e-vo for week of October 7

Dear e-votees-

God’s word is living and active--powerful and dangerous. It tells of Jesus. Jesus who was living and active on this earth some 2,000 years ago. Jesus who is living and active this day in the world and in the lives of the believers. There is still an invitation extended to approach the throne of grace with boldness. This day mercy and grace are extended to us and to all in our times of need.

May we live today like we believe these things and that our salvation depends on them—for in fact they do.

Peace,
Karl

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Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:12-16, NRSV

When I was in the 2nd grade I decided to explore the center of a golf ball (I heard there was a core like a super ball) with my jackknife. I started to carve away the outer layer. The knife stuck. It then came loose rather suddenly. The knife blade skimmed around the surface of the golf ball I was holding until it came to rest embedded in my non-carving hand. I lost knife privileges for a while.

Our curiosity can take us down some bad paths and leave us wounded (apparently it can be lethal to those of the feline persuasion as well). We might engage in things that can seem playful or innocuous but later realize what we have done. Sometimes the mistake isn’t realized until the trip to the emergency room or the irretrievable crisis.

One of the ways we can help avoid such trips and such situations is to immerse ourselves in God’s words. Our naïve understanding of the things in which we dabble can be developed as we ponder God’s plans for us and how we are to be in the world. The words of scripture—particularly the law—act as a guide and a curb to our more base and more self-seeking behaviors.

To be sure lots of folks who know and love the Bible make many missteps. But if they have pored over the Bible they know that God loves all sorts of people who should know better but do otherwise—Adam, Eve, Cain, Abraham, David, Peter, Saul (aka Paul) and ______________ (your name here).

Jesus knows about our jackknifes and our golf balls—times where curiosity and naïveté get the best of us. Jesus knows all about our times when our descent into sin is much more deliberate and intentional. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and our struggles. Grace and mercy are available to us and to all. This is not a free pass. We still walk out the consequences of our choices. I can show you the scar in my hand to this day from my golf ball surgery. I bet we could spend a long time swapping scar stories—most of which aren’t so easy to point to in the flesh. But Jesus’ grace and mercy are a balm for our scars.

There is help for us in our times of need. And we would do well to help others find that balm as well. We are all walking wounded—and some of us know the Great Physician. Let’s not keep that a secret.


Jesus, you are the healer of our every ill. Help us draw near to you. Help us draw near your living and active word. Do your work in us. Help us do your work in the world—all to your glory. Amen.