Saturday, February 27, 2021            (today’s lectionary)
Weekend with our kids
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
In The Message, Eugene Peterson wrote, “Let your enemies bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves.”
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Perfect? Perfect in what? Perfect in my “being,” rather than any aspect of my doing. BE perfect, just like my heavenly Father. Perfect in prayer, learning to surrender and seek strength rather than claiming it for myself. Get a grip on my true self, and do not let it go.
Peterson says again, “In a word, what I’m saying is Grow up! You’re kingdom subjects, now live like it, generously and gracious toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
A few days ago my friend had a moment of deep intimacy with the Lord, who said, “I’m not going anywhere.” How sweet it is to know God is generous and gracious with his time. His day is like our thousand years, and yet there is no impatience in him.
The sun rises and the sun sets. We breathe 23,000 times a day and I, at least, am barely aware of only a few of those breaths. I am born, our children are born, our grandchildren are born and then in the course of time we all pass on. Others take our place. God’s patience sustains us all.
Today you are making this agreement with the Lord: he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways, observe his statutes, commandments and decrees, and hearken to his voice.
Yes Lord, I agree. And tomorrow, after I have forgotten my agreement of today, I will agree again. You will be my God and I will walk in your ways. I will become perfect, as my heavenly father is perfect, and remember forever that my redeemer liveth, that he walks with me beside still waters, and even deep in the valley of shadow, his rod and staff comfort me.
In due time, I will learn to breathe this in and breathe it out 23,000 times a day. Can I believe in your faithfulness, even if I doubt my own?
Today the Lord is making this agreement with you: you are to be a peculiar people all his own, and if you keep his commandments he will raise you high in praise and glory, and you will be a people sacred to the Lord, your God.
As I write this Chris and Melissa, Jack and Aly are on a SW Airlines jet approaching Austin. After their plane lands, they’ll find their hotel room and sleep. Today we will play the Salad Bowl Game, watch the Illini play Wisconsin, eat BBQ, walk and run in a nearby park. There will be so much to talk about. Aki and Andi, Chris and Melissa have a date planned together, and Margaret and I will bask in an evening alone with our four grandkids, Jack 12, Aly 8, Miles 4 and Jasper 18 months. Tomorrow we’ll do church together.
Our heavenly Father watches us carry on in joy. There are times when our laughter splits the ceiling. Not always, of course. Our conflicts and sorrows take their places too, and in all of this, God makes us a people sacred to Him, precious to Her, alive with each other in this moment and forever.
O that our steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set. I will give you thanks, I will learn your laws, I will keep them … don’t ever walk off and leave me. Thank you thank you thank you.
(Deuteronomy 26, Psalm 119, 2 Corinthians 6, Matthew 5)Â
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