Trusting in God’s Promise
Yesterday we again woke up to news that our country has attacked another sovereign nation. Early in the morning, the United States and Israel engaged in preemptive strikes against Iran – bombing Tehran and targeting the government and military sites. These strikes occurred even as the United States and Iran have been having ongoing negotiations around Iran’s use of nuclear weapons in the area and they occurred during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslim people (Iran is a Islamic Republic).
Almost immediately we began hearing the rhetoric of why these strikes were necessary (or not) from a geo-political point of view. Some of what we hear may be true; some most definitely is not.
As people who follow the example of Jesus, the words from the politicians are not the most important words for us to hear. We listen for the voice of God, speaking to us in this uncertain moment, and we hear the words Jesus speaks to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. (Matt 5:9).
We are called to be peacemakers, sharing the peace that we receive through the grace of God; the peace that is made real to us through the waters of baptism and the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus speaks again to his disciples: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:17).
And so we pray for peace and we work for peace. Pray with me now (from the ELCA):
Eternal God, whose steadfast love never ends, we ask that you look upon the nations now engaged in violent conflict and hasten the day of peace. Look in mercy on those exposed to peril, displacement or death, and show compassion to the vulnerable. In your good providence, grant leaders wisdom to act for justice and peace. Incline the hearts of all people to follow the path to peace and concord, that conflict may cease and the day of reconciliation may come quickly, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Now let’s turn our attention to the good news of Jesus Christ, the Word of God that we receive through the scripture readings today. As we dig deep into these treasured words, we see God’s love for all people – God’s desire to reconcile with all people – revealed to us. And we see people respond to that love and reconciliation with faith – seeking right relationship with God and trusting God’s promise of new and abundant life.
In the reading from Genesis, we hear God call Abram (later to be named Abraham) and his wife Sarai (Sarah) to leave their country and their kinfolk and go to the land God will give them. God has a purpose for Sarai and Abram – through them and their descendants, God will bless all people of the world. This is God’s promise (covenant) to Abram – Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them….So shall your descendants be…And (Abram) believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:5-6).
God made a promise and Abraham and Sarah trusted God to keep that promise. Through the twists and turns of their lives, through all the new lands and places to which they traveled, Abraham and Sarah went wherever God told them to go, trusting God and keeping their relationship with God at the center of their lives. They waited (sometimes patiently; sometimes, not so much) for God’s promise to be fulfilled.
It took a long time (25 years) and Abraham and Sarah were quite old. Yet, finally, it happened. Two sons were born to them – Ishmael, the oldest, who is considered a messenger and a prophet in the Islamic faith, and Isaac, the father of Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. And God made (Abraham) the father of many nations. (Rom 4:17 and Gen 17:5). And, we might add, of many faiths.
Abraham and Sarah’s faith and trust in God’s promise brought new birth and abundant life to them and all their descendants. By them, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen 12:3). Including us!
So it is that God has always desired to be in right relationship with all peoples; God’s promise of reconciliation, blessing, and new birth and abundant life is meant for every person of every tribe and nation and faith.
For those of us who follow Jesus, we receive God’s promise of reconciliation, blessing, new birth and abundant life as a gift. This is the free gift of God’s grace given to us by faith alone in Christ Jesus alone. It is the gift of being born from above…being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5) (that is, through baptism).
This is the gift of the Holy Spirit, that blows where it wills. We confess our belief in the Holy Spirt whenever we say the Apostles’ Creed – I believe in the Holy Spirit, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Sort of the gospel in a nutshell.
What does that mean, you may ask? Martin Luther (Small Catechism) explains it in this way:
I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins—mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
Receiving God’s promise of reconciliation, blessing, new birth and abundant life is a gift. Trusting in that promise is a gift. Life in Christ is a gift – a sign of God’s love poured out in abundance on you – on me – on all people – and, indeed, on all the world (cosmos).
How shall we respond as we receive this great gift of reconciliation, blessing, new birth and abundant life from God?
We respond with faith – praising and giving thanks to God our Creator; extending love and compassion to our neighbors, following the example of Jesus; praying and reflecting as we listen for the Holy Spirit to guide us along the right path for this time and place.
We respond with faith – sharing God’s love in generous and concrete ways with people in need; demanding all people be treated with dignity and respect; standing with those whose lives are threatened by war; advocating for a just peace and security for every nation in this world that God so dearly loves.
We respond with faith – trusting God’s promise that we have been given eternal life in Christ Jesus – life lived in and with the presence of God even now.
We respond with faith – trusting that we – and all God’s people – are held securely in God’s love and protection; trusting that…
The Lord will preserve you from all evil and will keep your life.
The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in,
from this time forth forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)
May it be so.