wants to make us a new creation (cf 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15)!

But hard words are hard to hear.  Duh, right?  But we don't completely shut our ears.  We are lukewarm, keeping his words at a distance.  Even if we don't go quite as far as saying, "You must be put to death!" to the one who speaks them, we still don't let them have their full effect in us. We find excuses for why we don't have to take these words as seriously as we know we should.

“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.

Even the mighty deeds that surround Jesus aren't enough for us when we don't like his teaching. We let our past experiences determine our future expectations.  This, we think, is the Jesus we know.  When he starts to do things that are surprising, when he says, "See, I am doing a new thing" (cf. Isa 43:19) we turn our attention from the living God to the static Jesus of our memories.  This is just a defense mechanism against the change and repentance toward which we are called.  But if we indulge it we will find that "he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith."  We are the native places of Jesus now.  He lives in us (cf. Joh. 14:23).  We must be vigilant and attentive to him lest we mistake our memories for genuine relationship.

If we embrace the zeal that Jeremiah shows we will keep the relationship genuine.  If we listen to the words God speaks and "omit nothing" he will be able to give us the transformation he desires us to have.

Since for your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.

Repentance is hard because we have to let go of who we were.  Not only that, it is hard because who we become is set apart from the world.  The world doesn't know what to make of us.  We have to be willing to live lives which are unashamed.  We have to be willing to bear insults for the kingdom.  Hard?  For sure.  OK, it's actually impossible.  But with God all things are possible (cf Mat. 19:26, Luk. 1:37).  So let us ask God to keep us attentive to his presence in the hear and now.  Let us ask him to purify our expectations so that he is free to do new things and mighty deeds in our midst.

But I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.