Today's readings are 2 Samuel 7.18-29 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Sam.+7.18-29 ) and 1 Corinthians 10.23-11.16 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+10.23-11.16 ).
What will we do with God's commands today? How do we respond to what our Lord has said? Of course, most of us would readily confess that we should work diligently to do what our Lord has commanded, then should turn to him in repentance and confession when we fail. It's as simple and as difficult as that. But what are we to do with God's commands which are also promises? What do we do with those commands of the Lord which we would usually classify as Gospel statements? Those times when the Lord has commanded something which we can't even attempt to do but which he has promised to do himself? Our Lord and Savior says he will bless us, he will heal us, he will make us live long in the land he gives us, he will meet our every need. These are commands of God as well.
As David has brought the ark of God into Jerusalem, he affirms his trust in the Lord and asks that he should confirm his promises to his people. May the Lord be with you! In this way we are asking that the Lord confirm his promise to his people. But do we expect our Lord's presence in reality? Or are we just saying something. We all know the story of the pastor who walked to the pulpit, tapped the microphone, said, "There's something wrong with this microphone" and heard, "And also with you." When we ask the Lord's blessing, are we just saying words? Or do we mean it and expect it? When we proclaim the Lord's promise to be with his people, are we just saying words? Or do we actually expect that the Lord will be with us until the end of the world? What is our expectation?
Our Lord has commanded his blessing on his presence. He has proclaimed that his people are a holy nation, chosen people, redeemed to him and his purposes. And whether we believe it, whether we expect it, whether we welcome it or not, it is our Lord's command. It will come to pass. The Lord has spoken.
Let us turn to our Jesus in repentance. We have failed. We have tried to trust in our own goodness, our own sufficiency, our own wisdom. We have not seen the true magnitude of God's promises. And through our sinful unbelief we have brought our Lord and Savior to death on our behalf. Let us turn to Jesus in faith, believing that he will indeed forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us turn to Jesus the fulfiller of God's commandments, rejoicing that he has redeemed us and restored us to fellowship with God the Father. God's commands, God's promises, are all fulfilled in Jesus. And He has fulfilled them to bring them to us and to bring us to God.
The Lord be with you.
No comments:
Post a Comment