August 16th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Reflection
In just a few sentences Paul states it all so clearly. God loves all of the people. God does not abandon any of us. It's not that God leaves us but rather that we run from God and hide. We run and hide just like Adam and Eve. We run in hide because of the shame of our sin. We run from God because we know that what sin we have committed is our doing and not any of the works of God.

But God does not abandon us. Rather God comes searching for us and finds us and offers us life. Sure, we may be disciplined. We may feel the pain of our sin, but that is not because of what God did. We feel the pain of separation from God because of what we did. But God does not abandon us. God hunts us down to love us into eternity.

And then when God finds us, God calls us and gifts us and gives us all the blessings that we need to love God and serve God in God's Kingdom from now and into eternity. Our lives move along in this world with the love and blessings of God and into eternity with the love and blessings of God. This is for ALL the people. Not just the ones that we think God loves but for ALL the people because God loves ALL that was created and shows mercy to ALL the people.

So, don't take it upon yourself to judge the "other." For we all stand before God only by God's grace. Rather take it upon yourself to love the "other." For God shows mercy to you and me and to ALL. Live in the hope and blessing and calling and gifts of God in the love of God in Christ Jesus, for God chooses to be merciful to all.

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

Prayer
Lord, forgive my sin and sinfulness. May I live in your forgiveness and love that I may forgive and love all you give to me... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen