Proper 19 / Pentecost 17 / Ordinary Time 24
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
-- 1 Timothy 1:13b-14
The clear and undeniable fact is that the church is made up of liars, thieves, adulterers, and hypocrites. Our behavior toward each other is often full of pettiness and small-mindedness. Our attitude toward others is often self-righteous and intolerant. In a corporate sense, we could join with Paul in saying that we are "blasphemers, persecutors, and people of violence." Usually when this is said of us, we grow defensive and want to point out that we are no worse, and often better, than most people. Yet it is only as we lose our defensiveness that we can grasp the truth of the gospel and recognize with Paul that our very weaknesses are the basis of our most powerful witness. It is precisely in us with all of our weaknesses that "Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience."
The ability of Christ to effect salvation through people and churches like ours is demonstration that the power of God is made perfect in our weakness. The very fact that God approved us, like Paul, for God's service is testimony to God's amazing love. This is not a reason for us to continue in our sins, but it is reason for us not to be defensive in confessing them.
To paraphrase Paul, if God can choose scoundrels like us for service to God's cause, then this is an example of hope for the world. When we can freely confess to the struggle that we have had in living up to God's love and how God is working through us despite our weaknesses, others in the world can see hope for themselves as well.
-- 1 Timothy 1:13b-14
The clear and undeniable fact is that the church is made up of liars, thieves, adulterers, and hypocrites. Our behavior toward each other is often full of pettiness and small-mindedness. Our attitude toward others is often self-righteous and intolerant. In a corporate sense, we could join with Paul in saying that we are "blasphemers, persecutors, and people of violence." Usually when this is said of us, we grow defensive and want to point out that we are no worse, and often better, than most people. Yet it is only as we lose our defensiveness that we can grasp the truth of the gospel and recognize with Paul that our very weaknesses are the basis of our most powerful witness. It is precisely in us with all of our weaknesses that "Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience."
The ability of Christ to effect salvation through people and churches like ours is demonstration that the power of God is made perfect in our weakness. The very fact that God approved us, like Paul, for God's service is testimony to God's amazing love. This is not a reason for us to continue in our sins, but it is reason for us not to be defensive in confessing them.
To paraphrase Paul, if God can choose scoundrels like us for service to God's cause, then this is an example of hope for the world. When we can freely confess to the struggle that we have had in living up to God's love and how God is working through us despite our weaknesses, others in the world can see hope for themselves as well.
