2-16-2017

 Good Morning All,

         2 Corinthians 5:18; “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”

     So how do you view the Bible?  How would you describe it?  Over the course of a few weeks, this has been discussed a couple of times.  The gist of the description of the Bible is that it is a morality book.  Within the Bible we read about how we are to live.  We see the rules and then we have the consequences for breaking the rules.  Then Jesus came and he showed us how to do it right.  So now we have the perfect example of how to live and now we need to strive in that direction.  If I am good enough, I get into heaven; if I am not good enough then I don’t.

    This view, though prevalent, really misses the point of the Bible.  The Bible is not about how you act; it is about God’s unending desire to have a loving relationship with us.  The entire story of the Bible is about God seeking us, finding us and then celebrating with us when we are home.  Remember how God sought out Adam after Adam sinned?  This was not a trip to punish, rather it was a trip to offer healing and hope.  Because of sin, Adam had left his perfect relationship with God and threw it away.  Soon the toll of sin would strike at Adam, anger, hatred; frustrations with life, selfishness would consume him and his children.  Soon they would be blind to God seeking to bring them back.

    God tried again at Mt. Sinai where the 10 Commandments were revealed and God explained to them that the life He provided for them, demonstrated by the freeing from slavery and the protection in the wilderness soon fell on deaf ears and only brought about complaining tongues.  God continued to seek but man continued to turn his back.

    So God took the ultimate step; He became human and suffered and died so that we could once again have a glimpse of what we had lost.  He died to take on the sins that are our debt and gave us his righteousness before God.  In this fashion, God reconciled us back to Himself.  We now have the right to be called sons of God.  Even now, even when we are full sons, our heavenly Father waits and watches for us to return from our prodigal trips when He celebrates with all in heaven our return.  The story of the Bible is of a love that knows no bounds and shows no limits.

    You and I receive that love.  You and I reap the harvest of mercy unmeasured and grace that knows no end.  God’s love for us is real and deep.  He continually seeks after us, continually seeking to heal our hurts and sorrows.  He comes to you in his Word and sacrament to nourish you and to strengthen your heart, enliven your spirit and to comfort your fears.  The Bible is not about telling you how to live; it is about telling you how you are loved.

Father, your love knows no end.  Keep me as your child.  Keep me in your loving embrace that I may never lose hope.  Keep the devil away that I may always know your peace.  Be with those who are struggling with life.  Send your Spirit to comfort them and lift them up.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret