Oct. 16 2016 Readings; Jeremiah 31: 27-34, Psalm 119 Luke 18: 1-8
Recently in reviewing a list I have received from a
colleague entitled "Things I Really Don't Understand." The list contained a lot of questions for
which there seems to be no clear-cut answer. Here are a few of them:
- Ever
wonder why a doctors or a lawyer calls what they do practice? A follow up question might be: When is it then that they graduate from just
practicing?
- If
God made everything, who or what then made God?
- How
did that great big chestnut tree get into that tiny little seed?
- What
did come first the chicken or the egg?
- Why
is a boxing ring square?
- What
was the best thing before sliced bread?
- Ever
wonder how they get deer or moose to cross the highway at those yellow
signs
- How
did a fool and his money get together in the first place?
There are so many things in this life that we just don't
understand, or comprehend. For example, we don't really understand disease. Where
it comes from, why some survive disease and others don’t. Why is a youngster perfectly healthy for 13
years of his life… and then suddenly it just happens to be in a place where he
suddenly encounters some germ or bacteria that invades his body and destroys
it? Often we don't understand accidents
or the circumstances that set an accident up.
They are so random and they do
not discriminate. They happen to the good people and bad people. You start out a day that is like any other
day… and then something happens in a matter of seconds… and life is changed
forever. You can never go back beyond your
present circumstances or of the accident. Have you ever thought of this: you had to be
in the exact spot at that exact moment, and all the circumstances must be in place
for the accident to happen? A moment, a
second even, too soon or too late, either way, could have changed the entire
outcome. Being late or early can sometimes be a blessing in disguise.
On and on we could go with our list... of things we don't really understand.
On and on we could go with our list... of things we don't really understand.
- Why
is there so much pain in our world?
- Why
do bad things happen to good people? Or the reverse, why do good things
happen to bad people.
- Why
do we hurt one another?
- Why
can't people and different cultures get along?
- And
why do so many pleas for help or healing prayers seem to go unanswered?
Now, all of these difficult questions prompt us to raise
yet another crucial question: What then, can we count on from God when we face
personal tragedy, disease or loss, when your world seems to be turned upside
down? For many of us this question needs
to be answered, what then can we count
on from God?
The parable in Luke 18 this morning points us toward a possible answer. The parable involves two people: an unjust arrogant judge and a humble but persistent woman. The judge ignores her at first, but finally grants her justice because she is so persistent. She won't give up and she won't go away… so eventually even the unjust gives in and comes through for her. Thank about that for moment folks!
EVEN THE UNJUST at times will give in and do the RIGHT thing Jesus point out for us.
Jesus was not suggesting that God is like the judge…but may I suggest God is like the persistence of the women, continually seeking justice, not just for the one kind of people but all. I believe Jesus is suggesting that we are like the unjust judge. That threw thought, word and deed we who are often selfish, arrogant, and unfeeling towards a neighbor, can and often do give in and help if we are asked. That being so, Jesus concludes, how much more will God, who loves us unconditionally help when we ask. For example, imagine that a woman comes to you confessing a grave sin. The woman is penitent, remorseful, and ashamed, over her circumstances. Then she asks you, "How can God still love me after this terrible thing I have done?" You humbly say to her, my heart is going out to you in your time of agony. I do not want to condemn you or reject you or criticize you. I just want to help you see there is forgiveness and love no matter what your circumstances.
The parable in Luke 18 this morning points us toward a possible answer. The parable involves two people: an unjust arrogant judge and a humble but persistent woman. The judge ignores her at first, but finally grants her justice because she is so persistent. She won't give up and she won't go away… so eventually even the unjust gives in and comes through for her. Thank about that for moment folks!
EVEN THE UNJUST at times will give in and do the RIGHT thing Jesus point out for us.
Jesus was not suggesting that God is like the judge…but may I suggest God is like the persistence of the women, continually seeking justice, not just for the one kind of people but all. I believe Jesus is suggesting that we are like the unjust judge. That threw thought, word and deed we who are often selfish, arrogant, and unfeeling towards a neighbor, can and often do give in and help if we are asked. That being so, Jesus concludes, how much more will God, who loves us unconditionally help when we ask. For example, imagine that a woman comes to you confessing a grave sin. The woman is penitent, remorseful, and ashamed, over her circumstances. Then she asks you, "How can God still love me after this terrible thing I have done?" You humbly say to her, my heart is going out to you in your time of agony. I do not want to condemn you or reject you or criticize you. I just want to help you see there is forgiveness and love no matter what your circumstances.
You see if I, with all of my sins and frailties, weakness, and
faults can show compassion towards another, if I'm capable in my humanness, of offering
that kind of love, how much more can we expect from our God who is the Lord of unconditional
love and unconditional forgiving? God is
always ready to love and forgive and to be there in all circumstances. Jesus
is trying to show us that there are no conditions attached to God’s love for us, because God’s love is ever seeking and never loses. That you
truly cannot fall out of God’s favor, and the love is unconditional forever.
May I suggest this parable was not meant to give us answers to those hard question I mentioned at the beginning of my message today but to teach us to be patient seekers and be persistent no matter what, even when the question cannot be answered? To encourage us not to lose heart, nor to give up, but to keep on trusting your faith. You can count on God… and God will come through for you. Look for the signs of hope. Jesus concludes this parable with a question: When the Son of Man comes will he find people who persist in their faith even when it appears that God is not answering our prayers or helping us in our circumstances?
May I suggest this parable was not meant to give us answers to those hard question I mentioned at the beginning of my message today but to teach us to be patient seekers and be persistent no matter what, even when the question cannot be answered? To encourage us not to lose heart, nor to give up, but to keep on trusting your faith. You can count on God… and God will come through for you. Look for the signs of hope. Jesus concludes this parable with a question: When the Son of Man comes will he find people who persist in their faith even when it appears that God is not answering our prayers or helping us in our circumstances?
Let me list three things for you to contemplate on in the
coming week. 1. You can count on God to hear
you when you pray. 2. You can count on
God to be with you in your pain and hurting circumstances. 3. You
can count on God to go with you and be there wherever you are. God is with us we are not alone.
Let us hear the
bible verse as paraphrased in the book: “ The Message”
Story of the
Persistent Widow
18 1-3 Jesus told them a story showing that it was
necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was
once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for
people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated.
Protect me!’
4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he
said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think.
But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see
that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by
her pounding.’”
6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is
saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his
chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I
assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of
persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?” Click the link and listen "I Will Never Forget You My People"
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