It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’!
There are so many things in life that threaten to trip us up and dismantle our faith. For a lot of people, it takes a lot less than violent opposition to get them to give up on God and his church. And I understand why. Since we believe Scripture when it says God is powerful and loving, then we expect God to take good care of us. Since we believe Scripture when it calls us God’s children, we really think that God is going to protect us from all harm. We want to believe those things, but when terrible things happen, we question all of it.
That’s a common response to the all-too-common brokenness of life in the flesh.
We know how it feels to find ourselves in a pit so deep that we don’t remember how we got there, and we surely don’t know how we can ever get ourselves out. We’re even pretty sure that we can’t. So we hope and pray for someone to show up and make it all better.
In the language and culture of the Old Testament, we learn about the concept of a “redeemer.” This redeemer was someone who was legally bound to step in and rescue close relatives who found themselves in a position of vulnerability. The redeemer would pay a price, take on new responsibilities, and save that relative from his/her troubles.
You might remember that the embattled sufferer Job called out for a redeemer who would argue his case before God. Or you might also remember a good Israelite named Naomi whose life turned upside-down to the point where she was certain that God had become an enemy actively working against her.
This Sunday at 9:00, when we gather for worship, I’ll re-tell one of those stories, and I hope that it will encourage you and help you remember that even though your days may be dark, you absolutely do have a redeemer, because your God will never leave you. I hope to see you soon.
God bless,