by Pastor Peter Bean
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What to make of these verses? Not the most wonderful reading in the Bible. It started off well with hospitality shown by Lot. But it quickly degenerated into all sorts of terrible things: sexual immorality, betrayal of family, disbelief, tardiness, warnings ignored, ingratitude. And, as we read on, there is more.
What do we do with all of this? Of course, it’s easy to jump to conclusions and become judgemental of actions and inactions, groups and individuals. And don’t we do that? Sorry, I’ll let you answer that for yourself. For myself, yes, I do jump to conclusions. I do make judgements. I do look down on people. Lord, have mercy.
And the Lord does. Even when we think we have more time to prepare. Even when we joke about what God might do. Even when we are inhospitable. Even when we condemn!
I guess, here, in these verses, we have a good description of human nature. Thoughts and actions are described that can lead us away from God. Even when God is present – in our face, if you like – even when God is clear, and we can hear the voice of the Spirit guiding us. (Did you know that, in the Hebrew Scriptures, to hear is the same as to obey?)
But we also have a good description of God’s nature: to be merciful, to restore those who lack trust or think they can make it on their own. Can each of us examine our lives? Look for those times when you didn’t trust God’s promises and thought you could make it alone. Look for those times when God’s mercy re-appeared: in a word of forgiveness, in a restoration of relationships, in a comforting hug, in the quiet breath of the Spirit breathing new life into you.
And give thanks for the Lord’s mercy.
Lord God, Heavenly Dad, gracious Saviour, life-giving Spirit, thank you for your mercy, shown to me in so many ways. Thank you. Amen.
In early October, Peter enjoyed a family camp with his children and grandchildren at Lake Bonney, South Australia. Then, he returned to weeding, planting, riding, reading and relaxing.
‘Grab Hope’ This Easter
As we approach the joy of Easter Sunday, Lutheran Media has been sharing a special message from Pastor Adrian Kitson, inviting our podcast audiences, radio listeners and social media followers to ‘Grab Hope’ — and to share their stories of Easter hope with us.
If a friend or family member might benefit from an invitation to explore the hope that comes to us at Easter, please share our ‘Grab Hope’ message with them!
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My Future Hope Easter Sunday Read: Revelation 21:1-4 “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3b-4 (NIV)
Today is Easter Sunday and our Lord Jesus has beaten death and the devil and has been raised to live in Heaven with our Heavenly Father. He is risen indeed! We focus today on all that God has accomplished through Jesus. Through Jesus’ death and rising He has brought us life, and life forever with Him. Revelation is a book of the Bible that is hard to know how to interpret. Many have tried, but we have to be careful not to read into what isn’t there. It is the last book of the Bible, and it was written by John telling of his visions.
This vision of the future is meant to transform the present, by providing hope and motivating Christians to reflect on the character and values that Christ embodied while with us on earth. It shares the vision of what heaven will be like when God is present among us. I love reading about the perfection of Heaven. It won’t be a restored earth, but a totally new reality where there will be no more suffering, all God’s promises will be fulfilled, and we will have a perfect relationship with God (no more sin or separation). This future hope, through the vision of John, provides comfort and encourages all believers to live holy lives here and now in the present. This new creation is divine, not built or created by human hands, but entirely a gift of love from a loving Father.
This salvation is ours for all time. Today we celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death, through His rising from the grave. God has through this act of love and grace, given us the same victory over sin and death where we can now come to Him directly as His precious children. Our sins have been forgiven, and we are washed clean. We can now live in the hope of our future with God forever in Heaven. We can live our future hope now in the present, knowing a loving Saviour loves us unconditionally!
Prayer: My risen Lord and Saviour, thank you for giving me a glimpse of Heaven through the visions of John. Guide me through my life that I may reflect the love you have for me to those around me. Amen.
Eyes to See 40th Day in Lent (Holy Saturday) Read: Luke 24:13-35 “Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” Luke 24:31-32 (NIV)
I am sure there is such a thing as ‘man eyes’. I looked it up and it is defined as: “a colloquial term for a specific type of inattentiveness, not about male eyesight, but rather for a person unable to find something they are looking for that is in plain sight.” [Reddit] I have heard myself saying when talking to my husband or children who are looking for something, “Are you looking with your man eyes?” I am usually able to find the item that has been searched for quite easily. The disciples saw Jesus die, they saw him taken from the cross and the women saw where Jesus had been buried. They saw all this happen. So, it is only natural that they would say when asked where he was, that he was dead and buried.
Today, we as Christians wait with expectation for the resurrection tomorrow morning. We know the story. But for those who were there, their eyes would tell them that Jesus was dead. He had told them many times, that on the third day he would rise again, but they couldn’t forget what they had seen. Some disciples had left Jerusalem in fear after the crucifixion, thinking that they would be next to die, and were walking to another town called Emmaus. They were talking about what had happened over the last days trying to make sense of it all, when another man came up asking questions. This man listened to their fears and tried to explain what they didn’t see. What they didn’t see, was the hope that what Jesus had said earlier was true.
He revealed some of the mysteries and explained what the eyes cannot see or understand. Finally, Jesus revealed Himself having risen and in bodily form and then He disappeared, but their eyes were opened to the truth. Where are you today? Are you looking at this story with ‘man eyes’? Or have you the eyes to see the risen Saviour? I pray that you can see and experience the love and forgiveness of our loving risen Lord this Easter. May your eyes be opened to see a risen Saviour and the hope He brings.
Prayer: Open my eyes, living Lord Jesus, that I may see and know the love you have for me and all of humankind. Open my heart to others around me to help them understand the hope you bring. Amen.