Dearest e-votees-
Day thirty-two of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:
Peace,
Karl
--------------
Day 32 Readings: 2 Chronicles 7:10-23:15
Our readings for today continue to detail the kingdoms from the end of Solomon's reign until the beginning of Joash's reign. We continue to see the fickle hearts of those appointed to love God and serve the people. God's hand continues to work among even the unwilling. Terrible struggles and fates fall to some.
Throughout there is a tendency for people to pull away from God's time-tested provision and care and strike out on one's own. The kings act like well-cared for teenagers who declare "I didn't ask to be born into this house, you know! I'll be fine all on my own!" But they never are.
How about us? How many of us have been so richly provided for by our parents and by God. We have had all that we need and much of what we want. The patterns of how to continue in good standing are clearly spelled out. But in some form of adolescent rebellion we decide we want more or different or just to be left alone. To our diminishment God has been known to grant that demand.
But Jesus' story of the prodigal son (which is really much more about a prodigal father aka a prodigal God) shows us God's true heart. God waits on the porch for us to come to our senses and come back home. God still longs to run up the driveway, hold our heads to God's chest and say "Rejoice with me, my child who left has come home!" May we all learn to trust God as if our very life depended on it--which, in fact, it does.
God, help us to come home. Teach us to shun self-reliant pride and lean into your arms of mercy, grace and forgiveness. Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment